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 4, 2015

Incident Code

CS087

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

The day of July 4th saw multiple allegations of civilian casualties reported in Raqqa. In one of them, an internally displaced family of seven living under a bridge was said to have been crushed to death following a Coalition airstrike. Buzzfeed cited a surviving close relative in Turkey, who declined to be named publicly but

Summary

First published
July 4, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7
(2 children2 women3 men)
Civilians reported injured
24
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.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Known target
ISIS
View Incident

Incident date

November 27, 2016

Incident Code

CS398

LOCATION

الحاوي, Hawi, Deir Ezzor, Syria

A Coalition raid on oil infrastructure at Hawi in the Zebain area killed three civilians, according to multiple reports. The Coalition later confirmed the incident. According to Deir Ezzor 24 and others, those killed died when oil burners (primitive refineries) were targeted. Syria News Desk reported that “international coalition planes launched raids on primitive refineries

Summary

First published
November 27, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
7
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

March 27, 2017

Incident Code

CS626

LOCATION

سرمدا, Sarmada, Idlib, Syria

Up to three civilians were killed on the road between Sarmada and Kafr Daryan when their nearby motorcycle was hit in what appears to have been a unilateral US strike targeting members of Ahrar al Sham. The Coalition later admitted to the strike and reported that three civilians were killed and two were injured. According

Summary

First published
March 27, 2017
Last updated
March 17, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 3
(2–3 men)
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
Known target
Al Qaeda
Named victims
3 named
View Incident

Incident date

April 5, 2016

Incident Code

CI217

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

In what may be the same incident as CI216 or CI218 – or a separate targeted killing operation – the US revealed three weeks after the event that a strike on an ‘ISIL finance emir’ had also killed a woman civilian. Three months later CENTCOM revealed two additional civilian deaths in the event. General Peter

Summary

First published
April 5, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(0–2 children1 woman)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 13, 2017

Incident Code

CI419

LOCATION

العربي, Mosul, Arabi, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources said Coalition airstrikes struck civilian houses in Al Arabi neighborhood, northeast of Mosul, and left dozens of civilian casualties. The area targeted belongs to the Christian community and had been under ISIL control. Ajel Al Mosul reported that “one of the houses, which was bombed at Arabi neighborhood, is the house of Nurse

Summary

First published
January 13, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 12
Civilians reported injured
1–24
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

July 4, 2015

Incident Code

CS089

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Car opposite Al Hameeda School, Al Jumaili, Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

In some of the heaviest coalition bombing reported for Syria to that time, US aircraft struck multiple Daesh targets in the strategic city of Raqaa – the beginning of a lengthy air campaign in which numerous civilians are now confirmed to have died. Between 7 and 8 civilians were reported as being among the 23

Summary

First published
July 4, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7 – 8
(3 children4–5 men)
Civilians reported injured
24
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
8 named
View Incident

Incident date

June 11, 2015

Incident Code

CS076

LOCATION

سلوك, Suluk, Raqqa, Syria

Up to nine civilians were killed by US aircraft at Slouk in Raqaa’s suburbs. Al Hal quoted Abu Ibrahim Al Raquaou of the group Raqaa is Being Slaughtered Silently as saying that as part of an operation to clear Slouk of Daesh militants, Coalition planes had “targeted IS machinery near the Slouk Front and its

Summary

First published
June 11, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5 – 9
(3–5 children2 women2 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
9 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

May 27, 2017

Incident Code

CS870a

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Raqqa, Syria

In a previously unreported incident, in the US-led Coalition’s December 2017 report, it conceded it had killed three civilians in near Raqqa. Without a more accurate location, Airwars cannot determine if the Coalition’s assessment matches any of the five locally reported civilian events which occurred in the area on that day, including incident CS870.

Summary

First published
May 27, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

December 28, 2017

Incident Code

CS1703

LOCATION

تل الذهب, Tal Al Thahab or Tal Al Shayr, Al Hassakah, Syria

Three civilians died in an alleged Coalition strike on Tal Al Thahab or Tal Al Shayr, near the Syrian-Iraqi border, according to local sources on the ground. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “three civilians from the same family, including a child and a woman, were killed as International Coalition warplanes fired missiles

Summary

First published
December 28, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(1 child1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
3 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 27, 2017

Incident Code

CS626a

LOCATION

Sarmada, Idlib, Syria

In an incident previously not tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of three civilians and the injury of another in an incident near Idlib, Syria. In its May 2019 civilian casualty report, the Coalition noted: “Coalition aircraft conducted a strike against a Daesh vehicle. Regrettably, three civilians were unintentionally killed and one

Summary

First published
March 27, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

August 13, 2015

Incident Code

CS112

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Two or more US targeted airstrikes aimed at killing 21-year old British cyber terrorist Junaid Hussain instead resulted in the deaths of 3 civilians and the injuring of at least 5 more, a US investigation later concluded. “On Aug. 13, 2015, near Ar Raqqah, Syria, during strikes against Junaid Hussain, an ISIL cyber-operative, it was

Summary

First published
August 13, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
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 20, 2017

Incident Code

CS510

LOCATION

منطقة مدرسة المعري, Al Maari school area, Raqqa, Syria

Between five and ten civilians including three women died and ten others were injured in an airstrike on the Al Maari school area of Raqqa, according to local media. While the majority of sources said that this was the work of the Coalition, one report attributed the incident to the Assad regime. The Coalition later

Summary

First published
February 20, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian infrastructure
School
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 10
(3 women)
Civilians reported injured
10
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

November 14, 2015

Incident Code

CS144

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah [exact location], Raqqa, Syria

At least three civilians died in a Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, the alliance later confirmed. At the time the Syrian Observatory cited “reliable sources’ as saying that “Coalition warplanes targeted a heavy machine gun for IS near al-Nour mosque but missed the target and killed 3 people at least by opening fire on a house.”

Summary

First published
November 14, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

July 28, 2015

Incident Code

CS107

LOCATION

كفرهند, Kafr Hind, Idlib, Syria

A US targeted air strike (possibly by drone) aimed at four al-Nusra Front suspects traveling in a vehicle also killed up to 10 civilians including six children. The US has admitted three deaths in the event. Reporting at the time was somewhat confused. Some sources said a vehicle was wrongly targeted killing four civilians. The

Summary

First published
July 28, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8 – 10
(6 children2 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
8 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 5, 2016

Incident Code

CS162

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Airstrikes targeted the Water Foundation building on the outskirts of Raqqah around midnight, killing an employee of the organization and two building guards according to the Syrian Observatory (which did not attribute the strike to any particular party.) Other sources made no mention of casualties, although a propaganda video released by Daesh appeared to show

Summary

First published
January 5, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

April 8, 2017

Incident Code

CI620

LOCATION

تل عفر, Tall Afar, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of three civilians near Tal Afar, Iraq. Their June 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIS VBIED factory, it was assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed.” The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident,

Summary

First published
April 8, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

April 10, 2017

Incident Code

CI624

LOCATION

دور موظفي السكك, Mosul, Sekak, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources said that three named civilians were killed including a child, after an airstrike struck their house in Sekak neighborhood in West Mosul. The Coalition later accepted responsibility for the event, publishing an assessment in December 2018 that stated: “On Apr. 10, 2017, near Sekak (Mosul), Iraq, via Airwars report. The Coalition aircraft engaged

Summary

First published
April 10, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(1 child2 men)
Civilians reported injured
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
3 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 31, 2016

Incident Code

CS194

LOCATION

الصالحية, Sala Heya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of three civilians in an artillery strike near Sala Heya. Their December 2016 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIL mortar system, it was assessed that three civilians were inadvertently killed by Coalition counter-battery artillery near the point

Summary

First published
March 31, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

November 29, 2016

Incident Code

CI357

LOCATION

Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident previously unknown to Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of three civilians near Mosul. Their January 2017 civilian casualty report noted “During a strike on ISIL fighters it is assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed when they entered the target area just prior to the munition’s impact.” This incident may

Summary

First published
November 29, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

August 13, 2017

Incident Code

CS1371

LOCATION

near Raqqah, Syria, Raqqa, Syria

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of three civilians and the injury of another. Their October 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a Coalition strike that engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a logistics node, it was assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed and one

Summary

First published
August 13, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

November 1, 2017

Incident Code

CS1654

LOCATION

road near Al Hiri village, Deir Ezzor, Syria

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of two civilians and the injuries of three others in an event in northeast Mosul. Their May 2018 civilian casualty report noted: “near Al Hiri village, Deir Ezzour, Syria via self-report. During a strike on Daesh-travelled roadway two civilians were unintentionally

Summary

First published
November 1, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
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

August 17, 2017

Incident Code

CS1382

LOCATION

الملاهي, Malahi, Raqqa, Syria

In a major civilian casualty incident, up to 20 civilians reportedly died following alleged US-led Coalition attacks on the Malahi area in Raqqa. The Coalition later confirmed having unintentionally killed three and injured nine in this strike. Local media reported on the death of 15 or more civilians after “Muawiya bin Abi Sufian” school was

Summary

First published
August 17, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian infrastructure
School
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
15 – 20
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

November 2, 2017

Incident Code

CS1664

LOCATION

Baghouz Fawqani, Deir Ezzor, Syria

In an incident previously untracked by Airwars, the US-led Coalition admitted on February 22nd, 2018 that it had killed 3 civilians near Baghouz Fawqani. According to the official release, the incident came to light following self reporting by pilots or analysts: “During a Coalition strike which destroyed Daesh bed-down location and killed five Daesh members it was

Summary

First published
November 2, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known 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

September 30, 2016

Incident Code

CS322

LOCATION

بادية هجين, Hajin Desert, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Three or four civilian fuel truck drivers were reported killed along with a number of Daesh fighters, in the Hajin Desert area of Deir Ezzor. In September 2020, the Coalition admitted that a strike had been conducted on September 30th 2016 against “Daesh equipment”, killing at least three civilians According to blogger Hamad al Ramadan,

Summary

First published
September 30, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 4
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

May 28, 2017

Incident Code

CS878

LOCATION

الحمام, Al Hamam, Raqqa, Syria

Three civilians including a woman and her child died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Hamman village, according to local media. The victims included Hayat of Mustafa al-Saguri (daughter of Hayaof Sajur) and her unnamed child. In April 2019, the Coalition accepted responsibility for this event, noting: “Coalition aircraft conducted a strike on a suspected Daesh

Summary

First published
May 28, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(1 child1 woman)
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
Known target
ISIS
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 29, 2017

Incident Code

CS1296

LOCATION

البوكمال, Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Six civilians died and 10 more were wounded in airstrikes on Abu Kamal, according to local sources. While the majority of reports blamed the US-led Coalition for the airstrikes, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that it was unclear whether the Coalition or Russia were responsible. The Coalition later confirmed having unintentionally killed three

Summary

First published
July 29, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian infrastructure
Healthcare facility
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
(3 children2–3 women)
Civilians reported injured
10
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
6 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

May 15, 2017

Incident Code

CI713

LOCATION

حي النجار, Najjar neighbourhood, West Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Multiple local sources, including a friend of one of the victims, said that the entire family of Al-Haj Alaa Al-Safi (consisting of eight people) died after a Coalition airstrike hit their home in Najjar neighborhood, in West Mosul. Sources reported that most of the victims were women. The Coalition later reported that it had unintentionally

Summary

First published
May 15, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 8
(4–6 women1 man)
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
7 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

February 17, 2017

Incident Code

CS501

LOCATION

المركز الثقافي القديم, Old Cultural disctrict, Raqqa, Syria

A single source, Smart, reported that one civilian male was killed and his six-year-old child injured in an airstrike that was later confirmed by the Coalition. Contrary to the reporting, in October 2017 the Coalition admitted to having killed three civilians. In its monthly civilian casualty report, the following was noted: “During a Coalition strike that

Summary

First published
February 17, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 3
Civilians reported injured
0–1
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, 2016

Incident Code

CI290a

LOCATION

الشوره, Shora, Nineveh, Iraq

Three civilians were killed and another injured when Shora primary school, which had been taken over by ISIS to make bombs, was hit by an airstrike – an investigation by the New York Times Magazine found. According to a field investigation conducted by reporters Azmah Khan and Anand Gopal for the New York Times, “Shora

Summary

First published
September 22, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian infrastructure
School
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(1 child1 woman1 man)
Civilians reported injured
1
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
Known target
ISIS
Named victims
3 named
View Incident