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

19 April 2018

Incident Code

CS1644

Location

حارة البدو, Al Badou neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria
Local sources reported that two civilians were killed as a result of SDF shelling on the town of Al Soussa at night. A number of sources identified the two casualties who, according to a tweet by Deir Ezzor 24, were hit by “missile shelling” from SDF forces stationed at “the Omar oil field”. A tweet…

Summary

Published
19 April 2018
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

17 April 2018

Incident Code

CS1745

Location

Al Sarajiya village near Abu Hamda, Al Hassakah, Syria
Local sources reported on the deaths of up to eleven civilians as a result of strikes carried out by Coalition helicopters in an area east of the city of Al Shadadi. According to Euphrates Post “a massacre” took place after a bombardment on a prison in the town of Abu Hamda. The report put the…

Summary

Published
17 April 2018
Civilians reported killed
3–11
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

14 April 2018

Incident Code

CS1744

Location

العاليات, Al A’liat village, Deir Ezzor, Syria
According to two sources, three civilians were killed in an airstrike on the village of Al-A’liat in the Soussa district of Deir Ezzor governorate on April 14th. Smart News and Fresh Online reported that an ISIS HQ in the village of Al A’liat near al Soussa was targeted by the Coalition. A local source told…

Summary

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

Incident Date

13 April 2018

Incident Code

CS1742

Location

Damascus, Damascus, Syria
According to a single source, four civilians were killed in US-led bombardments on Al Barzah Scientific Research Facility in Damascus. The strikes - confirmed as carried out by US, British and French aircraft - were not mentioned in the Coalition strike report for the week, indicating that these may have been unilateral actions. Al Sura…

Summary

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

Incident Date

13 April 2018

Incident Code

CS1743

Location

Him Shanshar military installation, Homs, Syria
Three civilians were credibly reported injured as a result of British strikes on a military compound West of the city of Homs “in the early hours of Saturday”. The United States, France and the US declared that they had participated in the strikes in Damascus and Homs. In its own regular strike reports the Coalition…

Summary

Published
13 April 2018
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

9 April 2018

Incident Code

CS1741

Location

تل الجاير, Tal al Jayer area, Al Hassakah, Syria
Local sources reported the death of a male civilian as a result of an alleged Coalition military action in the vicinity of Tal al Jayer, east of the city of Shaddadi in the southern countryside of Hasakah governorate. An Al-Khabour correspondent stated that helicopters engaged in a “landing operation” near the Al Sheikh fuel station,…

Summary

Published
9 April 2018
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident