US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Civilians in the ruins of Mosul city. (Maranie R. Staab)

Belligerent
US-led Coalition
Country
Iraq
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident date

July 10, 2017

Incident Code

CI806

LOCATION

Mosul, Nabi Jarjis, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition lated confirmed the death of a civilian in the Nabi Jaris neighbourhood, Mosul. Their September 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIS headquarters structure and explosives storage facility, it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed.” Coordinates supplied by Coalition

Summary

First published
July 10, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

April 26, 2016

Incident Code

CI233

LOCATION

الشرقاط, Al Shirqat, Salah Al Din, Iraq

US aircraft attacked an ISIS checkpoint in the town of Sharqat. According to a CENTCOM release issued three months later, “it is [now] assessed that one civilian was killed when a motorcycle unexpectedly appeared in the target area after the US aircraft had already released its weapon.” That attack on a checkpoint near the Jumeila

Summary

First published
April 26, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

June 7, 2017

Incident Code

CI752

LOCATION

حي الزنجيلي, Mosul, Zinjili, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition confirmed the death of a civilian in an incident near Mosul in June 2017. Their September 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on ISIS fighters engaging partner forces from a fighting position, it was assessed that one civilian, not observed near the target

Summary

First published
June 7, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Known target
ISIS
View Incident

Incident date

June 24, 2017

Incident Code

CI785

LOCATION

Mosul, Mosque of Abdul Rahman bin Auf, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the death of a civilian in an event near Mosul, Iraq. Their September 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIS artillery position located inside a mosque, it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed.” The Coalition provided Airwars

Summary

First published
June 24, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

September 18, 2017

Incident Code

CI849

LOCATION

القائم, Al Qaim, Al Anbar, Iraq

Civilian casualties were reported following air raids and/or artillery strikes on the district of Qaim, in the west of Anbar province. Yaqin first reported US occupation heavy artillery shelling on areas of the Anbar, coinciding with the continued displacement of families in the absence of food and medicine. A second Yaqin report alleged civilian casualties

Summary

First published
September 18, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
Civilians reported injured
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

October 24, 2016

Incident Code

CI308

LOCATION

طوبزاوة, Tubzawa, Nineveh, Iraq

A local source reported that An adult civilian male killed followed an alleged Coalition strike on the village of Tubzawa. According to a single source, Mr Shihab’s two sons Younis aged 7 and Mustafa aged 2 years old were also severely injured in the incident – and were being treated in the intensive care unit at Irbil

Summary

First published
October 24, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

November 15, 2016

Incident Code

CI340

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Airport and Gizlani camp, Nineveh, Iraq

In January 2017 the Coalition issued a statement denying responsibility for alleged civilian casualties in Mosul six weeks earlier. Nov. 15, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in this strike, the Coalition noted. A senior official later informed Airwars that the

Summary

First published
November 15, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
Civilians reported injured
0–1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

November 26, 2016

Incident Code

CI351

LOCATION

Mosul, Karama, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources said one civilian was killed by Unknown bombing in Karama neighbourhood east of Mosul. Airwars’s researcher contacted Zareen Ali, the victim relative who published the death event post and Ali had confirmed that bombing was by Daesh mortars. In their June 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible

Summary

First published
November 26, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

October 17, 2017

Incident Code

CI871

LOCATION

القائم, Al Qaim, Al Anbar, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the death of one civilian in an event near Al Qaim, Iraq. Their December 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a Coalition strike which destroyed one ISIS VBIED production facility, two ISIS support buildings and ISIS weapons cache it was assessed that one

Summary

First published
October 17, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

April 9, 2017

Incident Code

CI621

LOCATION

الموصل: الزنجيلي, Mosul, Al-Zinjili, Nineveh, Iraq

Two local sources said that an unspecified number of civilians were killed and injured due to airstrikes and missile attacks on Zanjili neighborhood in West Mosul. According to Yerdili, the bombardment preceded an assault on the nighbourhood. No additional details are presently known.

Summary

First published
April 9, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident

Incident date

March 31, 2016

Incident Code

CI213

LOCATION

يت, Hit, Al Anbar, Iraq

Local sources claimed that Coalition aircraft targeted a civilian car in Hit and killed the driver, who was said to have no links to so-called Islamic State. According to News of Iraq, the aircraft had been targeting a Daesh VBIED “driven by a suicide bomber” but that the attack also led to the destruction of

Summary

First published
March 31, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

April 2, 2017

Incident Code

CI600

LOCATION

حي الفاروق, Mosul, Farouk, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources reported that warplanes hit civilians while they were on their way to bury a non-combatant who was killed by an earlier airstrike on Al Farouk neighborhood in West Mosul. Yaqein quoted press sources saying that “the warplanes bombarded the neighborhood of Al-Faruq and Mkawi on the right side of Mosul, killing and wounding

Summary

First published
April 2, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident

Incident date

April 11, 2017

Incident Code

CI632

LOCATION

سحاب, Mosul, al-Sahab, Nineveh, Iraq

A UN report on the protection of civilians in context of Nineveh operations and the retaking of Mosul stated: “In the morning of 11 April, an airstrike reportedly killed a civilian man and wounded seven other civilians, including a woman, in the ISIL-controlled al-Siha neighbourhood of western Mosul. At the time of the incident, the

Summary

First published
April 11, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
7
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

June 21, 2017

Incident Code

CI776

LOCATION

الرطبة, Ar Rutbah, Al Anbar, Iraq

Residents said that one civilian was killed and several wounded in an airstrike in the Rutba area. Yaqein reported that one civilian was killed and several wounded in a suspected Coalition attack. Iraqi Spring Media Center said that civilians were killed and wounded, but offered no numbers and did not assign blame.

Summary

First published
June 21, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

November 12, 2015

Incident Code

CI139

LOCATION

الرمادي, Ramadi, Al Anbar, Iraq

In a previously unknown casualty event, CENTCOM confirmed on April 22nd 2016 that one civilian was killed during a US airstrike at Ramadi. According to the official release, “On Nov. 12, 2015, in Ramadi, Iraq, during a strike targeting ISIL fighters, it is assessed that one civilian was killed.” There were no reports of civilian

Summary

First published
November 12, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

March 9, 2017

Incident Code

CI525 CS562

LOCATION

السنجك, Sanjak, Al Anbar, Iraq

Local sources said that an airstrike targeted ISIL members on the Iraq-Syria border, which also resulted in the death of a civilian woman. Unusually, the incident was attributed to both sides of the border. Geolocation by Airwars volunteer Christiaan Triebert (see map below) has concluded that they are almost certainly the same incident. On the

Summary

First published
March 9, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 woman)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

April 9, 2017

Incident Code

CI622

LOCATION

الموصل: غرب/الجانب الأيمن, Mosul, Rifai and 17 July, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources said that heavy airstrikes and artillery shelling hit Rifai and 17 July neighbourhoods in West Mosul, killing and injuring an unspecified number of civilians. Iraqi Spring Media Center and Urgent Mosul News blamed the Iraqi government, though none of the other sources said who was responsible. Sawlf Ateka (local Facebook page) reported that

Summary

First published
April 9, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

May 9, 2017

Incident Code

CI703

LOCATION

July 17 neighbourhood, West Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

A single local source – a relative of the victim – said on Facebook that her cousin Laith Azhar Saadallah al-Obeidi died after an airstrike hit his house in July 17 neighbourhood in West Mosul. “My cousin was martyred on Monday. Laith Azhar Saadallah al-Obeidi, after he was hit on his house on July 17,

Summary

First published
May 9, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

December 13, 2014

Incident Code

CI021

LOCATION

الرمادي, Ramadi, Al Anbar, Iraq

In an event previously unreported by Airwars, Coalition reported an unspecified open source as publishing a picture of a dead child “without any identification of original location”. According to provisional analysis “There was one airstrike in Ramadi on 13 December (strike #1266) which was unlikely to have caused the death.” No further action was recorded

Summary

First published
December 13, 2014
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

October 25, 2016

Incident Code

CI310

LOCATION

Mosul, Buwayd, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition admitted in its February 2017 civilian casualty report that it had killed one civilian during a strike on a moving vehicle. The report noted “During a strike on ISIL fighters in a moving vehicle it is assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed when the

Summary

First published
October 25, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 8, 2017

Incident Code

CI406

LOCATION

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq

Local sources said that civilians, including women and children, were killed or injured due to Coalition airstrikes on Rashad and Riad regions Sunday evening in Hawija, southwest of Kirkuk. Only once source, News of Iraq, claimed there were civilian casualties.

Summary

First published
January 8, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
Civilians reported injured
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

March 21, 2017

Incident Code

CI568

LOCATION

Mosul, Zerai, Nineveh, Iraq

The Coalition announced on June 2nd 2017 that it had killed a civilian in the al Zerai area of West Mosul. A senior government official unofficially informed Airwars that the strike was Belgian. According to the civilian casualty report, “March 21, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS mortar position

Summary

First published
March 21, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Known target
ISIS
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 24, 2015

Incident Code

CI033

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

The previously-secret CENTCOM file also noted reports by redacted “prominent anti-ISIL Twitter users” that “civilians are being killed in the bombardment.” With so few details to go on, CENTCOM concluded that there was “insufficient evidence to determine date and time of any specific allegation.”

Summary

First published
January 24, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 2, 2017

Incident Code

CI385

LOCATION

Mosul, Mushirfan, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on April 1st 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment on social media claims of civilian harm “near Mosul, Iraq”. According to the Coalition report, “(2.) Jan. 2, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report: No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in

Summary

First published
January 2, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

March 16, 2017

Incident Code

CI547

LOCATION

Mosul, Al Jadida, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on July 7th 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment on claims of civilian harm “near Mosul, Iraq” via an NGO report. According to the Coalition report, “110. May 16, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report: After a review of available information it was

Summary

First published
March 16, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

July 12, 2017

Incident Code

CI809

LOCATION

القليعات, Al Qaliat, Mosul, Old City, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources reported that despite the recapturing of Mosul by the US-backed Iraqi army, Coalition airstrikes continued to target ISIL positions in Al Qaliat on the outskirts of the city. Ninawa Media Center reported that there were ‘many’ wounded civilians, including women and children, in the area. However, it was not clear airstrikes caused this.

Summary

First published
July 12, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
Civilians reported injured
6
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Unknown
View Incident

Incident date

October 31, 2017

Incident Code

CI873

LOCATION

الباغوز, Al Baghouz (near al-Qaiem, Iraq), Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later announced the injuries of two civilians in an event near al Qaim. Their June 2018 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike destroyed Daesh headquarters, two civilians were unintentionally injured.” The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a

Summary

First published
October 31, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

March 18, 2017

Incident Code

CI558

LOCATION

Mosul, Nahrawan, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on September 1st 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment on claims of civilian harm “near Mosul, Iraq” via an NGO report. According to the Coalition report, “March 18, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report:After a review of available information it was assessed that

Summary

First published
March 18, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

December 16, 2014

Incident Code

CI022

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

In an event previously unreported by Airwars, an internal Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) reported “4 unknown persons potentially injured while moving into the engagement area,” during a Coalition airstrike on Objective Nebula, a targeted vehicle. France later confirmed that it had carried out a targeted strike in Mosul on that date, though it is not

Summary

First published
December 16, 2014
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
(4 children)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

April 12, 2017

Incident Code

CI634

LOCATION

عنه, Anah, Al Anbar, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later denied a social media claim that it had caused civilian casualties at Anah. According to its June report “April 12, 2017, near Annah, Iraq, via social media: No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties.”

Summary

First published
April 12, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident