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

2 October 2017

Incident Code

CS1567

Location

‏العشارة‬, near Al Asharah, Syria, Deir Ezzor, Syria
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the injury of a civilian in an event near Al Asharah, Syria. Their December 2017 civilian casualty report noted: "During a Coalition strike which destroyed ISIS vehicle and equipment it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally injured." In July 2019, the Coalition…

Summary

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

Incident Date

1 October 2017

Incident Codes

CS1559 RS2575

Location

الميادين, Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Up to 14 named civilians died in an air and artillery strike in Al Mayadin, local media reported – though it was unclear who was responsible for the event, with sources pointing towards the Coalition, Russia and the regime. Many reports referred only to attacks by “warplanes”. Although no specific sources put the death toll…

Summary

Published
1 October 2017
Civilians reported killed
3–14
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

1 October 2017

Incident Code

CS1560

Location

Al Haweij crossing near al Shaheel, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Two named civilians died in an airstrike on the al Hawaji crossing near al Shaheel in Deir Ezzor, according to local media. It is currently unclear which party was to blame for the deaths. While no source explicitly blamed the US-led Coalition, many didn’t identify the culprit. Other sources, however, pointed to both Russia and…

Summary

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

Incident Date

1 October 2017

Incident Code

CS1562

Location

التوسعية, Al Tawassoy’ia neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria
On January 30th several sources reported the exhumation of a whole family from under the ruins of their own house in Al Tawassoy’ia neighbourhood of Raqqah city. According to all reports, Mohammed Anwar al-Jabeen, his wife and four children, “Bashar, Abboud, Bushra, Ibrahim” died as a result of bombing by the US-led Coalition. The date…

Summary

Published
1 October 2017
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

1 October 2017

Incident Codes

RS2576 CS1561

Location

حي النختب بقرص فوقاني, Al Nakhtab, Bokros Foqani, Deir Ezzor, Syria
As many as 12 civilians were killed - including an entire family - and up to 30 were injured, following airstrikes on Al Nakhtab, Bokros Foqani. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, some attributing blame to the Coalition, others to Russia and SOHR to the Syrian regime. A handful of sources blamed "unknown…

Summary

Published
1 October 2017
Civilians reported killed
8–12
Civilians reported injured
12–30
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

1 October 2017

Incident Code

CS1562a

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 stated that "Mahmud…

Summary

Published
1 October 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–35
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident