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

26 September 2021

Incident Code

CS1964

Location

الزر, Al Zir, Deir Ezzor, Syria
At least one young man, a civilian, was killed and two to three other civilians were injured in alleged Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces raids on the village of Al Zir on September 26, 2021. Two to three others were arrested in the raids but it is unclear if they were civilians or members of…

Summary

Published
26 September 2021
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, YPG
View Incident

Incident Date

21 July 2021

Incident Code

CS1962

Location

خربة الجاموس, Kharbet Al Janous, Al Hassakah, Syria
Between one and three people, including a child, were killed and others were injured in Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) strikes on Kharbet Al Janous on July 21, 2021. Various sources report that a child was killed in the operation while other sources report that between one and three members of ISIS were killed.…

Summary

Published
21 July 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, YPG
View Incident

Incident Date

16 July 2021

Incident Code

CS1961

Location

ذيبان, Thiban, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A man and his son were reportedly killed in a raid in Deir Ezzor’s Thiban town carried out by Syrian Democratic Forces with support of the US-led coalition at dawn on July 16, 2021. The dead were identified as Miteb Sherida Al-Ghadir and his son Ahmed. @Sada_AlSharqieh said they had been grazing their sheep at…

Summary

Published
16 July 2021
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
YPG, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

15 July 2021

Incident Code

CS1960

Location

القائم, Al Qa’em, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A civilian was reportedly shot dead during a raid on the outskirts of Al-Zar village carried out by the US-led Coalition alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces, according to multiple sources, at dawn on July 15, 2021. A single source - Furat News - also reported that a girl was injured in the incident. The dead…

Summary

Published
15 July 2021
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, YPG
View Incident

Incident Date

28 June 2021

Incident Code

CS1959

Location

القائم, Al Qa’em, Deir Ezzor, Syria
One child was reportedly killed and three other civilians, including women and children, were wounded in US airstrikes on the Al Qa’em area near the Syrian-Iraqi borders on June 28, 2021. Local sources also reported that between four and 11 militants, with at least four members of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization, were also killed. The…

Summary

Published
28 June 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

4 May 2021

Incident Code

CS1958

Location

الشنان, Al Shanan, Deir Ezzor, Syria
At least one man was killed in an alleged US-led Coalition drone strike in al-Shanan village in eastern Deir Ezzor on May 4, 2021. While the majority of sources that reported on the incident claimed that the man killed was no longer part of any armed groups, a spokesman for the Coalition identified him as…

Summary

Published
4 May 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident