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

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

First published
July 2, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
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 belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

September 26, 2014

Incident Code

CS003

LOCATION

الحسكة, Al-Hasakah, Al Hassakah, Syria

The Syrian Martyrs website claimed that three named men were killed in a Coalition airstrike. On its summary page Syrian Martyrs listed the trio as civilians. However, their individual pages describe them as fighters. According to a video tribute, Akta’a was an opponent of the Assad regime who had also fought the Kurds in Syria’s

Summary

First published
September 26, 2014
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 4
(0–3 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
3 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 20, 2018

Incident Code

CS1715b

LOCATION

near al-Khashmah, Syria, Deir Ezzor, Syria

In an incident previously not tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of four civilians in an event near al-Khashmah. In its April 2019 monthly civilian casualty report, the Coalition noted: “Coalition aircraft conducted multiple engagements against Daesh forces. Regrettably, four civilians were unintentionally killed due to their proximity to the targets.” The

Summary

First published
January 20, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

September 20, 2015

Incident Code

CI109

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

A US airstrike on an ‘ISIS headquarters’ in Mosul in fact killed four members of one family – named as university professor Mohannad Al Rezzo (pictured below); his 18-year old son Najib Mohannad Al Rezzo (pictured below); his brother Bassim’s wife Miyada Rezzo and their 21-year old daughter Tuka Rezzo. The Coalition admitted the deaths

Summary

First published
September 20, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
(2 children1 woman1 man)
Civilians reported injured
2
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 11, 2015

Incident Code

CS098

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Warakat Samra near Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

In the second of three Raqaa incidents for July 11th in which Coalition aircraft allegedly caused non-combatant deaths, a woman and two or three of her children died in an airstrike at the village of Warakat Samra according to reports. Her husband was severely injured in the attack, losing his leg. Local activist Abu Ibrahim

Summary

First published
July 11, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 4
(2–3 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
1
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
View Incident

Incident date

May 27, 2017

Incident Code

CS870

LOCATION

المشلب, Al Mashlab, Raqqa, Syria

Four civilians died and eight were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa’s Al Mashlab neighbourhood, according to two local sources. No further details are presently known. In its December 2017 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition acknowledged that on “May 27, 2017 near Raqqah, Syria via media report. During a Coalition strike which destroyed

Summary

First published
May 27, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
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

September 25, 2017

Incident Code

CS1525

LOCATION

البوكمال, Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

At least one civilian was killed with perhaps four or more additional casualties after a Coalition airstike near Al Hana hospital in Abu Kamal, according to local media. While a number of sources didn’t identify the culprit, at least two attributed the incident to the US-led Coalition. In July 2018 the alliance accepted responsibility for

Summary

First published
September 25, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 4
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

October 18, 2017

Incident Code

CS1646

LOCATION

الشحيل, Al Shaheel, Deir Ezzor, Syria

On October 18, 2017, two to four civilians were killed in an airstrike on Al Shaheel, according to local media, though sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. Two men were killed identified by name by multiple sources. Al Sharqiya Observatory said that the victims died from wounds sustained in a Coalition strike.

Summary

First published
October 18, 2017
Last updated
June 20, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 4
(2–4 men)
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, Russian Military
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

May 15, 2018

Incident Code

CS1751a

LOCATION

السوسة, near As Susah, Syria, Deir Ezzor, Syria

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of four civilians near As Susah. In its July 2018 report, the Coalition noted: “During a strike on Daesh IED facility, four civilians were unintentionally killed”. The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100

Summary

First published
May 15, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

December 30, 2015

Incident Code

CI171

LOCATION

يت, Hit, Al Anbar, Iraq

An alleged Coalition strike at Hit in Anbar resulted in the deaths of four named civilians. Hit News reported that Coalition strikes hit the area around the Khaled Saadoun mosque and a nearby industrial district “resulting in the deaths of a number of innocent citizens.” In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports,

Summary

First published
December 30, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
(2–4 men)
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
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

November 2, 2016

Incident Code

CS356

LOCATION

معرة مصرين, Maraat Misrin, Idlib, Syria

Airstrikes variously blamed on the Coalition, on Russia and on the Assad regime targeted Fatah al Sham positions in Maarat Mislin, reportedly also killing four civilians and injuring at least two more. Initial reports – which said the town was struck three times – claimed either Russia or the Assad regime was responsible. The Syrian

Summary

First published
November 2, 2016
Last updated
March 24, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2–10
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, Russian Military, Syrian Regime
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 10, 2017

Incident Code

CS481

LOCATION

هنيدة, Hunaida, Raqqa, Syria

A reported Coalition airstrike on a gas station at Hunaida killed four civilians, according to local reports. Syrian PC and Smart News identically noted that “Warplanes thought to belong to the coalition targeted Abo Saleh Al-A’lwewi petrol station in Hunaida village which is under IS control which killed four civilians and wounded eight, and burned

Summary

First published
February 10, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
8
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

October 24, 2016

Incident Code

CS346

LOCATION

الجرنية, Al Jarnia, Raqqa, Syria

Coalition raids in the vicinity of ground fighting left at least 2 civilians dead, according to local sources. Initial reports from ISIS-controlled Al A’amaq Agency blamed the Coalition for the deaths of two civilians. Subsequent reporting echoed that account (they may have been based on Al A’amaq);Al Jarnia and several other outlets named the two

Summary

First published
October 24, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 4
Civilians reported injured
2–5
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
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

November 6, 2016

Incident Code

CS359

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Al Safsafa, Raqqa, Syria

Four civilians were killed in coalition strikes, according to local sources. Step News Agency reported that “4 civilians were killed and others injured in an air raid by the international coalition targeting Al Safsafa neighborhood in the city of Raqqa.” Al Mirsad and Al Amawi also reported raids in the neighborhood and said 4 civilians

Summary

First published
November 6, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
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
View Incident

Incident date

February 13, 2017

Incident Code

CS490

LOCATION

هنيدة, Hunaida, Raqqa, Syria

A single source reported the deaths of four civilians at Hunaida village near Raqqa. According to Smart News, “Local sources told our Smart reporter that planes likely to be the international coalition, launched raids on the towns of Mansoura and Hunaida in the western countryside, killing four civilians and seriously wounding seven others, including women.”

Summary

First published
February 13, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 4
Civilians reported injured
6–7
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

May 10, 2017

Incident Code

CS793

LOCATION

شنينة, Shanina, Raqqa, Syria

Four civilians including two children and one woman were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes at Shanina village, north of Raqqa city. Among the dead were one woman and two children, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported the names of civilians killed. All three sources alleged the

Summary

First published
May 10, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
4
(2 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
Named victims
4 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

October 17, 2017

Incident Code

CS1645a RS2643

LOCATION

الغبرة, Al-Ghabra, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airstrikes struck a residential neighbourhood and popular market in Al-Ghabra – according to local media. As many as four civilians were killed and others were injured. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame for the airstrikes, some attributing blame to Russian warplanes while others blamed the Syrian regime.  Some sources attributed blame to

Summary

First published
October 17, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
(1–2 children1–2 women1 man)
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime
Named victims
4 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 11, 2015

Incident Code

CS099

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

In the last of three reported Raqaa incidents for July 11th, a civilian firefighting team in the city reportedly died in a coalition airstrike. According to Al Araby, the Coalition “launched eight raids targeting Daesh sites on the outskirts of Raqqa city. These hit the areas of Al Hamrat, Al Sina’a [Industry] and the Faculty

Summary

First published
July 11, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
(4 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
Suspected target
ISIS
View Incident

Incident date

June 23, 2016

Incident Code

CS240

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

In a previously unreported incident, the US admitted six months later that it had killed four civilians in an attack on Raqqa, noting that “June 23, 2016, near Ar Raqqah, Syria, during a strike against an ISIL-held building, it is assessed that four civilians were killed after entering the target area after the aircraft released

Summary

First published
June 23, 2016
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 25, 2017

Incident Code

CS1081

LOCATION

ﺍﻡ ﺣﻔﻮﺭ, Umm Hfour, Al Hassakah, Syria

According to multiple local sources, “a whole family” died in the village of Umm Hfour in an alleged Coalition airstrike. Hasaka Voice and other sources the victims died “because they were targeted by an air strike by the International Coalition”. The US-led alliance eventually reported strikes in the vicinity that day, suggesting that the cause

Summary

First published
June 25, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
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

September 25, 2017

Incident Code

CS1526

LOCATION

Al Badou neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria

According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, Raqqa24 and the Shaam News Netowork, a number of civilians were killed and wounded when they were hit with artillery shells as they gathered to collect water in Raqqah’s al Badou neighbourhood. Athr Press attributed the event to ground forces, saying that “four civilians were killed and others

Summary

First published
September 25, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces, ISIS
View Incident

Incident date

November 18, 2017

Incident Code

CS1676

LOCATION

ابو حمام, Abu Haman, Deir Ezzor, Syria

According to the Euphrates Post, the Syrian Democratic Forces carried out an artillery bombardment on Abu Hamam. It said that there had been civilian casualties but didn’t specify a number. Al Qouriya Media Center provided some more detail. It reported that “artillery shelling targeted a family from al-Qouriya, the family of Hussein al-Ali al-Sayer al-Hamad.

Summary

First published
November 18, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 4
Civilians reported injured
2–13
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
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

June 13, 2018

Incident Code

CS1769

LOCATION

الباغوز, Al Baghouz Fawqani, Deir Ezzor, Syria

According to local sources, up to four civilians, including women and children, were killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Baghouz Foqani. Step News Agency reported that two women and one girl were killed and another person injured. The Syrian Network for Human Rights however stated that in fact two children and one woman

Summary

First published
June 13, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 4
(1–3 children1–2 women)
Civilians reported injured
6–13
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
4 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

October 30, 2018

Incident Code

CS1821

LOCATION

الشعفة, Al Sha'afa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Local sources reported on “two new massacres” resulting from alleged Coalition airstrikes targeting the towns of Al Sha’afa and al-Kushma in Deir al-Zour.  Media reported said that four civilians died in this particular event in Sha’fa, when a civilian’s home was allegedly struck by the Coalition. According to The Al Sha’afa Facebook page on October

Summary

First published
October 30, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
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
View Incident

Incident date

October 17, 2015

Incident Code

CS138

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Four named civilians were reported killed in an airstrike at Manbij, although opinions were split as to whether the victims had been killed by the Assad regime or by the Coalition. As Ara News noted, “the identity of the planes remains unknown, because of the number of different actors that are bombing the Aleppo countryside

Summary

First published
October 17, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 4
(3–4 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime
Named victims
4 named
View Incident

Incident date

April 24, 2016

Incident Code

CS206

LOCATION

كفرغان, Kafr Ghan, Aleppo, Syria

The Daesh-linked Al A’Amaq Agency reported the deaths of four civilians “in an American bombing on the village of Kafr Ghan in Souran in the northern Aleppo countryside.” Other news agencies also reported the deaths of civilians in an alleged Coalition event. Syria News, while making no mention of civilian casualties, reported that “International coalition

Summary

First published
April 24, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
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

July 3, 2016

Incident Code

CS245

LOCATION

الخفسة, Al Khafsa, Aleppo, Syria

Four civilians were killed and three injured in a US strike at Al Khafsa. According to the Manbij Coordinating Committee, “the village of Arba’a Kbeer [al Hamr] suffered Coalition raids on the road between Manbij and al Khafsa. There are wounded and one death of a displaced person in the area.” One of the dead

Summary

First published
July 3, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

November 13, 2016

Incident Code

CS372

LOCATION

طريق حزيمة - تل أبيض, Hazima-al Tabyad road, Raqqa, Syria

A family of four was reported killed when their car was struck in an alleged Coalition airstrke on the Hazime-Tal Abiyad road. Sadaa al Sham cited local sources as saying that “Coalition aircraft targeted a car belonging to displaced people on the road between Hazima and Tal Abiyad north of the city of Raqqa, killing

Summary

First published
November 13, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
(2 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
View Incident

Incident date

November 24, 2016

Incident Code

CI349

LOCATION

شارع الجزائر, Mosul, Algeria Street, Nineveh, Iraq

A single outlet, Iraqyoon News, cited local sources and reported on Facebook that four civil defence employees were killed by an alleged Coalition strike on Algeria Street in the east of Mosul. In a January 2nd 2017 statement which may refer to this or the previous event, the Coalition noted: Nov. 24, 2016, near Mosul,

Summary

First published
November 24, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident