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

August 9, 2017

Incident Code

CS1360

LOCATION

البجري, Al Barji and other areas, Raqqa, Syria

Summarising a 48 hour period, local sources said that 47 civilians were killed and 50 injured in alleged airstrikes on the city of Raqqa. Two of the eight sources specifically blamed the US-led Coalition for the civilian casualty incidents. Activists told Smart News that “the city had been hit by more than 43 airstrikes, in

Summary

First published
August 9, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
47
Civilians reported injured
50
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

August 19, 2017

Incident Code

CS1389

LOCATION

Al Jazza'a, Al Hassakah, Syria

In a major civilian casualty incident, between 15 and 41 people reportedly died following an alleged US-led Coalition strike on Al Jazza’a [or al-Helo] village. The civilians were leaving Asr prayer at the village mosque when they were hit, local media sources reported. According to Hasaka Rasd and multiple other sources, “the village was not

Summary

First published
August 19, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
21 – 41
(3 children2 men)
Civilians reported injured
12–24
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.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Suspected target
ISIS
Named victims
11 named, 3 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

August 25, 2017

Incident Code

CS1414

LOCATION

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

A civilian male was killed in alleged US-led Coalition strikes on Raqqa. At present there is no further information on this incident: the entry will be updated when new details arise.  

Summary

First published
August 25, 2017
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

August 16, 2017

Incident Code

CS1442

LOCATION

23 Shubat Street, Centre, Raqqa, Syria

Ten civilians from one family, including six women and two children, were reported killed following airstrikes by the US-led Coalition according to local sources. Reports said the strikes hit a residential building in the city of Raqqa in which the family were located, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently named the victims. Syrianpc said an unknown

Summary

First published
August 16, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
10
(6 children3 women1 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
10 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

September 11, 2017

Incident Code

CI844

LOCATION

Rawah, Al Anbar, Iraq

Yaqin reported civilians casualties following the bombardment of aircraft of the International Alliance on the areas of Rawah district, west of Anbar province. There is only a single source for this incident, therefore information is presently limited.  

Summary

First published
September 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

Incident date

September 16, 2017

Incident Code

CS1498 RS2457

LOCATION

محكان, Mahkan, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Nine to 19 civilians, including an “entire family,” died following airstrikes on Mahkan, about 45km southeast of Deir Ezzor, local media reported. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, some attributing blame to the US- led Coalition and others to Russian warplanes. There were no reports of wounded. According to Ortas, Coalition aircraft

Summary

First published
September 16, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9 – 19
(7 children1 woman1 man)
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

September 25, 2017

Incident Code

CI854

LOCATION

القائم, Al Qaim, Al Anbar, Iraq

Local press sources said that dozens of civilians were killed following alleged US-led Coalition strikes on Qaem district, west of Anbar during a major offensive by ISF. According to Yagein, residential neighbourhoods of the district were targeted resulting in the death of civilians. Yagein held the Coalition responsibly. Anbar News said houses of the Al

Summary

First published
September 25, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
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
View Incident

Incident date

September 29, 2017

Incident Code

CS1549

LOCATION

Suwaydan Jazeera, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Local media reported the death of one woman, displaced from Aleppo, in an airstrike on the home of Fayez Al Akla. Free Deir Ezzor said that members of the young woman’s family were also injured in the shelling. According to Euphrates Post, the house of Fayez al-Akla had been turned into an ISIS prison. Sources

Summary

First published
September 29, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 woman)
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, Russian Military, Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

October 5, 2017

Incident Code

CS1582

LOCATION

Sukkaria, Ne'ma Matar school near Al-Hamdan road, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Six civilians from two families reportedly died following airstrikes on the town of Sukkaria, close to Al Bukamal, local sources alleged. An unknown numbers of civilians were left wounded after the attack, with the death toll expected to rise due to some people being in a critical condition. A correspondent for Deir Ezzor 24 reported

Summary

First published
October 5, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
(1–5 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
US-led Coalition, Russian Military
Named victims
6 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

October 9, 2017

Incident Code

CI866

LOCATION

Al Qaim, Al Anbar, Iraq

According to one local source reported that many civilians were killed or injured in alleged Coalition airstrikes targeted several areas in Qaim, west of Anbar province. Yaqein attributed the bombings in different areas of Al Qaim to the International Alliance. The other local sources reported that the airstrike on Al Qaim was linked to the start of a

Summary

First published
October 9, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
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

April 19, 2018

Incident Code

CS1644

LOCATION

حارة البدو, Al Badou neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria

Local sources reported that two civilians were killed as a result of SDF shelling on the town of Al Soussa at night. A number of sources identified the two casualties who, according to a tweet by Deir Ezzor 24, were hit by “missile shelling” from SDF forces stationed at “the Omar oil field”. A tweet

Summary

First published
April 19, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
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
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

November 11, 2017

Incident Code

CS1672

LOCATION

رجم الصليبي, Rajim al Salibi, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Five civilians including paramedics died and “many” more were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike which reportedly struck an ambulance in Rajim al Salibi, local media said. Sources said that the victims were killed as they attempted to help those who were wounded in incident S1471 (listed above) in Al Duaji. According to Al Khabour,

Summary

First published
November 11, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
10
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

December 29, 2017

Incident Code

CS1704

LOCATION

البحرة, Al Bahra, Deir Ezzor, Syria

One civilian male, named as Karim Makhkhalf Al-Hamoud Al-Faraj, was killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Bahra, according to local media. Euphrates Post, Sharqiya Voice and Deirezzor were among sources blaming the Coalition for the victim’s death. Euphrates Post for example noted “The martyrdom of Karim Mukhlif al-Hamoud al-Faraj from the city of

Summary

First published
December 29, 2017
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

March 3, 2018

Incident Code

CS1735

LOCATION

الباغوز, Al Baghouz, Deir Ezzor, Syria

A young man, identified as Omar Mohammed Ali Al Dakhoul, originally from Al Bu Ammru, was killed in an airstrike on the town of Al Baghouz, according to three local sources. None of the reports however specified on which date the bombardment took place, only mentioning that the man was killed “days ago”. Statements by

Summary

First published
March 5, 2018
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

June 7, 2018

Incident Code

CS1765

LOCATION

منطقة تل الجاير:خويبيرة, Tal al Jair (or Tal Safouk), Khwuweibra village school, Al Hassakah, Syria

According to several sources, ten or eighteen civilians, including women and children, were allegedly killed in a Coalition airstrike on the village of Khuweibra in the Tal al Jair area. Eye on al Hasaka reported in a Facebook post that “The International Coalition committed a new massacre in the Tal Al Jair area”. An individual

Summary

First published
June 7, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian infrastructure
School
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
10 – 18
(2–6 children2–6 women)
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 13, 2018

Incident Code

CS1797

LOCATION

الباغوز, Al Bagouz Fawqani, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Local media reported a “massacre against civilians” after air and artillery strikes in the area of Sheikh Hamad in the town of Al Bagouz Fawqani. A hospital was also reported damaged or destroyed in the action. Orient News reported “a large number of dead and wounded […] as a result of artillery and rocket fire and

Summary

First published
September 13, 2018
Last updated
March 22, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 6
Civilians reported injured
2–6
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
View Incident

Incident date

October 27, 2018

Incident Code

CS1818

LOCATION

الظهرة ,الشعفة, Dhahra, Al Shafa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

On October 30th a single source, Al-Sha’fa Facebook page, reported an alleged Coalition airstrike “on a house in the outskirts of Dhahra.” The source said: “We don’t know who the house belonged to, but the whole family was killed”. The source was unable to specify the precise date of the reported civilian harm, noting that

Summary

First published
October 27, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 4
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

November 25, 2018

Incident Code

CS1854

LOCATION

أبو الحسن, Abou Al Hasan , Deir Ezzor, Syria

Between 12 and 30 civilians were reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike, which one source described as a “massacre of defenseless Sunni civilians”. According to Step News, 12 civilians were killed whereas the number of dead exceeded 30 according to Official Al Shaafa Facebook page. Most victims were women and children according to sources

Summary

First published
November 25, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
12 – 30
(4–8 children2–6 women)
Civilians reported injured
12–15
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
View Incident

Incident date

January 10, 2019

Incident Code

CS1886

LOCATION

البوبدران, Al Boubadran, Deir Ezzor, Syria

According to sources on the ground, air and artillery strikes targeted the town of Al Boubadran, which allegedly resulted in the deaths and injuries of an unspecified number of civilians. Most sources blamed the Coalition. Sousseh Facebook page specifically blamed “heavy shelling by French artillery and criminal airstrikes.” Although some sources also alleged that SDF artillery

Summary

First published
January 10, 2019
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 3
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Suspected target
ISIS
View Incident

Incident date

March 15, 2019

Incident Code

CS1915

LOCATION

مخيم الباغوز, Al-Baghouz camp, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Local sources reported that a family of five including three children were killed in alleged Coalition bombing in Al-Baghouz camp days several days before March 20th. The exact date they were killed remains unknown. Ahmad Abd Al Rzzaq said: “My cousin Louay Abdel Wahab Al-Hamad Al-Ibrahim Al-Abdullah and his wife Nadra Abdul Aziz Al Thabet

Summary

First published
March 21, 2019
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(3 children1 woman1 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
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

November 26, 2015

Incident Code

RS196 CS151

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Five to eight civilians including four children were reported killed, and 10 injured, when Russian warplanes allegedly launched several rockets on Hetten School in Raqqa, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Ara News also blamed Russia. Syria Press Report (citing the Syrian Observatory) placed the death toll at 12 and said the attack was

Summary

First published
November 26, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian infrastructure
School
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5 – 12
(5 children)
Civilians reported injured
10–12
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Unknown, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime
Named victims
6 named
View Incident

Incident date

June 9, 2017

Incident Code

CS953a

LOCATION

Raaqa, Raqqa, Syria

In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, one civilian was 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. According to the report “Iman al-Joumaa,

Summary

First published
June 9, 2017
Last updated
March 24, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 2
(1 woman)
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
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

September 26, 2014

Incident Code

CI006

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Tahrir, Nineveh, Iraq

“Seven civilians including two children” were reported by two local news agencies as being killed in a coalition airstrike in the eastern part of Mosul, in al-Tahrir Street. Alternatively, the Baghdad Centre for Human Rights claimed that two separate coalition strikes – in the Fadhiliyah and Ba’shika neighbourhoods of Mosul – killed four civilians each.

Summary

First published
September 26, 2014
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7 – 8
(2 children)
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 16, 2019

Incident Code

CS1927

LOCATION

المانعية, Al Man’iya, Raqqa, Syria

“Two unidentified men” were reported killed in a Coalition ground operation in Al-Mananiya, east of Raqqa, on August 16th. Suriye.u.a.d stated that “two unidentified men [were] killed after being shot by Coalition forces that carried out an airstrike on the village of Al-Mananiya east of Raqqa.” Meanwhile, Shaam News stated that “Coalition Forces conducted an

Summary

First published
August 16, 2019
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 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
Belligerents reported killed
0–2
View Incident

Incident date

November 11, 2014

Incident Code

CS027

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

A number of sources cited SN4HR (in a report now lost) as claiming that two unnamed civilian males and one ISIL militant were killed in a coalition airstrike at Manbij, near Aleppo.  

Summary

First published
November 11, 2014
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
View Incident

Incident date

May 17, 2020

Incident Code

CS1946

LOCATION

الزر, Al Zir, Deir Ezzor, Syria

A civilian was killed by a sniper on the rooftop of his house in Al Zer as he was watching Coalition forces entering the village of Al Shouhaibl, Deir Ezzor governorate, on May 17th 2020, according to local sources. Euphrates Eye wrote that “Muhammad Khleif Al Hamra was killed when he was watching the Coalition

Summary

First published
May 17, 2020
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)
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
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
Suspected target
Unknown
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 21, 2015

Incident Code

CI029

LOCATION

الكسك, Kisik Junction, Nineveh, Iraq

A Canadian airstrike at Kisik Junction was alleged to have killed between 6 and 27 civilians, according to an internal CENTCOM report. The source was an English-speaking peshmerga fighter, who had passed on his concerns to Coalition Special Forces based in Iraq. The Canadian attack had targeted “an ISIL sniper/ HMG [havy machine gun] position

Summary

First published
January 21, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6 – 27
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
View Incident

Incident date

October 28, 2022

Incident Code

CS1985

LOCATION

ذيبان, Thiban, Deir Ezzor, Syria

A woman was killed and two others, including a minor, were injured in an alleged airdrop operation carried out by the Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Hawija neighborhood of Thiban town, east of Deir Ezzor, on October 28, 2022. Nahr Media reported that a woman named Nadia Mustafa al-Ali was killed and

Summary

First published
October 28, 2022
Last updated
November 22, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
2
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
Suspected target
ISIS
Named victims
1 named
Geolocation
Town
View Incident

Incident date

March 5, 2015

Incident Code

CI048

LOCATION

برطلّة, Bartalah, Nineveh, Iraq

According to NINA, a source in the forensic medicine department of the local hospital reported that numerous civilians died “in bombing by the international coalition aircraft [which] targeted a stronghold of the Islamic State in Bartalah north of Mosul.” Among 16 alleged civilian victims were five children and two women, whose bodies were said to

Summary

First published
March 5, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
16
(5 children2 women)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

May 26, 2015

Incident Code

CS072

LOCATION

رأس العين, Road between Al I'dwania and Raja’an, Al Hassakah, Syria

A number of sources reported that a “civilian car” was struck “on the road between Al I’dwania and Raja’an,” near Al Hassakah, killing a family of four. Those killed were described as a man, his wife, mother and daughter – all from the village of Raja A’an in Ras al-Ain.  

Summary

First published
May 26, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
(1 child2 women1 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
4 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident