U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

In 2014 a U.S.-led coalition began a campaign of airstrikes in Iraq and Syria – officially known as Operation Inherent Resolve – following the capture of large swathes of the countries by the so-called Islamic State (ISIS). An intense air and ground campaign drove ISIS out of almost all territory by 2018 but resulted in significant destruction and loss of life.

Airwars documented thousands of allegations of civilian harm from U.S.-led Coalition strikes and has conducted numerous major investigations and research papers on the topic.

Airwars estimate of civilian deaths

8,220 – 13,294

Locally reported civilian deaths from declared or likely U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by the U.S.-led Coalition. These originate from 2,984 separate alleged incidents.

1,725 – 2,367
children likely killed
1,123 – 1,464
women likely killed
5,904
likely injured
3,757
named victims

U.S.-led Coalition estimate of civilian deaths

1,454

Confirmed civilian deaths, from U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria, originating from 360 separate incidents of civilian harm.

402
civilians confirmed injured
Alleged deaths
19,182 – 29,761
Locally reported civilian deaths from U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria.
2,984 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
8,220 – 13,294
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by U.S.-led Coalition
1,538 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
2,391 – 2,815
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
434 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
7,870 – 12,564
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
778 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
696 – 1,083
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
233 seperate alleged incidents

Civilian Casualty Incidents — U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Start Date

End Date

Strike Type

Causes of Death / Injury

Strike Status

Civilian Harm Status

Belligerent Assessment

Casualty

Infrastructure

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2981 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

13 October 2018

Incident Code

CS1809

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Up to five civilians were reported killed in air and/or artillery strikes on the town of al Soussa during ongoing heavy fighting. Most sources described a Coalition air or artillery strike on one of the town’s bakeries, which reportedly killed four non combatants. Al Alam News for example reported that “US Coalition forces targeted the…

Summary

Published
13 October 2018
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Civilians reported injured
6
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

12 October 2018

Incident Code

CS1808

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A named adult civilian male was reported killed by Coalition shellling at al Soussa, in an attack which also was said to have killed five ISIS fighters. Radio al Kul and a number of other sources noted only the deaths of the ISIS fighters. According to Syrian PC one of them was a high value…

Summary

Published
12 October 2018
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 October 2018

Incident Code

CS1806

Location

الشعفة, Al Sha'afa, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Up to four civilians including a child were reported killed in Coalition airstrikes on al Sha’afa, according to a number of sources. The victims were described as internally displaced people (IDPs) by al Sha’afa town’s Facebook page, which noted “Confirmation of the killing of four civilians in Al-Sha’afa in the recent raids on the town.…

Summary

Published
10 October 2018
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 October 2018

Incident Code

CS1807

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A single source alleged that several dozen prisoners being held by Islamic State were killed when their prison was struck by the US-led Coalition or its allies the SDF. The Facebook site Exiles of the Euphrates claimed the following: “An old and sly policy of Daesh – when you want to lose a village or…

Summary

Published
10 October 2018
Civilians reported killed
24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

8 October 2018

Incident Code

CS1805

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A civilian house was reported destroyed in a Coalition airstrike on al Soussa. Two media reports said that non-combatants died. A tweet by @ashameree199 described “A raid by the International Coalition against the house and shops of Mr. Rafie al-Ghannam, which is inhabited by the families of fighters of the organization’ [IS]  with Iraqi nationality,…

Summary

Published
8 October 2018
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

4 October 2018

Incident Code

CS1804

Location

هجين, Hajin, Deir Ezzor, Syria
According to local reports, a Coalition drone or air strike – or possibly a mortar strike by local US proxies the SDF – killed a woman and her two children in the town of Hajin in Deir Ezzor governorate. Euphrates Post named the victims as the wife of Khaled Al-Hajij and her two daughters [named as Ruqayya and Noura Khaled al Hjeij by the…

Summary

Published
4 October 2018
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident