US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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

Incident date

January 26, 2015

Incident Code

CI034

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, South, Nineveh, Iraq

Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad reported two alleged Coalition airstrikes, killing five and injuring two civilians called Mohammed Mohammed Ahmed and Ebtehalf Mohammed Yosef. The first attack took place at 7.40 AM local time on the highway close to the town of Umm al-Dheban at that time. The second airstrike was at 8.40 AM local time

Summary

First published
January 26, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
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
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

April 29, 2015

Incident Code

CI066

LOCATION

الرمانة, Roumana, Al Anbar, Iraq

Four coalition strikes allegedly hit the village of Roumana near al Qaim, in Anbar province. According to the Baghdad Center for Human Rights, an unspecified number of non-combatants died in the event. Islamic State may have been the source for those claims, which it made on one of its websites.  

Summary

First published
April 29, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
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

August 30, 2015

Incident Code

CI098

LOCATION

أربيل, Near Irbil, Erbil, Iraq

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

Summary

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

Incident date

October 31, 2015

Incident Code

CI131

LOCATION

المحلبية, Mahalabiya, Nineveh, Iraq

Four people from one family were reported killed in an alleged Coalition strike, after missiles hit a civilian home. While a number of outlets reported the incident there are no more details presently available. In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this

Summary

First published
October 31, 2015
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

Incident date

December 21, 2015

Incident Code

CI163

LOCATION

Keseir, Iraq

Six civilians were reportedly killed and three injured – all children and women – after Coalition jets allegedly bombed their house in Keseir village east of Mosul.

Summary

First published
December 21, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
(2 children2 women)
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 25, 2016

Incident Code

CI195

LOCATION

القيارة, Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources claimed that at least 13 and as many as 46 civilians from ‘ISIS families’ – including children and women – were killed when their bus was bombed between Qayarrah and Shura south of Mosul as it was trying to cross the Iraqi-Syrian border. The bodies were reportedly transferred to the Forensic Medicine institution

Summary

First published
February 25, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
13 – 46
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 17, 2016

Incident Code

CI227

LOCATION

حلبسة, Halabisa, Al Anbar, Iraq

Local sources claimed that Coalition aircraft struck homes in an afternoon attack on Halabsa village west of Fallujah, killing six civilians and injuring another 12 or more, “most of them children and women.” News Fallujah pictured a young survivor of the event, noting: “Yousif Mushtak Talib Al Halbusi : His mother was killed and his

Summary

First published
April 17, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 9
(1 child2 women1 man)
Civilians reported injured
8–18
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
Named victims
4 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

June 29, 2016

Incident Code

CI259

LOCATION

الفلوجة‎, Fallujah, Al Anbar, Iraq

Local sources claimed that families of ISIS members and other civilians were killed or wounded after Iraqi government and Coalition aircraft targeted Daesh convoys fleeing Fallujah to Ramadi Island. According to the US military blog War Is Boring, Between 9:00 and 10:00 at night on June 28, Iraqi military intelligence detected the movement of numerous

Summary

First published
June 29, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(1 child)
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, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident

Incident date

September 24, 2016

Incident Code

CI291

LOCATION

كراج الشمال, Mosul, ISIS court in North Garage, Nineveh, Iraq

Two sources reported that 11 civilians killed followed alleged coalition jets targeted ISIS court in Mosul. The media office of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Mosul, Ghayath al-Surji, said, The international coalition aircraft bombed, at dawn today, ISIS Sharia court inside a residential neighbourhood at Karaj, in central Mosul, killing 11 civilians who

Summary

First published
September 24, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
11
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 5, 2016

Incident Code

CI323

LOCATION

حمام العليل, Mosul, Hamam al Alil subdistrict, Nineveh, Iraq

The UN report on the protection of civilians in the context of Nineveh operations and the retaking of Mosul stated: On 5 November, airstrikes hit two houses in Hamam al-Alil City resulting in the houses collapsing. Twenty-three civilians, including children, were reportedly trapped inside. In the evening of the same day, two children, one seriously

Summary

First published
November 5, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
23
(3 children4 women)
Civilians reported injured
10
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

November 29, 2016

Incident Code

CI356

LOCATION

الصناعة, Mosul, industrial district, Nineveh, Iraq

According to one or two sources reported that civilians were killed or injured by targeting industry neighbourhood inside Mosul followed the alleged Coalition airstrikes. Other sources said the casualties occurred were amongst ISIL fighters. No additional details are presently known. In their June 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for

Summary

First published
November 29, 2016
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

January 4, 2017

Incident Code

CI390

LOCATION

حي المزارع, Mosul, Mazari / Farms, Nineveh, Iraq

A local source said that a named civilian, Imad Ahmed, was killed in the bombing of Farms district, north of Mosul. No other details were known at the time. On March 4th the Coalition confirmed that it had killed civilians that day in Mosul in two incidents. An official later confirmed to Airwars that the

Summary

First published
January 4, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
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
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 9, 2017

Incident Code

CI523

LOCATION

العامل, Mosul, Amil, Nineveh, Iraq

Local residents and press sources said that dozens of civilians were killed or injured and many were still under rubble, after reported Coalition airstrikes and shelling by Iraqi forces targeted Amil neighborhood, west of Mosul. Iraqi Spring reported that “the government forces shelled their homes in Amil neighborhood at the right side of Mosul after

Summary

First published
March 9, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 24
Civilians reported injured
2–24
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 18, 2017

Incident Code

CI557

LOCATION

Mosul, Risala, West Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on September 1st 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment on claims of civilian harm “near Mosul, Iraq” via an NGO report. According to the Coalition report, “March 18, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report:After a review of available information and strike video it

Summary

First published
March 18, 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 30, 2017

Incident Code

CI589

LOCATION

المشاهدة, Mosul, Al-Mashada, Nineveh, Iraq

Locals said that up to 60 civilians were killed after residential houses in the Mashahda area in old Mosul were accidentally struck. Coalition airstrikes, an Iraqi missile and artillery were all blamed. Iraqyoon reported that 12 civilians were killed in a “mistaken air strike” that destroyed four homes. Al Jazeera put the death toll at

Summary

First published
March 30, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
10 – 60
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, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident

Incident date

April 9, 2017

Incident Code

CI622

LOCATION

الموصل: غرب/الجانب الأيمن, Mosul, Rifai and 17 July, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources said that heavy airstrikes and artillery shelling hit Rifai and 17 July neighbourhoods in West Mosul, killing and injuring an unspecified number of civilians. Iraqi Spring Media Center and Urgent Mosul News blamed the Iraqi government, though none of the other sources said who was responsible. Sawlf Ateka (local Facebook page) reported that

Summary

First published
April 9, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

April 20, 2017

Incident Code

CI655

LOCATION

الموصل: غرب/الجانب الأيمن, Mosul, Al-Tanak, Zanjili, Farouk, Rifai, Old City and other neighborhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources reported that airstrikes of the Coalition and the Iraqi airforce on several neighbourhoods in Old Mosul, as well as artillery shelling, led to the deaths of 18 civilians. It was also reported that more than 41 civilians were injured. Correspondences Team and Al Rafidain reported 17 dead and more than 30 wounded in

Summary

First published
April 20, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
17 – 18
Civilians reported injured
30–41
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

May 4, 2017

Incident Code

CI689

LOCATION

الموصل: غرب, Mosul, Meshrfa, Nineveh, Iraq

A field investigation by Amnesty International found that a number of civilians were injured or possibly killed in an air or ground attack on the 60th Street area of Msherfa in West Mosul. The following Amnesty field report citing an eyewitness was shared with Airwars: “My family and I were staying at my aunt’s house

Summary

First published
May 4, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 2
Civilians reported injured
3
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

June 11, 2017

Incident Code

CI758

LOCATION

المدينة القديمة, Mosul, Old City neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

Multiple local sources, as well as sources in the Iraqi army, reported that dozens of civilians were killed or injured in the fighting for the liberation of Shifa, Zanjili and Health neighbourhoods in Old Mosul. Alaraby news said that Iraqi forces allegedly used heavy shelling and air strikes on the area in an attempt to

Summary

First published
June 11, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
19 – 80
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Unknown
View Incident

Incident date

August 6, 2017

Incident Code

CI824

LOCATION

الشرقاط, Al Shirkat, Salah Al Din, Iraq

According to Yaqein report, 170 people including both ISIS fighters and civilians were killed as a result of airstrikes carried out by the Iraqi Air Force and possibly the Coalition. Al Yaqein also reported that a large number of civilian houses had been hit in strikes on al-Shirkat. Alsumaria, citing a security source said that an

Summary

First published
August 6, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 170
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 27, 2017

Incident Code

CI856

LOCATION

Mutaybayjah, Salah Al Din, Iraq

Local media outlet Yagein claimed that hundreds were killed and wounded following alleged US-Coalition strikes on Metebija, in the east of Salahadin province. The Iraq Spring Media Center also alleged the Coalition conducted raids in the area, though it did not refer to civilian casualties. A source who spoke to Yagein claimed: the Coalition aircraft bombed

Summary

First published
September 27, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 100
Civilians reported injured
0–100
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

October 25, 2014

Incident Code

CI012

LOCATION

حاج علي, Hajj Ali, Nineveh, Iraq

Two civilians were reported by medical sources in the city to have been “accidentally killed” in an airstrike on a “Daesh stronghold in Qayyarah, Mosul“. However the Wameedh Sabah blog reported a security source as saying that the casualties were inflicted by an Iraq Army airstrike. Up to 81 alleged militants were also reported killed

Summary

First published
October 25, 2014
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 belligerents
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident

Incident date

February 26, 2015

Incident Code

CI045

LOCATION

القائم, Al Qa'im, Al Anbar, Iraq

According to Reuters, a coalition airstrike which killed 17 Islamic State militants also caused the deaths of 9 non-combatants: “The hospital source in al-Qaim, a town on the Euphrates River, said nine civilians were killed and 29 militants were wounded in the strike by the U.S.-led coalition which is bombing Islamic State targets in Iraq

Summary

First published
February 26, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 12
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

June 25, 2015

Incident Code

CI077

LOCATION

‎القيارة, Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq

Up to 17 civilians were allegedly killed during a coalition air raid at Qayyarah near Mosul, two sources claimed. NINA reported that six women and four children were among the dead. And German news agency DPA gave identical casualty figures, citing a source as saying that “the bodies of the civilians have now reached the

Summary

First published
June 25, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
17
(4 children6 women)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

September 20, 2015

Incident Code

CI110

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

A reported coalition airstrike on an ISIL IED factory [see CI109] injured ‘dozens’ of civilians, it was claimed, after a chemical cloud spread across local areas. Waradana cited Ghias Surja of the Nineveh Union of Kurdistan National Center as saying: “The lab was used by the criminal organization for terrorist activities against the innocent and

Summary

First published
September 20, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
Civilians reported injured
70
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 17, 2015

Incident Code

CI142

LOCATION

حمام العليل, Hamam al Alil, Nineveh, Iraq

A doctor was reported killed and three of his colleagues injured after an alleged Coalition strike near Mosul. According to the Iraqi state news agency NINA, “a doctor was martyred and three other doctors were wounded in bombing which targeted health centers in the Hamam al-Alil area, and also hit uninhabited residential buildings close to

Summary

First published
November 17, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
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

January 8, 2016

Incident Code

CI174

LOCATION

الرمادي, Ramadi, Sofiya, Al Anbar, Iraq

Some local media reported that two families consisting of 14 civilians were killed in an unattributed airstrike on Sofiya in Ramadi. While Yaqen also reported that 14 civilians had died, it blamed the deaths on Iraq Army artillery. In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition denied responsibility for the event, saying that it

Summary

First published
January 8, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
14
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

May 19, 2016

Incident Code

CI238

LOCATION

الفلوجة‎, Fallujah, Al Anbar, Iraq

According to local sources, up to six civilians including four children were killed and 13 people injured in an alleged Coalition or Iraqi government strike on Fallujah. According to Yaqein, “four civilians including a child were killed and 12 others wounded mostly children and women. Most of them were seriously injured as a result of

Summary

First published
May 19, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 6
(2–4 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
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, Iraq Government Forces
Named victims
4 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 31, 2016

Incident Code

CI270

LOCATION

كلية العلوم الاسلامية, Mosul, Faculty of Islamic Sciences at the University of Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

According to multiple reports, alleged night time or dawn Coalition strikes on homes in the vicinity of the Technical Institute and the Faculty of Islamic Sciences at the University of Mosul resulted in nearly 20 civilian fatalities. NRN said many civilian casualties from the brutal strikes came when fragments of the destroyed buildings struck nearby bystanders

Summary

First published
July 31, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
10 – 19
Civilians reported injured
10–20
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 21, 2016

Incident Code

CI302

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, South, girls' school, Nineveh, Iraq

The Russian Military General Staff claimed that a Coalition airstrike on a girls’ school south of Mosul killed a number of civilians. According to Sputnik News, The Russian General Staff said that more than 60 civilians were killed and 200 others were injured during air strikes launched by the international coalition led by the United

Summary

First published
October 21, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian infrastructure
School
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident