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

28 September 2017

Incident Code

CI859

Location

الشجرة, Al Shajarah village, near Al Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq
Dozens of civilians, including a whole family, were reported by local media as killed in Al Shajara near Hawija, south of Kirkurk province. Iraq News Center’s correspondent said the dozens of victims were mostly women and children and situated the incident at the villages of Al-Shajara, Ghareeb and Al-Mistah in the area of Al-Abbas in…

Summary

Published
28 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
3–24
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

28 September 2017

Incident Code

CI860

Location

الحویجه, Al Huwaijah, Kirkuk, Iraq
A social media post said that a young student in Huwaija, Mohammed Ali, had received news of the death of his family. It was unclear whether this might relate to incident I662, which referred to the death of a family at al-Shajara. The US-led Coalition was not blamed. There is no further information available at…

Summary

Published
28 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

28 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1541

Location

Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A single source, Deir Ezzor 24, said that one civilian was killed following strikes by unknown aircraft on the house of Farouk al Mashouk – known as the ‘Mufti’s house’ – which was being used by Daesh as a prison. The correspondent said the raid had resulted in the death of the prisoner Laith Allawi…

Summary

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

Incident Date

28 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1542

Location

الرقة‎ , Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Three civilian men died in Raqqah city following alleged US-led Coalition airstrikes, local sources said. Mahmoud Al Rahim, Mohammed Ahmed Al Yahya and Ayman Ahmed Al Yahya were named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently and Raqqa Media Office. There is limited information available, although both sources blamed the US-led Coalition. @7UFCmSxd0IUBffH also named the…

Summary

Published
28 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

28 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1543

Location

المعماري, Al Mimari, Al Hassakah, Syria
Six children from the same family of Ali and Aqla al-Hajj al-Hamoud al-Hweet were killed following an aerial offensive on the village of Al Mimari, local sources said. Initial reports by Sharqiya and Marsad Al Hasaka did not identify a culprit and referred only to “bombing”. The Syrian Network for Human Rights alleged that “International…

Summary

Published
28 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
6
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

27–29 September, 2017

Incident Code

CS1611

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
In Raqqa, at least 28 and as many as 42 civilians from seven families displaced from Palmyra, Deir Ezzor and Raqqa were killed as an alleged Coalition air strike destroyed the building they were sheltering in, multiple local and international media reported. Among the killed were at least ten women and five children. This strike…

Summary

Published
27 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
28–42
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident