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

June 1, 2017

Incident Code

CS1006a

LOCATION

Raqqa, Syria

In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, two civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes 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. The report stated that “Hassan Hammadi

Summary

First published
June 15, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(1 child1 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
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

September 23, 2014

Incident Code

CS001

LOCATION

كفردريان, Kafr Daryan, Idlib, Syria

On the first night of US airstrikes in Syria, the United States carried out a sequence of attacks on the Al Qaeda-affiliated Khorasan Group (part of the al-Nusra Front.) For the only recorded occasion during the allied air war, the US deployed Tomahawk cruise missiles to strike targets in the vicinity of Aleppo. Locals also

Summary

First published
September 23, 2014
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
13 – 18
(5 children5 women4–6 men)
Civilians reported injured
15
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
13 named, 3 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 4, 2019

Incident Code

CS1882a

LOCATION

near Ash Sha'fa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

In an event previously not tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the injury of one civilian in an artillery strike near Ash Sha’fa, Syria. This was later confirmed by the Pentagon to be a US-only event. In its June 2019 civilian casualty report, the Coalition noted: “Coalition artillery conducted a strike against a Daesh

Summary

First published
January 4, 2019
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
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 7, 2014

Incident Code

CS023

LOCATION

near At-Tanak Oilfield, Syria, Deir Ezzor, Syria

In its January 25th 2018 civilian casualty report, the Coalition reported that a civilian casualties allegation near At-Tanak is currently being assessed: “#1 Nov. 7, 2014 near At-Tanak Oilfield, Syria via regional human rights organization report.” Further research by our Syria team indicated that this incident was in fact previously known to Airwars, but had

Summary

First published
November 7, 2014
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(3 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
3 named, 3 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

February 12, 2020

Incident Code

CS1943

LOCATION

خربة عمو, Road between Khirbet Amo and the Allaya neighborhood on the outskirts of Al Qamishli, Al Hassakah, Syria

One man was killed and three civilians were wounded in clashes between American troops and Syrian regime forces near the village of Khirbet Ammo, Al Hasaka governorate, on February 12th, 2020, according to local sources. It remains unclear if the killed man was a civilian or a member of an armed group. Sana reported that “American

Summary

First published
February 12, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
Civilians reported injured
1–3
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 belligerent
US-led Coalition
Suspected target
Assad regime
Named victims
4 named
Belligerents reported killed
0–1
Belligerents reported injured
2
View Incident

Incident date

January 14, 2015

Incident Code

CS044

LOCATION

الحسكة, Al Hasakah, Deir Ezzor, Syria

The website Syrian Martyrs identifies one man it says was killed in a Coalition airstrike near Dayr Ezzawr. He was reported as a resident of Tayana, the village where he was killed. However Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies – which named him – said that although he was from Tayana, he was killed in Al

Summary

First published
January 15, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
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

June 9, 2022

Incident Code

CS1981

LOCATION

العطالة, Al Atta, Al Hassakah, Syria

At least one man was killed during an airdrop operation carried out by the Syrian Democratic Forces and alleged US-led Coalition in the village of Al-Atta in the countryside of Al-Shaddadi city at dawn on June 9, 2022. Sources were conflicted as to whether the man killed was a civilian or a member of ISIS. Al

Summary

First published
June 9, 2022
Last updated
March 9, 2023
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
(0–1 men)
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 belligerent
US-led Coalition
Known belligerent
Syrian Democratic Forces
Suspected target
ISIS
Geolocation
Village
Belligerents reported killed
0–1
View Incident

Incident date

February 26, 2015

Incident Code

CS059

LOCATION

تل تمر, Tal Tamr, Al Hassakah, Syria

A woman from the town of al-Hussainiyah- said to be the mother of four children – was reported killed in a coalition airstrike on the nearby town of al-Tamr in al Hasakah, according to sources.  

Summary

First published
February 26, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 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
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

June 11, 2015

Incident Code

CI073

LOCATION

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq

Reports claimed that a second major airstrike in a matter of days struck the town of al-Hawijah south of Kirkuk, killing many non-combatants at the marketplace and a nearby bridge. A related peshmerga offensive against Islamic State was reported in the area. Video images show the devastated market area, with many areas left burning. Almost

Summary

First published
June 11, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
10 – 60
Civilians reported injured
24–80
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, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident

Incident date

August 24, 2015

Incident Code

CI096

LOCATION

سنجار, Sinjar, Nineveh, Iraq

The monitoring site Iraq Body Count reported seven civilians killed at Sinjar. While these were described as Daesh fighters in reports, IBC classifies all those aged under 18 as children. At least one of those killed in the alleged airstrike was described as aged 15. In its July 2017 casualty report, the Coalition classed the

Summary

First published
August 24, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 7
(1 child)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

September 28, 2015

Incident Code

CS131

LOCATION

معدان, Ma'adan, Raqqa, Syria

One or more non-combatant males were reported killed in an alleged Coalition strike at Ma’adan by a number of sources. All were agreed that one unnamed man was killed and seven people injured. The Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies and Raqaa is Being Slaughtered listed, Munzer Ali Al A’asskar, as having been killed in

Summary

First published
September 28, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 2
(1 child1–8 men)
Civilians reported injured
7
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
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

November 10, 2015

Incident Code

CS143

LOCATION

البوثة, Bootha, Al Hassakah, Syria

Up to nine civilians from two families were killed in an alleged Coalition dawn strike at the small village of al Bootha – near to the Tishreen oilfield, and close to the scene of fierce clashes between Kurdish ground forces and Daesh. The Union of Hassakah Youth initially attributed the attack to the Forces for

Summary

First published
November 10, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7 – 9
(3–2 children2–3 women4 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
7 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

December 21, 2015

Incident Code

CI161

LOCATION

17 تموز, Mosul, Talmuz / July 17th (Medical centre), Nineveh, Iraq

Reuters reported that “About 20 people, including at least 12 civilians, were killed on Monday in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, in two air strikes that destroyed houses believed to be used by Islamic State militants, six eyewitnesses and a medical source said.” According to the international news agency, “The two strikes happened within

Summary

First published
December 21, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
12 – 20
(4 children2 women1–3 men)
Civilians reported injured
17–50
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

March 15, 2016

Incident Code

CI201

LOCATION

باب لكش, Mosul, Bab Laksh, Nineveh, Iraq

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

Summary

First published
March 15, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 18
(3 children5 women)
Civilians reported injured
5–30
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

April 11, 2016

Incident Code

CS202

LOCATION

حمام صغير, Hamam Sagheir, Aleppo, Syria

Up to four civilians were reported killed and ten injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Hamam Sagheir village in Aleppo governorate. One of those killed was a child, who died alongside his father. The Syrian Network placed the death toll at two including a child. Syria Post said up to four died, noting that

Summary

First published
April 11, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 4
(1 child1 man)
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
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

June 22, 2016

Incident Code

CS238

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

A British schoolgirl Kadiza Sultana – who had run away with two friends to join ISIL – was killed in a Coalition strike on an ‘ISIL finance centre’ – a local bank. Sultana reportedly lived in an apartment above the building targeted that day. The US has not admitted civilian deaths related to this strike,

Summary

First published
June 22, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 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
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 13, 2016

Incident Code

CS261

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Three civilians were reported killed in Manbij, either by Coalition aircraft or more likely, as a result of a Daesh-boobytrapped vehicle. As Lens Young Manbij reported, “Al Haj Mahmoud Sarmini, his wife and daughter Alaa Sarmini, 4 years old, were killed near al Fatah station. We don’t know whether it was an IS booby trap

Summary

First published
July 13, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(1 child1 woman1 man)
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, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

August 1, 2016

Incident Code

CI271

LOCATION

القائم, Al Qa'im, Al Anbar, Iraq

Local sources claimed that Coalition airstrikes had struck neighbourhoods in Qa’im City resulting in 9 civilian deaths – 5 children and 4 women- and 10 injuries. According to Iraq Spring, five homes were hit. ISIL’s media arm later issued a graphic video showing significant destruction at the scene and the bodies of four young children.

Summary

First published
August 1, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9
(5 children4 women)
Civilians reported injured
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

October 11, 2016

Incident Code

CS336

LOCATION

الشعفة, Al Sha'afa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Alleged Coalition airstrikes on a house and vehicles killed at least four and as many as nine civilians, according to local sources – though reports give conflicting accounts on the combat status of some of those killed. Deir Ezzor 24 reported that Coalition planes targeted a house in al Sha’afa village, leading to the “death

Summary

First published
October 11, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 9
(1 child)
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
5 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

October 26, 2016

Incident Code

CI311

LOCATION

بعشيقة‎, Bashiqa, Nineveh, Iraq

An Iraq-based journalist told Airwars he had been informed by a peshmerga contact of four civilian deaths near Bashiqa. According to the reporter, A peshmerga called me and said he saw three wounded and four were crushed to death when their house was hit by either a missile or a bomb. Anadolu reported a military

Summary

First published
October 26, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
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

November 8, 2016

Incident Code

CS367

LOCATION

تل السمن, Tall al Samin, Raqqa, Syria

One civilian was reported killed and four injured following an alleged Coaliiton strike on Tal al Samin. According to Qasioun, “Coalition planes also raided the village of Tal Samin in the northern city of Raqqa, killing a civilian and wounding four others.” While no other sources alleged civilian deaths, heavy fighting in the vicinity between

Summary

First published
November 8, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
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

December 5, 2016

Incident Code

CS402

LOCATION

الهزيمة, Al Hazimah, Raqqa, Syria

A woman was reported killed and several injured during an alleged Coalition strike on al Hazima. According to LCCSY, “international coalition warplanes target the town of #Hazima to the north of the city where a civilian was martyred and several others were injured.” In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this

Summary

First published
December 5, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(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

December 22, 2016

Incident Code

CS419

LOCATION

جعبر, Ja'abar, Raqqa, Syria

Seven or more civilians were reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike at Ja’abar during fighting for control of the town. According to LCCSY, “Civilian martyrs and wounded by the international coalition aircraft bombed on the outskirts of the village of #Ja’abar #Tabaqa city.” According to the Syrian Network, “six civilians died in International Coalition

Summary

First published
December 22, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7 – 9
(1 woman1 man)
Civilians reported injured
12–24
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
View Incident

Incident date

January 7, 2017

Incident Code

CI400

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, East, Nineveh, Iraq

Local and medical sources said that 15 civilians were killed and many others injured and children displaced, in an alleged Coalition airstrike. Al Jazeera said that as many as 27 civilians were killed on Saturday in an airstrike by the international coalition in the east of Mosul. A medical source, D. Raed Ahmed al-Hamdani, had

Summary

First published
January 7, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
15
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 10, 2017

Incident Code

CI454

LOCATION

الحضر, Hatra, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources said that three children and a woman were killed and and five other people were injured after Coalition airstrikes targeted the Hatra region, south of Mosul. Yaqein said its sources added that “the bombing also caused significant damage to a number of civilian houses in the affected areas.” While all sources blamed the

Summary

First published
February 10, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
(3 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
5
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, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident

Incident date

February 18, 2017

Incident Code

CS503

LOCATION

حي الدرعية, Dir'iya, Raqqa, Syria

A single source, Smart, reported the deaths of three civilians including one woman and the injury of six others in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the Dir’iyta neighbourhood of Raqqa. According to Smart, “a local source in the town of Raqqa said that two men and a woman were killed and six others seriously injured

Summary

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

Incident date

February 22, 2017

Incident Code

CS528

LOCATION

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

According to a single source, the Violations Documentation Center, two adult males from Qusair died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Idlib. No further details are currently available.  

Summary

First published
February 22, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

February 27, 2017

Incident Code

CI493

LOCATION

near Al Qa’im, Al Anbar, Iraq

In an incident previously unknown to Airwars the Coalition assessed that it didn’t harm civilians: “72. Feb. 27, 2017, near Al Qa’im, Iraq, via social media report: After review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

Summary

First published
February 27, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
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 6, 2017

Incident Code

CI515

LOCATION

النبي شيث, Mosul, Nabi Sheet, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources reported that 16 civilians were killed and dozens of others injured in violent clashes and airstrikes on Nabi Sheet neighbourhood. Mosul Ateka posted a photo (see below) of the aftermath, stating “This is the area of Nabi Sheet, the centre of Mosul city, and the main market for handicraft and construction…” A UN

Summary

First published
March 6, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
13 – 16
(4 children2 women)
Civilians reported injured
7–24
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
View Incident

Incident date

March 11, 2017

Incident Code

CS567

LOCATION

الكرامة, Al Karama and Al Ghassaniyah, Raqqa, Syria

Two civilians died and five were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Karama and Al Ghassaniya, according to a single source. Activists told the Smart news agency that warplanes “likely” belonging to the Coalition carried out strikes on Al Karama and Al Ghassaniya. Smart reported that “the planes launched raids on al Karama

Summary

First published
March 11, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
5
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Known target
ISIS
View Incident