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

Search

2981 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

3–4 February, 2018

Incident Code

CS1721

Location

البحرة, Al Bahra village, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Multiple local sources reported up to 40 civilians killed, including up to 20 named children and at least 13 women, and “dozens” wounded in a major casualty event in Al Bahra on February 4th. All sources identify the Coalition as the culprit or – as with the Enabbaladi local report – specifically mentioned “indiscriminate US…

Summary

Published
4 February 2018
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
38–40
Civilians reported injured
24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

2 February 2018

Incident Code

CS1720

Location

البحرة, Al Bahra village, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Multiple sources reported the death of eleven civilians and seven or more wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Bahra village, northwest of the town of Hajin. A tweet from @BassamJaara was the only source with an estimated tally of more than 30 casualties, claiming that: “More than 30 people, mostly children and women,…

Summary

Published
2 February 2018
Civilians reported killed
11–30
Civilians reported injured
7–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

30 January 2018

Incident Code

CS1719

Location

البحرة, Al Bahra village, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Three civilians were reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Bahra village, according to multiple local sources. Al Manar News, for example, reported that “three civilians were killed after the bombing of International Alliance aircraft on the village of Al-Bahra in the south-east of Deir Ez-Zour.” ISIS released a video on January 30th…

Summary

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

Incident Date

27 January 2018

Incident Code

CI874a

Location

البغدادي , Al Baghdadi, Al Anbar, Iraq
Eight people including a woman and six police officers were reported killed and 20 others including two women severely injured in an alleged US-led Coalition strike on Al Baghdadi, west of Anbar province on January 27th, 2018, according to multiple local sources. Reports said that the strike "mistakenly struck a gathering of local security forces",…

Summary

Published
27 January 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
7–8
Civilians reported injured
11–20
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

26 January 2018

Incident Code

CS1718

Location

البحرة, Al Bahra village, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Thirty civilians allegedly died in Coalition airstrikes on Al Bahra village in the Deir Ezzor countryside, according to local sources. The original source for these claims appeared to be ISIS. @7UFCmSxd0IUBffH and other sources said that there were “more than 30 martyrs, most of them women and children, and injured civilians, in US air strikes…

Summary

Published
26 January 2018
Civilians reported killed
30
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

24 January 2018

Incident Code

CS1717

Location

هجين, Hajeen, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Three women died and several other civilians were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the village of Hajeen, according to local media. The three victims were named by Deir Ezzor 24 as Mansya Samir Al-Aswad; the wife of Eid Mansy Al Aswad; and the wife of Ali Mansy Al Aswad Some reports appear to have…

Summary

Published
24 January 2018
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident