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

October 8, 2017

Incident Code

CI865 RS2613

LOCATION

Al Qaim, Al Anbar, Iraq

According to many reported, two brothers were killed in Al Qaim or al Hari in Syria, near the Iraqi border. Reports were contested: one source implied that Iraqi aircraft may have been responsible, while a number of sources identified Russia as the culprit, one source attributed the attack to the Coalition and others did not

Summary

First published
October 8, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 3
(2 children1 man)
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, Russian Military
Named victims
3 named, 1 familiy identified
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

March 25, 2015

Incident Code

CI053

LOCATION

الفلوجة‎, Fallujah, multiple neighbourhoods, Al Anbar, Iraq

Local residents reported that seven civilians died in a coalition airstrike on Fallujah, with 22 more injured. There were claims that a number of neighbourhoods were hit, including in the west and south of the city. A resident of Fallujah of unknown status, named as Shawki Al-Abdal Saidi, put out a press statement claiming that

Summary

First published
March 25, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7
Civilians reported injured
22
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

July 21, 2015

Incident Code

CI086

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Muthana, Nineveh, Iraq

A vehicle was reportedly bombed by the Coalition in Al Muthanna neighbourhood in Mosul, leading to claims that one civilian was killed and a further four were injured. Local residents’ site Hunaal Hadbaa said that a KIA Rio car was targeted in the attack, with shrapnel then killing and injuring civilians in the vicinity. One

Summary

First published
July 21, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 2
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
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 7, 2015

Incident Code

CI119

LOCATION

Shura, Nineveh, Iraq

There were reports that a dozen people were killed – including five women – following alleged Coalition attacks which struck civilian homes at Shura, 40 km south of Mosul. In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they had killed civilians in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition

Summary

First published
October 7, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
12
(5 women)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

December 7, 2015

Incident Code

CI151

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

There were claims that eleven civilians were killed including two children – with three doctors injured – after Coalition aircraft allegedly bombed two health centers in Aski Mosul and Baduish villages in Mosul. In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in these strikes

Summary

First published
December 7, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
11
(2 children)
Civilians reported injured
3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 26, 2016

Incident Code

CI183

LOCATION

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq

According to multiple reports, an alleged Coalition airstrike on Hawijah resulted in at least 13 civilian deaths. Al Jazeera reported that 16 died in the incident, which it attributed to the Coalition. The Al Amaq Agency (which often distributes Islamic State propaganda) reported that 13 civilians died in a ‘Coalition strike’ while 11 were injured.

Summary

First published
January 26, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
13 – 16
Civilians reported injured
11
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
View Incident

Incident date

April 5, 2016

Incident Code

CI215

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

A likely targeted operation in Mosul killed ISIL’s media chief in the city when his car was struck – but also reportedly slew his wife and five children. The nighttime attack reportedly killed Daesh ‘Media Minister’ Abdel Qader in his car in the vicinity of the city’s Saddam Hospital. However, according to NRN News, “his

Summary

First published
April 5, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
(5 children1 woman)
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
View Incident

Incident date

June 6, 2016

Incident Code

CI247

LOCATION

الفلوجة‎, Fallujah, Al Anbar, Iraq

A reported air raid by Iraqi or Coalition aircraft on the Julan neighbourhood of Fallujah resulted in the deaths of an entire family. Najah Jameel Mahmoud Al-Lihibi, his wife and their five children all died in the attack, according to local media. Amis noted that both Iraqi government and Coalition aircraft conducted strikes in the

Summary

First published
June 6, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7
(5 children1 woman1 man)
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
Named victims
7 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

August 21, 2016

Incident Code

CI279

LOCATION

الرطبة, Ar Rutbah, Al Anbar, Iraq

According to two sources, at least 7 civilians killed including a child and woman and 6 injuries by an alleged Coalition airstrike in Rutba district west of Anbar. The sources cited that the strikes targeted various locations in Rutba district. No additional details are presently known. In the second of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition

Summary

First published
August 21, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7
(1 child1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
6
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

October 26, 2016

Incident Code

CI311

LOCATION

بعشيقة‎, Bashiqa, Nineveh, Iraq

An Iraq-based journalist told Airwars he had been informed by a peshmerga contact of four civilian deaths near Bashiqa. According to the reporter, A peshmerga called me and said he saw three wounded and four were crushed to death when their house was hit by either a missile or a bomb. Anadolu reported a military

Summary

First published
October 26, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

November 18, 2016

Incident Code

CI343

LOCATION

تل عفر, Tall Afar, Nineveh, Iraq

Dozens of civilians were killed or wounded in Tal Afar due to airstrikes and shelling, according to many local sources. Yaqein reported that scores of unarmed civilians were killed by Coalition strikes as well as selling by government-aligned militias. A source told Yaqein that Tal Afar hospital is currently teeming with dozens of people injured

Summary

First published
November 18, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2–12
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

December 25, 2016

Incident Code

CI376

LOCATION

البعاج, Al Baaj, Nineveh, Iraq

Local media and the area’s MP reported that 20 civilians were killed and 55 injured after unknown aircraft targeted Al Baaj city west of Mosul. According to Zahid Kotuna, the elected MP for the area, an unknown warplane carried out a fierce air strike on the densely populated civilian town of Baaj 140 km west

Summary

First published
December 25, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
20
Civilians reported injured
55
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 10, 2017

Incident Code

CI410

LOCATION

حي الحدباء, Mosul, Al-Hadba, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources reported that unspecified air raids targeted Hadbah neighborhood, northeast of Mosul. Iraqi Spring Media Center said that “three raids targeted the densely populated neighborhood of Hadbah on the left side of Mosul.” It did not say how many people died. Mosul Ateka said that Sinan Abdel-Islam was killed in the raids, with a

Summary

First published
January 10, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
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

January 29, 2017

Incident Code

CI444

LOCATION

القائم, Al Qa'im, Al Anbar, Iraq

Local sources reported that a woman and a child were killed and 12 other civilians injured after Coalition raids had targeted the Husaybah area in Al Qa’im, in the west of Anbar province. Most sources said US aircraft had carried out the airstrikes, while one blamed the Coalition. However, no Coalition strikes were publicly eported

Summary

First published
January 29, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(1 child1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
12
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

February 23, 2017

Incident Code

CI479

LOCATION

حي النجار, Mosul, Al Najar, Nineveh, Iraq

In a previously unknown allegation, the Coalition reported in June 2017 that following a self-reported event in Mosul, it had been determined that no civilians had been harmed. According to the June report, “Feb. 23, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no

Summary

First published
February 23, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
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

March 5, 2017

Incident Code

CI511

LOCATION

Mosul, Hal al Abar, Nineveh, Iraq

In a previously unreported incident, Amnesty field researchers spoke with survivors of a March 5th incident which left five non-combatants dead and five more injured – all from one family. The following unpublished report was shared with Airwars: “I survived an attack on 5 March. Our house was encircled by IS and ISF fighters, and

Summary

First published
March 5, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(1 child)
Civilians reported injured
5
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

March 15, 2017

Incident Code

CI544

LOCATION

باب الطوب, Mosul, Bab al Tor, Nineveh, Iraq

Local residents and military and medical sources said that up to two dozen civilians were killed or injured due to different kinds of shelling, and strikes by US Apache helicopters. This reportedly occurred during an ongoing battle around the Bab Al Tob area and other ancient neighborhoods in the center of Mosul. Naynawa Alghad reported

Summary

First published
March 15, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 24
Civilians reported injured
6–50
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

March 25, 2017

Incident Code

CI577

LOCATION

حي التنك, Mosul, Tanak, Nineveh, Iraq

A total of 21 civilians were reported killed in airstrikes on homes in the Al Tanak area of Mosul. On June 11th, Airwars’ Iraq researcher met with two survivors. Our field notes state: “Airwars researcher based in Baghdad met on June 11th 2017 two witnesses (XX and YY) saying two entire families were killed when

Summary

First published
March 25, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
21
(4 children4 women)
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

April 15, 2017

Incident Code

CI643

LOCATION

حي التنك, Mosul, Tanak, Nineveh, Iraq

One civilian was injured following an airstrike that destroyed his family home, according to the eyewitness. Amnesty International shared the following field report with Airwars, citing an eyewitness: “I’m a simple ‘free worker’ from the same area in Hai Tenak. My friends and I make a living buying and selling car parts. I left on

Summary

First published
April 15, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
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 belligerents
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident

Incident date

April 28, 2017

Incident Code

CI675

LOCATION

near Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on December 28th 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment on social media claims of civilian harm “80. April 28, 2017 near Mosul, Iraq via social media report. The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.” No additional

Summary

First published
April 28, 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

May 13, 2017

Incident Code

CI710

LOCATION

راوة, Rawah, Al Anbar, Iraq

In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition denied responsibility for an incident it said was reported by an NGO, but which Airwars was unaware of. The Coalition reported: “May 13, 2017, near Rawa, Iraq, via NGO report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in

Summary

First published
May 13, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
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

June 2, 2017

Incident Code

CI744

LOCATION

ِعنة, Anah, Al Anbar, Iraq

Local sources reported that an elderly man was killed and his son and another woman were severely injured as a result of airstrikes hitting their houses in Anah district, in the west of Anbar province. According to several Facebook posts, the elderly man was called Hajj Juma al-Abd. He reportedly died when shelling on a

Summary

First published
June 2, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 4
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
2–4
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
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

June 22, 2017

Incident Code

CI780

LOCATION

الساعة, Mosul, Al Saaha, Nineveh, Iraq

A local Facebook page reported that Professor Ghanem Ismail Ahmed (Abu Nashwan) was killed by unspecified bombing in a house in which he had taken refuge, in Saaha neighbourhood in Old Mosul. He was a former head of the al-Thawra school, and of the Imam al-Satt Nafisa Mosque. In December 2018, the Coalition announced that

Summary

First published
June 22, 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 belligerents
US-led Coalition, Unknown
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 15, 2017

Incident Code

CI812

LOCATION

الميدان, Al Maydan, Mosul, Old City, Nineveh, Iraq

A number of local sources reported that 300 civilians were killed and 400 more were wounded – said to be mostly women and children – following alleged Coalition and Iraqi government airstrikes in the Al Maydan neighbourhood of Mosul. All four sources who reported the deaths alleged that both the Coalition and the Iraqi government

Summary

First published
July 15, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
300
Civilians reported injured
400
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

September 11, 2017

Incident Code

CI844

LOCATION

Rawah, Al Anbar, Iraq

Yaqin reported civilians casualties following the bombardment of aircraft of the International Alliance on the areas of Rawah district, west of Anbar province. There is only a single source for this incident, therefore information is presently limited.  

Summary

First published
September 11, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
Civilians reported injured
0–1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
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

April 29, 2015

Incident Code

CI065

LOCATION

حي الجغيفي, Fallujah, Jughaifi, Al Anbar, Iraq

According to local reports, coalition airstrikes killed nine civilian non-combatants and injured three more in Al Sharika Street, Aljughaifi neighborhood. The dead were named by the Iraqi Revolution website as “belonging to the family of Khamis Sufook al-Jumaili, killing him and his wife and her sister, their sons and daughters, as well as his brother

Summary

First published
April 29, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9
(5 children3 women1 man)
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
9 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

August 27, 2015

Incident Code

CI097

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

A single source, the local news agency NINA, reported that 12 civilians were killed in a Coalition raid on the Rifai and Al-Najjar areas west of Mosul, including a child and four women. Four other people were said to have been critically injured. In its July 2017 casualty report, the Coalition classed the even as

Summary

First published
August 27, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
12
(3 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
4
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

October 26, 2015

Incident Code

CI130

LOCATION

الفلوجة‎, Fallujah, Al Anbar, Iraq

Three civilian homes were hit in an alleged night time Coalition airstrike – killing an unspecified number of civilians, according to local reports. The event took place near So’dud School and al Tawfiq mosque in Jugheifi neighbourhood. Al Fallujah News posted a picture of a burning building, though said the damage was instead due to

Summary

First published
October 26, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 women)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident