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

13 November 2017

Incident Code

CS1673

Location

الباغوز, Abu Kamal, al Baghouz, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Five civilians including a woman and her two children died in al Baghouz, according to local media – though it was unclear who was responsible for their deaths. Sharqiya Voice reported that one civilian died and others were wounded “as a result of artillery shells”, which the source reported were fired by the Iraqi army.…

Summary

Published
13 November 2017
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 November 2017

Incident Code

CS1671

Location

الدعيج, Al Duaij, Al Hassakah, Syria
Up to 15 civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Duaij, according to local media. Al Khabour reported that “the international Coalition targeted a civilian car in the village of Al-Duaij in the town of Tal al-Jayr east of al-Shadadi, killing one civilian and wounding the others seriously.” Shaam News, Masar Press, Baladi…

Summary

Published
11 November 2017
Civilians reported killed
1–15
Civilians reported injured
2–8
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 November 2017

Incident Code

CS1672

Location

رجم الصليبي, Rajim al Salibi, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Five civilians including paramedics died and “many” more were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike which reportedly struck an ambulance in Rajim al Salibi, local media said. Sources said that the victims were killed as they attempted to help those who were wounded in incident S1471 (listed above) in Al Duaji. According to Al Khabour,…

Summary

Published
11 November 2017
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
10
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 November 2017

Incident Code

CS1670

Location

Al Shafa, Deir Ezzor, Syria
It was locally reported that the following six civilians died in an airstrike on Al-Sha’afa water crossing. Most sources didn’t say who was responsible, referring to ‘raids’ and ‘bombing by aircraft.’. However, Khafafeesh al Zalam reported that Russia carried out raids on a nearby town on November 11th, killing two civilians.

Summary

Published
10 November 2017
Civilians reported killed
6
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

8 November 2017

Incident Code

CS1668

Location

حريزة, Harizah, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Up to seven civilians died in an airstrike on the village of Harizah, local media said – though they were unclear whether the Coalition or Russia were to blame. The US-led alliance reported no strikes in Syria that day. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “six civilians died in a bombing on the…

Summary

Published
8 November 2017
Civilians reported killed
4–7
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

8 November 2017

Incident Codes

CS1669 RS2705

Location

Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Three civilians including one woman died in an airstrike on Abu Kamal, according to local media. Sources mostly attributed the blame to the Coalition, however most reports published during from this period reported Russian and Syrian regime raids. The Centcom Daily Summary reported there were no Coalition strikes in Syrian or Iraq on November 8th…

Summary

Published
8 November 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident