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

8,222 – 13,299

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 2,985 separate alleged incidents.

1,725 – 2,367
children likely killed
1,123 – 1,464
women likely killed
5,906
likely injured
3,760
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
19,184 – 29,766
Locally reported civilian deaths from U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria.
2,985 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
8,222 – 13,299
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by U.S.-led Coalition
1,539 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

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2983 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date
28 September 2014

Incident Code

CS007

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
The US (possibly with Jordan and/or the UAE) bombed grain silos near Manjib. While CENTCOM insisted that the grain facilities were occupied by Islamic State forces, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that only civilians – workers at the silos – had been killed, although militants were also wounded. According to the Syrian…

Summary

Published
28 September 2014
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
28 September 2014

Incident Code

CS008

Location

جرابلس, Road between Manbij and Jarabulus (Road 216), Aleppo, Syria
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a coalition airstrike “on Islamic State buildings” killed “several” civilians who were being held captive, as well as five Islamic State militants. The full translated quote from SOHR reads as follows: "Also at least five members of the Islamic State were killed and others wounded following a…

Summary

Published
28 September 2014
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military actors reported killed
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
27 September 2014

Incident Code

CS004

Location

الفدغمي, Fadghami, Al Hassakah, Syria
Six male civilians, all cousins were killed in the village of Al Fadghami, Al Hassakah “as a result of Coalition strikes” it was reported. Local activist Siraj al Hasskawi published details of the event on the day: “At 10:30 on Friday morning the Western/Arab alliance jets committed a massacre against six unarmed civilians and wounded…

Summary

Published
27 September 2014
Civilians reported killed
6
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
26 September 2014

Incident Code

CS003

Location

الحسكة, Al-Hasakah, Al Hassakah, Syria
The Syrian Martyrs website claimed that three named men were killed in a Coalition airstrike. On its summary page Syrian Martyrs listed the trio as civilians. However, their individual pages describe them as fighters. According to a video tribute, Akta’a was an opponent of the Assad regime who had also fought the Kurds in Syria’s…

Summary

Published
26 September 2014
Civilians reported killed
2–4
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
26 September 2014

Incident Code

CI006

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Tahrir, Nineveh, Iraq
“Seven civilians including two children” were reported by two local news agencies as being killed in a coalition airstrike in the eastern part of Mosul, in al-Tahrir Street. Alternatively, the Baghdad Centre for Human Rights claimed that two separate coalition strikes – in the Fadhiliyah and Ba’shika neighbourhoods of Mosul – killed four civilians each.…

Summary

Published
26 September 2014
Civilians reported killed
7–8
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident
25 September 2014

Incident Code

CS002

Location

الحسكة, Al-Hasakah, Al Hassakah, Syria
The Syrian Martyrs website claimed that six unnamed civilian males were killed in a Coalition airstrike on Al Hassakah. It said it had obtained the news via the Syrian Network for Human Rights, though that original report cannot presently be traced. In July 2017 the Coalition classed the event as Non-Credible, saying there was too…

Summary

Published
25 September 2014
Civilians reported killed
6
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident