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

date

March 17, 2017

Incident Code

CI551

LOCATION

الموصل الجديدة, Mosul, Mosul al Jadida / New Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

The Coalition admitted responsibility for the deaths of  between 105 and 141 civilians in an airstrike on a house in West Mosul’s al Jadida area on March 17th (event CI550). However, locals have claimed that as many as 230 or even 520 civilians were killed in the catastrophic event at al Jadida – though these

Summary

Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
125 – 370
Civilians reported injured
25
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected attacker
US-led Coalition
View Incident

date

March 28, 2017

Incident Code

CI584

LOCATION

17 تموز, Mosul, July 17th, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources said that four family houses were destroyed on top of their residents when airstrikes targeted an ‘ISIL headquarters’ in Hawi Al Kaneesa (Church) at west of Mosul. Ninawa said that the houses fell on the heads of the four families living there. Nawar Nathim Ali said on Facebook there was news about civilian

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 16
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 attackers
US-led Coalition, Unknown
View Incident

date

April 7, 2017

Incident Code

CI617

LOCATION

الموصل: غرب/الجانب الأيمن, Mosul, Farouk, Zinjili, Islah Zerae, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources, in what was possibly based on an Al Amaq [ISIL press agency] statement, reported that 22 civilians were killed and 42 injured in Coalition and Iraqi government airstrikes on Farouk, Zinjili and Isilah Zeraei (Agricultural Reforrm) neighbourhoods in West Mosul.

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
22
Civilians reported injured
42
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected attackers
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident

date

April 18, 2017

Incident Code

CI650

LOCATION

المستشفى الجمهوري, Mosul, Republican hospital, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources reported that ‘US airstrikes’ hit the entrance of the emergency department of the Republican Hospital at the Medical Complex of West Mosul killing seven people. Some sources referred to a statement made by the ISIL press agency. No additional details are presently known.

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected attacker
US-led Coalition
View Incident

date

May 2, 2017

Incident Code

CI682

LOCATION

Mosul, Al Hermat, Nineveh, Iraq

Twenty five or more civilians were reported killed following a battle in the Hermat area of West Mosul. It was unclear whether Iraqi forces and/or the Coalition were responsible. Amnesty International provided the following field report to Airwars citing an eyewitness: “On 2 May, in the early morning, there was a big attack on my

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
25
(1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
13
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected attackers
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident

date

May 16, 2017

Incident Code

CI718

LOCATION

17 تموز, Mosul, July 17th, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources reported that one civilian died and up to 30 civilians were still under the rubble in July 17 neighbourhood. Most sources do not say who was responsible – but one said it was the work of the Coalition. Omar Al Halbusi reported on Facebook that Al-Mutasim Abdelmohsen Al-Bagari is still under the rubble,

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
31
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected attacker
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

date

June 27, 2017

Incident Code

CI787

LOCATION

الموصل القديمة, Mosul, Old City, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources said that at least 90 civilians were killed and injured as a result of ongoing fighting and shelling in Old Mosul, especially in the vicinity of the Al-Nouri Mosque and the destroyed Hadba Minaret. It is presently unclear which parties were responsible. Yaqein agency reported that 71 civilians died, and others were wounded.

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
71
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
19
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected attackers
US-led Coalition, Unknown
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

date

August 1, 2017

Incident Code

CI819

LOCATION

القائم, Al Qa'im, market, Al Anbar, Iraq

Local press sources said that civilians were killed or injured by airstrikes on the market in Al Qaim district west of Anbar. According to Iraq Akhbar, A number of civilians were killed and wounded by a bombing by international coalition aircraft of the market district of Qaim, west of Anbar. Local sources said that the

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
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 attackers
US-led Coalition, Unknown
View Incident

date

September 19, 2017

Incident Code

CI851

LOCATION

Huwaija, Sina'iya area, Kirkuk, Iraq

According to two local sources, some civilians killed following an alleged Coalition airstrike targeted the residential neighbourhoods in Huwaija. Al Rafdain said that a number of civilians were killed and others wounded in an aerial bombardment, with a press source reportedly adding that aircraft bombed three sites in the Sina’iya area in Hawija, resulting in deaths

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
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 attacker
US-led Coalition
View Incident

date

October 5, 2014

Incident Code

CI007

LOCATION

يت, Hit, Al Anbar, Iraq

It was reported by several sources in Hit that Coalition or Iraqi jets struck a number of civilian houses, killing up to 22 persons. Eight children and 3 women were reportedly among the dead. One of those quoted on the event was Nabil Souri, an Iraqi citizen working at Hit hospital, who learned that many

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
18 – 24
(8 children3 women)
Civilians reported injured
43
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected attacker
US-led Coalition
View Incident

date

February 17, 2015

Incident Code

CI040

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, multiple neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

According to a single source, local eyewitness claimed one unnamed civilian was killed and five others were severely injured after the coalition allegedly bombed several areas in Makhmoor, south of Mosul  

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
5
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected attacker
US-led Coalition
View Incident

date

June 8, 2015

Incident Code

CI072

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Zuhour and other neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

In January 2016, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq reported that it had learned of a major civilian casualty incident in Mosul on June 8th 2015, though had been unable either to verify the claim or attribute responsibility to any party: “On 8 June, local sources reported that an airstrike in Mosul, Ninewa, caused

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
20 – 23
(7–8 children9–10 women)
Civilians reported injured
13–21
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected attackers
US-led Coalition, Unknown
View Incident

date

September 17, 2015

Incident Code

CI105

LOCATION

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq

A reported evening airstrike by a drone or other Coalition aircraft at Hawijah was said to have killed five civilians and injured a further seven or more people. Al Amaaq, the media wing of ISIS, reported the “Killing [of] five civilians and wounding of seven others in the bombing by a US aircraft in the

Summary

Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
7–12
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected attacker
US-led Coalition
Suspected target
ISIS
View Incident

date

November 10, 2015

Incident Code

CI137

LOCATION

الرفاعي, Rifai (Mosul), Nineveh, Iraq

There were claims that 12 primary school children were injured following an alleged Coalition airstrike at Rifai, west of Mosul. No other details are presently available. In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
Civilians reported injured
12
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected attacker
US-led Coalition
View Incident

date

December 29, 2015

Incident Code

CI169

LOCATION

العربي, Mosul, Arabi and Cairo petrol station, Nineveh, Iraq

An alleged Coalition strike on two Daesh positions in western Mosul also reportedly led to an unspecified number of civilian casualties. According to NRN News, vehicles used by Daesh to transport oil were destroyed in a 1pm strike, killing about 15 militants. But the attack also destroyed the ‘Cairo’ gas station, which in turn damaged

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
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 attacker
US-led Coalition
View Incident

date

March 15, 2016

Incident Code

CI201

LOCATION

باب لكش, Mosul, Bab Laksh, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources said at least four and as many as 13 civilians were killed and 25 injured including children and women after alliance jets struck residential apartments used by displaced people in the Alaymen district of eastern Mosul. The National Iraqi News Agency reported: “residents said that international coalition aircraft bombed a residential compound belonging

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 18
(3 children5 women)
Civilians reported injured
5–30
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected attacker
US-led Coalition
View Incident

date

July 12, 2016

Incident Code

CI265

LOCATION

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq

Two displaced families from Tikrit were reportedly killed in an alleged Iraqi government or Coalition airstrike at Hawijah. Iraqi Spring reported that all members of his family died in the bombing of their house by the Coalition. Another local source claimed a second family was also killed. There was confusion about who might have been responsible

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
6
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected attackers
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

date

October 18, 2016

Incident Code

CI297

LOCATION

حمام العليل, Hamam al Alil, Nineveh, Iraq

On the second day of the offensive to recapture Mosul, Coalition strikes reportedly damaged a medical center in the south of the city leaving several dead, including at least three children. Al Rafidain Network for Human Rights reported that “American” bombings targeted a health center in Hamam al-Alil, south of Mosul. Ahmed Mashal posted that

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(3 children)
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 attacker
US-led Coalition
View Incident

date

November 9, 2016

Incident Code

CI329

LOCATION

حي العسكري, Mosul, Askari, Nineveh, Iraq

Four civilians were killed followed an alleged Coalition strike, according to one local source. Hakaek reported that a family of four were killed in a Coalition strike in Mosul. It said strikes hit their home in the Al Askari neighbourhood. A source told Hakaek that ISIL fighters were not in the vicinity at the time.

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected attacker
US-led Coalition
View Incident

date

December 6, 2016

Incident Code

CI362

LOCATION

Mosul, near al Salem hospital, Iraq

The Coalition mistakenly hit Iraqi forces during an airstrike near al Salem hospital in Mosul, according to some local sources. Iraqi Spring Media Center reported that the Coalition mistakenly targeted” government forces near Salam Hospital in the southeast of Mosul. And Sputnik News claimed that US Air Force bombs left 90 Iraqi military members dead

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected attacker
US-led Coalition
View Incident

date

January 6, 2017

Incident Code

CI396

LOCATION

القائم, Al Qa'im, Al Anbar, Iraq

Up to eighteen people were killed and 24 injured – mostly women and children – in government and Coalition airstrikes, in Al Qaim, Anbar province. Yaqein reported the incident and added – quoting local sources – that “the raids focused on the areas of Karabila and Saada east of the city, and resulted in the

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
17
(2 children2 women)
Civilians reported injured
24
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected attackers
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident

date

January 17, 2017

Incident Code

CI428

LOCATION

الصديق الثانيه, Mosul, 7 Nisan (April) or Baysan, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources said that six civilians were killed and eight injured due to Coalition airstrikes on Baysan neighborhood, in the northeast of Mosul. Relatives of the dead later said that eight had in fact died, all from the family of Qasan Abdul Kadir and including four children. According to Yaqein and News of Iraq, the

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8
(4 children)
Civilians reported injured
8
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected attacker
US-led Coalition
View Incident

date

March 1, 2017

Incident Code

CI497

LOCATION

سوق الشعارين, Mosul, Sha'aren market, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources said that 18 persons were either killed or injured, including children and women, after airstrikes reportedly struck the Sha’aren market and mills area in western Mosul. Iraq News reported “the deaths of four people and the injuring of 14 others including women and children, following an aerial bombardment on the Sha’aren market and

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
14
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected attacker
US-led Coalition
View Incident

date

March 10, 2017

Incident Code

CI529

LOCATION

اليرموك, Mosul, Yarmouk, Nineveh, Iraq

Local press and residents, as well as al-Amaq (ISIL) press sources, said that Coalition shelling had targeted several neighborhoods at the right side of Mosul, especially near apartments in Al-Yarmouk neighbourhood, with munitions equipped with controversial White Phosphorus. No civilian casualties were reported. Iraqi Spring posted a video on Facebook of al-Amaq agency [ISIL], showing

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected attacker
US-led Coalition
View Incident

date

March 20, 2017

Incident Code

CI563

LOCATION

حي الفاروق, Mosul, New Bab/ Farouq, Nineveh, Iraq

A single source reported that 55 civilians were killed by “military operations” in New Bab and Farouq neighborhoods in the west of Mosul. No further details are currently available.

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
55
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected attacker
US-led Coalition
View Incident

date

April 11, 2017

Incident Code

CI628

LOCATION

سحاب, Mosul, al-Saha and al-Sham gate, Nineveh, Iraq

A single local source reported that over thirty civilians, including women and children, were killed in Coalition airstrikes on al-Saha and al-Sham neighbourhoods in West Mosul. Other sources reported that in total 73 civilians were killed and 200 wounded after three days of bombing by the international Coalition and Iraqi forces.

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
30
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected attackers
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident

date

April 23, 2017

Incident Code

CI661

LOCATION

تل عفر, Tall Afar, Nineveh, Iraq

A single local source reported that dozens of civilians were killed and injured after Coalition airstrikes allegedly hit Tal Afar city, West of Mosul. According to Yaqein, “dozens of civilians were killed and wounded on Monday in a raid by coalition warplanes in the district of Tal Afar west of the city of Mosul, the

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 24
Civilians reported injured
2–24
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected attacker
US-led Coalition
View Incident

date

May 8, 2017

Incident Code

CI695

LOCATION

الإصلاح الزراعي, Mosul, Islah al Zirai, Nineveh, Iraq

Two local sources reported that three children and their mother were killed after a either an airstrike or rocket attack hit their house in Islah Al Zerae neighborhood, in West Mosul. The Nineveh Media Centre reported that “Local source confirmed the martyrdom of three children and their mother when a rocket attack targeted their house.”

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
(3 children1 woman)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected attackers
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident

date

June 17, 2017

Incident Code

CI766

LOCATION

Mosul, Al Shafaa, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on September 29th, 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment on social media claims of civilian harm “near Mosul, Iraq”. According to the Coalition report, “112. June 17, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report: The report contains insufficient information of the time, location

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected attacker
US-led Coalition
View Incident

date

July 2, 2017

Incident Code

CI798

LOCATION

الموصل القديمة, Mosul, Old City, Nineveh, Iraq

One woman died and others were injured after a suspected Coalition airstrike destroyed a house. As Associated Press reported: “Iraqi forces have repeatedly requested airstrikes in Mosul, often to kill teams of just two or three IS fighters armed with light weapons. Manhal Munir was sheltering in the basement of his home with his extended

Summary

Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 4
(1 woman)
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 attacker
US-led Coalition
View Incident