US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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

Incident date

September 14, 2015

Incident Code

CI104

LOCATION

الرطبة, Ar Rutbah, Al Anbar, Iraq

The marketplace in Ar Rutbah was hit in an alleged Coalition airstrike according to reports, killing up to five people and injuring eight more. An adult male and a young male child were pictured among the dead. Iraqi Revolution for example reported that “heavy shelling targeted Rutba focused on the market and fuel station and

Summary

First published
September 14, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 5
(2 children1 man)
Civilians reported injured
8
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
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
Suspected target
ISIS
View Incident

Incident date

July 10, 2016

Incident Code

CS256

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Five civilians were reported killed in Coalition strikes, including a woman and child. The US later admitted to two deaths in the attack, noting: “Manbij, Syria, during a strike against an ISIL target, it is assessed that two civilians were killed.” As Shaam News reported, “activists stressed that Syria democratic forces and elements of the

Summary

First published
July 10, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(1 child1 woman3 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

June 27, 2017

Incident Code

CI789

LOCATION

الموصل: غرب, Mosul, West, Nineveh, Iraq

Several local sources reported that a family of five was killed and one of the sons – a 4-year-old boy – severely injured after alleged Coalition airstrikes on their house in West Mosul (exact location presently unknown). Iraqi Spring Media Center quoted MP Riabar Taha of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), who reported the

Summary

First published
June 27, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
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
View Incident

Incident date

November 9, 2016

Incident Code

CI330

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Grain warehouse, Nineveh, Iraq

According to local and press sources that 5 civilians were killed followed an alleged US-led coalition air force shelled the grain warehouse and killed the guard family in Mosul. No additional details are presently known.  

Summary

First published
November 9, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

April 1, 2016

Incident Code

CS195

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

A targeted airstrike on Daesh officials in vehicles outside the Al Nour mosque in Al Daraiyeh also killed up to five civilians and injured as many as 30 more. The US later admitted responsibility for the attack, noting: “near Raqqah, Syria, against ISIL tactical unit, it is assessed that three civilians were killed after entering

Summary

First published
April 1, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 5
Civilians reported injured
30
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

April 30, 2016

Incident Code

CI235

LOCATION

الموصل, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the CENTCOM later confirmed the deaths of five civilians in a US strike in Mosul. Their November 2016 report noted: “during a strike against ISIL military leadership, it is assessed that five civilians were killed after entering the target area after the aircraft released its weapon.” In

Summary

First published
April 30, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 23, 2017

Incident Code

CI477

LOCATION

الموصل الجديدة, Mosul, Mosul al-Jadid / New Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Local and press sources said that four civilians were killed and twelve to sixteen others were injured, mostly children and women, when Coalition airstrikes targeted a residential building in the west of Mosul. While Iraqi Spring spoke of “Coalition” airstrikes, the other sources blamed the US more specifically. In two later posts, Iraqi Spring shared

Summary

First published
February 23, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
12–16
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

March 17, 2017

Incident Code

CS585

LOCATION

زور شمر, Zor Shmar, Raqqa, Syria

Five civilians were reported killed and eight or more injured following reported Coalition strikes at Zor Shamr and Kasrat Sheikh Juma’a. According to the Smart news agency, which also pointed towards the Coalition, “sources explained that the planes bombed the villages of Zor Shamr (45 km east of Raqqa city) and Kasrat Sheikh Juma’a (8

Summary

First published
March 17, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
8–10
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 14, 2017

Incident Code

CS692

LOCATION

مشيرفة, Mushirfa, Raqqa, Syria

Five civilians died and eight more were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Mushirfa, according to local media. All sources blamed the Coalition.

Summary

First published
April 14, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
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 belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 9, 2019

Incident Code

CS1884

LOCATION

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

According to sources on the ground, a family of five civilians was killed “by artillery shelling of SDF” on their house in the town of Al Soussa. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the family consisted of three children and their parents who were all killed. The Network dated the incident to January

Summary

First published
January 10, 2019
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(3 children1 woman1 man)
Civilians reported injured
2
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
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
Suspected target
ISIS
View Incident

Incident date

August 14, 2017

Incident Code

CS1372b

LOCATION

al-Badu, Raqqa, Syria

In this single-source event, a family of five, including two children and one woman, were killed as alleged Coalition airstrike hit a house in which the family had sought shelter in, in al-Badu, Raqqa, Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality, reported. Amnesty’s field researcher reported that the family was

Summary

First published
August 14, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(2 children1 woman2 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

June 11, 2017

Incident Code

CS1024a

LOCATION

Raqqa, Syria

In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, five civilians were reportedly killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike in Raqqa. Although Amnesty researched this incident on the ground, Airwars have decided to grade it “weak” due to the depth of material provided. The victims were not specifically named

Summary

First published
June 17, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(3 children1 woman)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

July 30, 2015

Incident Code

CS108

LOCATION

البوكمال, Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Five members of one family including three children were killed in a reported 1.30am Coalition strike on the Syria-Iraq border, according to two sources. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted the following: “Suspected US-led coalition warplanes carried out several raids after midnight on places around Aysha hospital and other places around the city of

Summary

First published
July 30, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(3 children1 woman1 man)
Civilians reported injured
17
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 belligerent
US-led Coalition
Suspected target
ISIS
Named victims
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

November 4, 2015

Incident Code

CI133

LOCATION

حمام العليل, Hamam al Alil, Nineveh, Iraq

Five non-combatants were reportedly killed and four more injured after an alleged Coalition airstrike hit a home at Hammam al-Alil. According to NINA, “international Coalition aircraft bombed residential neighborhoods in the Hamam al-Alil area, and the shelling resulted in the deaths of five civilians, including a child, and the wounding of four others.” A Daesh

Summary

First published
November 4, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(1 child)
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

July 11, 2016

Incident Code

CS257

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

As intense Coalition airstrikes and ground actions against Manbij continued, reports of civilian casualties continued to grow. However reporting remained very confused. Five civilians were reported killed either by a sniper or by Coalition strikes. Manbij Agency for Documentation named the dead. In the second of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition

Summary

First published
July 11, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(3 children2 women)
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
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 30, 2017

Incident Code

CS647

LOCATION

الهزيمة, Al Hazimah, Raqqa, Syria

A single source, the Smart News Agency, reported that five civilians including two women died and three others were left in a critical condition in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Hazima. No further details are currently available.  

Summary

First published
March 30, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(2 women)
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

April 22, 2017

Incident Code

CS715

LOCATION

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Raqqa, Syria

The Smart News Agency reported that a likely Coalition strike “targeted an ambulance while it was heading to the National Hospital in Al Tabaqa, resulting in the death of the patient who was being transported, two nurses and the driver.” According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least five civilians died in what

Summary

First published
April 22, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
None known
Civilians reported killed
4 – 5
Suspected belligerents
View Incident

Incident date

June 15, 2017

Incident Code

CS998

LOCATION

الانتفاضة, Ar Raqqah: Near Khaled Bin Waled school, Intifada neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria

Five civilians – including a father and his three children – died in a Coalition airstrike on Raqqa’s Al Intifada neighbourhood, local sources reported. The Coalition later conceded to have killed four civilians in the strike. Besides from the killing of a father and his three children, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS) additionally said

Summary

First published
June 15, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(3 children1 woman)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

September 24, 2017

Incident Code

CS1521

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Central, Raqqa, Syria

Five civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition air or artillery strikes in Raqqa, local sources reported. According to the Step News Agency, “five civilians were killed and others are missing under the rubble as a result of aerial and ground bombing by the international Coalition in neighborhoods controlled by IS in the middle of

Summary

First published
September 24, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
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

October 27, 2018

Incident Code

CS1816

LOCATION

البوبدران, Al Boubadran, Deir Ezzor, Syria

In what local media referred to as a “massacre”, five civilians including a woman and two or three children were reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the house of Rajab al-Hassan in the area of Al Boubadran, a village near al Soussa said to be under ISIS control. The victims were named by multiple

Summary

First published
October 27, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(2–3 children1 woman2 men)
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
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 9, 2016

Incident Code

RS354 CS164

LOCATION

عين عيسى, `Ayn `Isa, Raqqa, Syria

A strike by aircraft reportedly killed five civilians. Syria News attributed the attack to Russia, while Ara News said it was a Coalition action. VDC – which attributed the attack to the regime – named five victims. In their February 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian

Summary

First published
January 9, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(4 children1 man)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime
Named victims
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 27, 2017

Incident Code

CS1285a

LOCATION

Raqqa, Syria

In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, five civilians were 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. According to Amnesty field notes

Summary

First published
July 27, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(1 child3 women1 man)
Civilians reported injured
3
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

December 25, 2015

Incident Code

CI166

LOCATION

الرمادي, Ramadi, Al Anbar, Iraq

Military aircraft – which some sources described as the Coalition’s – reportedly killed five civilians in a Christmas Day strike. According to Al Rafidain the attack could have been the work either of the Iraq Army or the Coalition, noting that “army aviation commander Hamid al-Maliki also confirmed that army helicopters carried out a raid

Summary

First published
December 25, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
20
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 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 20, 2017

Incident Code

CS595

LOCATION

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Multiple locations, Raqqa, Syria

In the third reported event at Tabaqa on March 20th, five civilians died and nine were injured in an airstrike in Tabaqa, though it was unclear from reports who was responsible. According to the Smart news agency, “five civilians were killed and nine others were injured on Monday evening following raids targeting the market car

Summary

First published
March 20, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
9
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 24, 2017

Incident Code

CS613

LOCATION

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Raqqa, Syria

Five civilians died and ten more were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on a mosque in Tabaqa, according to local media. Alfayha reported that “a Coalition warplane shelled near Fatima mosque in the Maghniya neighbourhood after Friday Prayers and killed five civilians and wounded 10 more. The death toll is likely to increase.” Smart

Summary

First published
March 24, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
10
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

May 12, 2017

Incident Code

CS806

LOCATION

القورية, Quriya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

According to the Euphrates Post, five named civilians died in an airstrike when the car they were in was struck in Quriya. According to one source, Zaman Alwasl, the victims died as they were returning from a picnic in nearby Badia. The US-led alliance later accepted responsibility for injuring one person in the event. All

Summary

First published
May 12, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(2 children5 men)
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Named victims
5 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 6, 2017

Incident Code

CS1166

LOCATION

الفردوس, Fardous, Raqqa, Syria

Four civilians from one family, including three children and their mother, were killed and two further members of the family were injured in alleged Coalition airstrikes on the Al Ferdos neighbourhood of Raqqa, according to local sources. The source also reported that Mounir al Hariri and Taher al Hariri were injured in the strikes and

Summary

First published
July 6, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 5
(3 children1 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 belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
6 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

August 19, 2017

Incident Code

CI831

LOCATION

تلعفر, Tal Afar, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of five civilians in an event near Tal Afar, Iraq. Their October 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a Coalition strike that destroyed an ISIS headquarters structure, it was assessed that five civilians were unintentionally killed.” In July 2019 the Coalition

Summary

First published
August 19, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

April 13, 2019

Incident Code

CS1917

LOCATION

الطكيحي, Al Takihi, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Between midnight and 5 am on the morning of April 13th five people were reportedly killed in what was described as a “landing operation” by the US-led Coalition in Al-Takihi village. According to Jisir TV, the operation was carried out by several Apache helicopters and Hummer vehicles. It was, however, unclear who killed the victims (whose

Summary

First published
April 13, 2019
Last updated
March 22, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 5
(1 woman0–4 men)
Civilians reported injured
8
Causes of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces
Suspected target
ISIS
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
Belligerents reported killed
0–4
View Incident