US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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

Incident date

September 19, 2018

Incident Code

CS1800

LOCATION

الباغوز, Al Bagouz Fawqani, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Local sources reported the death of an adult civilian male, Hussein al-Humeidahin al Bagouz. There was however a discrepancy in the reports. While some local sources attributed the civilian’s death to (SDF) artillery shelling, one source claimed that he was killed by a sniper. Euphrates Post reported for example the “martyrdom of Hussein al-Humeidah after

Summary

First published
September 19, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1–0 men)
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

November 17, 2018

Incident Code

CS1839

LOCATION

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

A girl was killed in an alleged airstrike on Al Soussa, Deir Ezzor, according to local reports. Smart News reported that dozens were wounded including the relatives of the victim, specifying that “her uncle was seriously injured”. Three sources including Euphrates Post and Deir Ezzor 24, reported that the Coalition was responsible. Further to this,

Summary

First published
November 17, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
Civilians reported injured
12–24
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 belligerents
US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime
Suspected target
ISIS
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

November 2, 2016

Incident Code

RS1518

LOCATION

معرة مصرين, Maarat Misrin, Idlib, Syria

Four civilians died and between four and ten were wounded after a series of three cluster missile attacks were carried out against the city of Maarat Misrin, according to local media. The majority of sources have assigned responsibility to Syrian regime planes but LCCSY and Syria Idlib Today alleged that Russian warplanes carried out the

Summary

First published
November 2, 2016
Last updated
December 19, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
4–10
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
2 named
Geolocation
City
View Incident

Incident date

July 3, 2017

Incident Code

CS1151a

LOCATION

الحسينية, Al Hussainiya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Coalition airstrikes allegedly struck the towns of Al Husseiniya, Baghiliya, Mara’iyah around the same time. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that International Coalition warplanes shelled areas in Al-Husseiniya, killing two men in in Al-Husseiniya and wounding an unknown number of others. Not other details are known. In their June 2020 civilian casualty report, the

Summary

First published
July 3, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 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
View Incident

Incident date

March 19, 2016

Incident Code

RS738 CS192

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

In a second day of airstrikes on Raqqa, 43 civilians were reported killed and 60 injured – though sources are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime – with one report suggesting this may be a Coalition incident. The Daesh agency Al A’maq said there had been nine

Summary

First published
March 19, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
39 – 43
(5 women8 men)
Civilians reported injured
60
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Unknown, Syrian Regime, US-led Coalition
Named victims
14 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

June 9, 2017

Incident Code

CS955b

LOCATION

شارع النور, Al Nour Mosque, Raqqa, Syria

Five people were killed due to an airstrike that destroyed their home near the Al Nour mosque. Some of their names were initially reported on by several local sources (RBSS, RFS, Step News Agency) in connection to incident CS955a. During investigations of this event for the April 2019 joint Airwars and Amnesty report War in

Summary

First published
June 9, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(2 children2 women1 man)
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
6 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

October 16, 2014

Incident Code

CS013

LOCATION

كبيبة, Kabiba, Al Hassakah, Syria

In a major night time coalition air raid targeting oil facilities used by Islamic State, five civilians including a 7- or 10-year old boy were reported killed. The dead were later named by various sources. In a detailed report on the event, SN4HR later noted: “Those civilians are from Kabiba town and they work on

Summary

First published
October 16, 2014
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(1 child2–3 men)
Civilians reported injured
6
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
View Incident

Incident date

October 2, 2019

Incident Code

CS1934

LOCATION

الطيانة, Al Tayyana, Deir Ezzor, Syria

One or two people were killed in airstrikes on the town of Al Tayyana, Deir Ezzor governorate, in the night of October 2nd 2019. Nedaa and Deirezzor24 reported that international coalition forces launched raids and searches in cooperation with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). A reporter of Deir Ezzor 24 noted that an airdrop operation

Summary

First published
October 22, 2019
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 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 belligerents
US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces
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

September 26, 2021

Incident Code

CS1964

LOCATION

الزر, Al Zir, Deir Ezzor, Syria

At least one young man, a civilian, was killed and two to three other civilians were injured in alleged Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces raids on the village of Al Zir on September 26, 2021. Two to three others were arrested in the raids but it is unclear if they were civilians or members of

Summary

First published
September 26, 2021
Last updated
April 30, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Cause of injury / death
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
1 named
Geolocation
Village
View Incident

Incident date

February 4, 2015

Incident Code

CS051

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

An internal CENTCOM review cited claims from a redacted Twitter user that “Coalition aircraft killed an entire family in an airstrike on Ar Raqqah ‘in response to the killing of Jordanian pilot Mu’adh al-Kasasibah.’ The allegation was accompanied by an attached photo showing the alleged victims wrapped in white cloth.“ An internal review found that

Summary

First published
February 4, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
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 18, 2015

Incident Code

CS080

LOCATION

تل أبيض, Tall Abyad, Raqqa, Syria

Two women were reported by a single source, the Syrian Observatory, as having been killed in a “Coalition airstrike” in the countryside around Tal Abiyad. In July 2017 the Coalition classed the event as non credible on grounds of available evidence of civilian harm: “Jun. 18, 2015, near Tal Abyad, Syria, via Airwars report: After

Summary

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

Incident date

July 16, 2015

Incident Code

CS102

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Coalition aircraft allegedly destroyed an “ISIS-owned digger,” killing a man local monitoring group Raqaa is Being Slaughtered Silently described as a civilian driver: “Coalition planes targeted a drilling vehicle belonging to Daesh which is used for digging berms in the area of Tal Al Bayi’a. This led to the burning of the vehicle, and to

Summary

First published
July 16, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 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
View Incident

Incident date

August 30, 2015

Incident Code

CI098

LOCATION

أربيل, Near Irbil, Erbil, Iraq

Three or four possible civilians were reported killed in an airstrike in northern Iraq, carried out by two Danish F-16s which each dropped a 500lb GBU-12 bomb. The possible error was discovered after a Danish review of cockpit video: “In some parts of the footage showing four people and a vehicle, there were acts being

Summary

First published
August 30, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 4
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
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

November 16, 2015

Incident Code

CI141

LOCATION

الرمادي, Ramadi, Al Anbar, Iraq

A family of six was reportedly killed after an alleged Coalition airstrike was said to have destroyed a car in the centre of Ramadi. The source of the claim appeared to be the Russian Sputnik news service, which said those killed “are from poor families, unable to flee and under the control of Daesh in

Summary

First published
November 16, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
(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

February 13, 2016

Incident Code

CI188

LOCATION

المحلبية, Mahalabiya, Nineveh, Iraq

Three children reportedly died in an alleged Coalition strike on the village of Mahalabiya, to the west of Mosul. An anonymous source cited by Face Iraq complained that there was “constant indiscriminate shelling on the villages and areas of the city of Mosul, under the pretext of the presence of criminal elements from Daesh.” In

Summary

First published
February 13, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(3 children)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

March 23, 2016

Incident Code

CI205

LOCATION

Hajj Ali, Nineveh, Iraq

The Coalition announced on April 30th 2017 that it had concluded an assessment on an NGO’s claims of civilian harm “near Hajj Ali, Iraq”. It is unknown to Airwars which NGO it is referred to. According to the Coalition report, “1. March 23, 2016, near Hajj Ali, Iraq, via NGO report: No Coalition strikes were

Summary

First published
March 23, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
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

April 18, 2016

Incident Code

CI228

LOCATION

صديرة, Sudayrah, Salah Al Din, Iraq

According to local sources, unknown aircraft struck boats in Sidera village east of Shirkat north of Tikrit, killing 22 civilians and injuring at least 15 more. Russia Today claimed that the night time event “killed five brothers from one family” with a number of houses in the village destroyed. According to News of Iraq, the

Summary

First published
April 18, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
22
Civilians reported injured
15–20
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

July 15, 2016

Incident Code

CS265

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

A young adult civilian male named as Ahmad Ibrahim al Faress was reported killed in a Coalition strike on Manbij. It is either the second reported event of the day in Manbij, or is linked to the previous incident. The Syrian Network reported Coalition strikes on the city that day but made no mention of

Summary

First published
July 15, 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

September 15, 2016

Incident Code

CS313 RS1266

LOCATION

ميادين, Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

In what was widely reported as a Russian action, at least 27 civilians died and more than 70 were injured following airstrikes on Al Mayadeen. Almost all sources including Daesh blamed Russia. Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered said 6 Russian planes carried out 20 strikes between them, including on a children’s playground. Shaam News added

Summary

First published
September 15, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian infrastructure
Healthcare facility, School
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
27 – 40
(9 children4–8 women)
Civilians reported injured
70
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, Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
24 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

October 17, 2016

Incident Code

CS340

LOCATION

الطنيرة, at Tanira, Raqqa, Syria

A man was killed when his home was reportedly hit by a Coalition strike, according to local sources. Raqqa is Being Silently Slaughtered reported that a man identified as Ali al Jreik al Jairi was killed “following the targeting of his home by an international coalition air raid.” The Syrian Observatory reported an unidentified man

Summary

First published
October 17, 2016
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

October 30, 2016

Incident Code

CS354

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Mashlab, Raqqa, Syria

Multiple sources, including Halab Today TV and Al Amawi News, reported the death of a child and the injuring of this father in a coalition raid on the al Mashlab neighborhood east of Raqqa. Smart News reported strikes in Raqqa targeting ISIL, which it said killed four militants. It said the death of the child

Summary

First published
October 30, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
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

November 22, 2016

Incident Code

CS387 TS014

LOCATION

صابويران, Sab Wayran, Aleppo, Syria

Two girls died in a reported Turkish or Coalition airstrike on the village of Sab Wayran near Aleppo, Syria. Manbij Military Council (linked to the SDF) reported that “two sisters were martyred from the family of Ahmad al Rashid Beish Illo after Turkish occupation planes raided their home in the village of Sab Wayran.” It added

Summary

First published
November 22, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 children)
Civilians reported injured
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, Turkish Military
Named victims
6 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

December 6, 2016

Incident Code

CS405 TS018

LOCATION

البزاعة, Al Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria

Multiple sources blamed the US-led Coalition for the deaths of a woman and her seven children at al Baza’a, north east of al Bab. However the Coalition later assessed the claims as ‘Not credible.’ Given Turkey’sd own campaign at the time at Al-Bab, its aircraft may therefore have been responsible. According to Step News “Coalition

Summary

First published
December 6, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8
(3–7 children1 woman)
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, Turkish Military
Named victims
7 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

December 26, 2016

Incident Code

CI377

LOCATION

حي القدس, Mosul, Qudis, Nineveh, Iraq

Local residents told Airwars researchers that an entire family was killed following alleged Coalition air strikes on their house in Qudis neighbourhood in East Mosul, in the afternoon of December 26th 2016. This was reported in an interview with two witnesses, on June 9th 2017. The two witnesses, Ala Samir Ahmed and Ali Abdulrazaq, said that

Summary

First published
December 26, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
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
View Incident

Incident date

January 14, 2017

Incident Code

CI424

LOCATION

حي الضباط, Mosul, Dhubat / Officers, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources reported that ‘hundreds of civilians’ were killed or injured due to Coalition airstrikes and shelling with artillery and missiles, which targeted the ‘Police and other neighborhoods’ in the East and North of Mosul. News of Iraq said 17 civilians were killed in two separate incidents in the Dhubat (Police) district of Mosul. It

Summary

First published
January 14, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
17
(2 men)
Civilians reported injured
12–24
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
3 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 27, 2017

Incident Code

CS463

LOCATION

شنينة, Shanina, Raqqa, Syria

Four civilians were reported killed – three of them possibly children – in alleged Coalition strikes on the village of Shanina. According to the Syrian Press Centre “Activists said aircraft believed to be from the international coalition targeted civilian houses in the village of Shanina with several air raids, which resulted in the deaths of

Summary

First published
January 27, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
(0–3 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
7
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

February 11, 2017

Incident Code

CS483

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Heavy airstrikes on Raqqa – reportedly by the Coalition – may have caused civilian casualties according to confused reports. According to Step News “international coalition raids target the grain silos, the finance building, the arts school and al Nai’m roundabout in the city of Raqqa a short while ago causing material and human losses as

Summary

First published
February 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