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

11 October 2017

Incident Code

CS1620a

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
The Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality" reported on an incident previously unidentified by Airwars. An uncle and nephew were killed by an alleged Coalition airstrike which hit them whilst they were on a motorbike. The airstrike occurred between 3 and 4pm, and there were no reported injured…

Summary

Published
11 October 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 October 2017

Incident Code

CS1618a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", one civilian was reportedly killed in alleged Coalition artillery strikes in Raqqa. Although Airwars assesses single sourced incidents as "weak", researchers have assessed this incident "fair" due to the depth of material provided by Amnesty. The report states that "An…

Summary

Published
10 October 2017
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
4
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 October 2017

Incident Code

CS1617

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
A civilian male died following alleged US-led Coalition airstrikes on Raqqah city, local media reported. There is limited information at present, Airwars will update the entry when new details arise.  

Summary

Published
10 October 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 October 2017

Incident Code

CI867

Location

Rawah, Al Anbar, Iraq
A number of sources reported that civilians were killed or injured following a coalition or Iraqi forces strike which targeted several areas in Rawa, west of Anbar province. Yaqein reported heavy bombardments on Rawa by the alleged Coalition aircraft, resulting in civilian casualties and injured as well as substantial damage to homes and vehicles, along with…

Summary

Published
10 October 2017
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 October 2017

Incident Code

CS1618

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Two named civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike at a water well in Raqqah, according to local media – though the date of the incident is currently unclear. According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (reporting on October 13th), one young man, Bebars Ismail al-Habash, died “a few days ago” in a bombing targeting…

Summary

Published
10 October 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 October 2017

Incident Code

CI868

Location

Al Qaim, Al Anbar, Iraq
In December 2017, the Coalition reported having unintentionally killed a civilian in an event previously unreported by Airwars. It stated: "Oct. 10, 2017 near Al Qaim, Iraq via self-report. During a Coalition strike which destroyed a building being used as an ISIS headquarters it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally injured when they inadvertently…

Summary

Published
10 October 2017
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident