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

9 June 2022

Incident Code

CS1981

Location

العطالة, Al Atta, Al Hassakah, Syria
At least one man was killed during an airdrop operation carried out by the Syrian Democratic Forces and alleged US-led Coalition in the village of Al-Atta in the countryside of Al-Shaddadi city at dawn on June 9, 2022. Sources were conflicted as to whether the man killed was a civilian or a member of ISIS. Al…

Summary

Published
9 June 2022
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

28 March 2022

Incident Code

CS1980

Location

ذيبان, Thiban, Deir Ezzor, Syria
At least one man was killed and another was arrested during a joint airdrop operation carried out by the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Coalition on March 28, 2022. Sources were conflicted as to whether the man killed was a militant or a civilian. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Syrian Democratic Forces…

Summary

Published
28 March 2022
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

22 February 2022

Incident Code

CS1979

Location

الدحلة, Al Dahla, Deir Ezzor, Syria
One civilian, named in local sources as Ibrahim Khalif Ali Al-Ammar, aged 52, was reportedly killed during a Syrian Democratic Forces and US-led Coalition raid on the village of Al-Dahla, in the countryside of Deir Ezzor, at dawn on February 22nd 2022. According to local sources, he was shot at dawn when his house was…

Summary

Published
22 February 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

8 February 2022

Incident Code

CS1978

Location

البصيرة, Bisira, Deir Ezzor, Syria
At least one civilian, a child, was killed and his father was injured in an alleged airdrop operation by the Coalition and the SDF in the city of Bisira on February 8, 2022. A tweet from @DeirEzzorNow reported that the International Coalition and HAT forces carried out a landing operation in the city of Bisira that…

Summary

Published
8 February 2022
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

3 February 2022

Incident Code

CS1977

Location

طمة, دير بلوط, Deir Balout, Atma, Idlib, Syria
Up to thirteen civilians, including six children and four women, were reported killed and at least one child was injured after US forces targeted and subsequently killed the leader of the Islamic State (ISIS), Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, in Atma, northwest Syria on February 3rd 2022. Local reporting was conflicted as to whether the casualties…

Summary

Published
3 February 2022
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
9–13
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

20–26 January, 2022

Incident Code

CS1976

Location

سجن الصناعة, Al Sina'a Prison, Al Hassakah, Syria
Between January 20th and January 26th 2022, Islamic State militants (ISIS) attempted to take control of Al-Sina'a prison in Gweran neighbourhood in Al-Hasakah, Syria. The prison, managed by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), by some reports held between 3000 to 5000 individuals associated with ISIS, including “hundreds” of so-called ‘Cubs of the Caliphate’ - the…

Summary

Published
20 January 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
6–7
Civilians reported injured
1–10
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident