US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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

Incident date

August 2, 2017

Incident Code

CS1322 RS2381

LOCATION

قرية التبني, Al Tabani, Shihah junction and other locations, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Up to 20 civilians died and dozens more were wounded in airstrikes on the village of Al Tabani, according to local media – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Coalition were to blame. Rami asssaf, @Ahmad_Zahlan and @HAMZH7711 blamed the Coalition, with @Ahmad_Zahlan reporting that white phosphorus had been used. However, the majority

Summary

First published
August 2, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian infrastructure
School
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
12 – 20
(3 children3 women)
Civilians reported injured
12–36
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
8 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

June 25, 2017

Incident Code

CS1076

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

At least one and as many as 20 civilians, including women and children, were reportedly killed and others injured following alleged Coalition and SDF shelling in Raqqa. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS) and others said that the casualties came as a result of more than 80 artillery shells being fired into the city. RBSS

Summary

First published
June 25, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 20
(1–9 children)
Civilians reported injured
5–12
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

December 7, 2016

Incident Code

CS407

LOCATION

المشيرفة, Al Msheirfa, Raqqa, Syria

Two families consisting of at least 11 people were killed at al Msheirfa in a Coalition airstrike, according to various sources. According to All 4 Syria, “18 civilians were killed in Al Msheirfa according to the initial death toll due to coalition warplane shelling. The warplanes targeted the house of Rajab Al-Ali Al-Hilal Al-Taweel and

Summary

First published
December 7, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
11 – 20
(2 children2 women2 men)
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
3 named
View Incident

Incident date

August 3, 2017

Incident Code

CS1323

LOCATION

حارة البد, al Badou and al Thakana neighbourhoods, Raqqa, Syria

Up to 20 civilians including seven children and their mother died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the al Badou and al Takana neighbourhoods in Raqqa, according to local media. All sources blamed the US-led Coalition, and put the minimum death toll at eight. According to Sound and Picture and Raqqa18, 10 people from the

Summary

First published
August 3, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8 – 20
(7 children1 woman)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 7, 2017

Incident Code

CS431

LOCATION

خشام, Khusham, Deir Ezzor, Syria

As many as 19 civilians died following reported Coalition airstrikes on an oil market in central Khisham. The Euphrates Post initially reported six civilian deaths though later raised this to 14 civilians killed: “Coalition aircraft targeted the oil market in the town today with several raids. The first raid – at dawn – did not

Summary

First published
January 7, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5 – 19
Civilians reported injured
2–12
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

October 3, 2017

Incident Code

CS1567a

LOCATION

Raqqa, Syria

In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, 19 civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrike in Raqqa. Although Amnesty researched this incident on the ground, Airwars have decided to grade it “weak” due to the depth of material provided. The victims were from the Aarouni family

Summary

First published
October 2, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
19
(5–17 children1 woman1 man)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

December 16, 2018

Incident Code

CS1874

LOCATION

البوخاطر, Al Boukhater: Salahudin al Ayubi mosque, Deir Ezzor, Syria

An alleged Coalition airstrike caused the destruction of the Salahudin al Ayubi mosque in Al-Boukhater and killed between 4 and 19 civilians, in what was described “a new massacre”. According to most local sources, 17 civilians were killed in the attack. However one source said that 13 of the dead were ISIS fighters. Syrian state news

Summary

First published
December 16, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 19
(1–2 children1–2 women)
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
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

November 23, 2018

Incident Code

CS1849

LOCATION

الشعفة, Al Sha'afa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Between 10 and 19 civilians were reported killed as a result of an alleged Coalition airstrike at al Sha’afa. According to a tweet from @addouniatv, 10 civilians died resulting from the attack.  @DeirEzzor24 and Free Deir Ezzor Radio reported that as many as 18 civilians died. Most other sources put the death toll at 11 civilians,

Summary

First published
November 23, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
10 – 19
(5 children3 women)
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
View Incident

Incident date

October 14, 2016

Incident Code

CS337

LOCATION

الغازلي, Al Ghazli, Raqqa, Syria

The home of a local sheikh was bombed during a lunch party, killing as many as 20 civilians, according to local sources. Though most reports point to this being a Coalition action, one other blames the regime while a further report alleges that Russia was responsible. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently initially reported that at

Summary

First published
October 14, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
14 – 19
(5 children1–2 women)
Civilians reported injured
20
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
10 named, 3 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

October 4, 2016

Incident Code

CS327 TS005

LOCATION

الثلثانة, Taltanah, Aleppo, Syria

Up to 19 civilians including 3 children were killed – and as many as 41 people injured – when airstrikes hit the village of Al Thaltanah. Multiple reports initially assigned blame to the Coalition or Turkish forces. However, on December 1st 2016 the Coalition conceded it had injured one civilian in the event. The Syrian

Summary

First published
October 4, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
11 – 19
(3 children)
Civilians reported injured
41
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Suspected belligerent
Turkish Military
Named victims
11 named, 4 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

August 13, 2017

Incident Code

CS1429b

LOCATION

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Some of the names in this incident were initially reported by several sources under incident number CS1429a (Amjad Ahmed Taha Al-Suwairi, Mohammed Ayman Sweiri and Ahmad Taha Al-Omar Al Suweiri). During investigations of this event for the April 2019 joint Airwars and Amnesty report War in Raqqa: Rethoric versus Reality (www.raqqa.amnesty.org), Amnesty field researchers were

Summary

First published
August 13, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
18
(5 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
8 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

April 24, 2017

Incident Code

CS723

LOCATION

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Raqqa, Syria

Up to eighteen civilians including nine children and three women died in alleged Coalition airstrikes in Tabaqa, according to multiple local sources. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that “the family of Ali Abu Aish was killed after they were targeted by a coalition plane with machine gun fire while they were trying to leave

Summary

First published
April 24, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
17 – 18
(9 children3–4 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
Named victims
14 named, 3 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 25, 2017

Incident Code

CS1273

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Local media reported that 18 civilians had died and up to 50 had been wounded in the last 48 hours – however, sources were conflicted as to whether the deaths were caused by the US-led Coalition or Russia. It should also be noted that these are general numbers and Airwars has not yet been able

Summary

First published
July 25, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
18
Civilians reported injured
12–50
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, Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

May 11, 2017

Incident Code

CS799

LOCATION

بئر الهشم, Bir Al Hashem, Raqqa, Syria

Between 12 and 18 civilians including eight children and four women – reportedly from the same family – died and dozens more were injured in an Coalition airstrike on the Al Hashem area north of Raqqa city, local media reported. Euphrates Post said that 12 non-combatants were killed in the Coalition strike, most of whom

Summary

First published
May 11, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
12 – 18
(8 children4 women2 men)
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
7 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

August 7, 2017

Incident Code

CS1348

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Eighteen civilians were reported killed and thirty injured, according to local sources. It should be noted, however, that these are general numbers and may well encompass other casualty events on August 7th. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently alleged that the US-led Coalition and the SDF militia were responsible for the attacks on neighbourhoods of Raqqa.

Summary

First published
August 7, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
18
Civilians reported injured
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

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

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

June 21, 2017

Incident Code

CS1050

LOCATION

النور, Al Nour, Raqqa, Syria

Local sources reported that 18 civilians were killed and 10 others were injured following alleged Coalition air and artillery strikes and possible SDF mortar attacks in the Al Nour neighbourhood, near the Al Nour Mosque, in the northeast of Raqqa. All 12 sources who reported the incident alleged that a combination of Coalition airstrikes and

Summary

First published
June 21, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
18
(2 children2 women)
Civilians reported injured
10
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

April 28, 2017

Incident Code

CS749

LOCATION

شارع فلسطين, Tabaqah, Palestine Street, Raqqa, Syria

Eighteen civilians including 11 children and three women, died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Filastin Palestine Street, Al Tabaqa. There is, however, uncertainty about the date ofthe incident: Mohab Nasser puts it at April 28th and eyewitnesses told Human Rights Watch that the attack happened in late April. The Syrian Network for Human Rights

Summary

First published
April 28, 2017
Last updated
January 21, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
18
(11 children3 women)
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
18 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 19, 2017

Incident Code

CS589

LOCATION

مزرعة الأندلس, Al Andalus Farm, Raqqa, Syria

Nine civilians from one family were killed in an alleged Coalition strike at al Andalus Farms. According to Qasioun, the strike hit a residential neighbourhoods inhabited by displaced people from Maskana. Nation Defense, which also blamed the Coalition, put the death toll as high as 18. According to Shaam News “unidentified” warplanes targeted a farmhouse

Summary

First published
March 19, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9 – 18
(4 children1 woman4 men)
Civilians reported injured
2–24
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
9 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

August 16, 2017

Incident Code

CS1377

LOCATION

Wahda, Nahda and Bedu areas, Raqqa, Syria

Between 14 and 17 people were killed, and 30 to 74 injured in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Raqqa, local media said. According to reports, the neighbourhoods of “Wahda and Nahdha and the Bedu” were targeted. Raqqa24 tweeted that the civilian deaths were a result of “bombing by Coalition aircraft” and SANA, the Syrian Arab News

Summary

First published
August 16, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
14 – 17
(5 children2 women)
Civilians reported injured
30–74
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

May 13, 2017

Incident Code

CS818

LOCATION

يعرب, Ya'arob, Raqqa, Syria

Six to 17 civilians were reportedly killed and as many as hundreds more wounded in the villages of Ya’rob and al Sakhoura in the western Raqqa countryside. However sources were conflicted as to whether they died in a Coalition airstrike or artillery shelling by YPG forces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the only source

Summary

First published
May 13, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6 – 17
Civilians reported injured
2–200
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
7 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

August 4, 2017

Incident Code

CS1327

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Up to 17 civilians including women and children died and 10 more were wounded in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Raqqa, according to local media. Most sources put the death toll at six with 10 more injured and blamed a “US bombing” of Raqqa neighbourhoods. However, on August 5th the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights “documented

Summary

First published
August 4, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6 – 17
(2–7 children1–5 women)
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
View Incident

Incident date

June 9, 2017

Incident Code

CS951

LOCATION

السباهية, Western neighbourhoods, Raqqa, Syria

Up to 17 civilians died in various neighbourhoods across Raqqa in either Coalition airstrikes or artillery shelling, local media reported. According to Baladi, “Coalition aircraft launched several air raids on the city of Raqqa, including more than ten raids where the coalition used white phosphorus bombs, banned internationally, for the second day in a row.

Summary

First published
June 9, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
15 – 17
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
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

October 30, 2018

Incident Code

CS1820

LOCATION

و الكشمة, Al Kashma, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Local sources reported on “two new massacres” resulting from alleged Coalition airstrikes targeting the towns of Al Sha’fa and al-Kashma in Deir al-Zour. Several sources including Free Deir Ezzor Radio and Baladi News reported the killing of a total of 17 non-combatant civilians including four women and three children. Baladi added that the victims were

Summary

First published
October 30, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
17
(0–3 children0–4 women)
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, Syrian Regime
Suspected target
ISIS
View Incident

Incident date

April 15, 2017

Incident Code

CS695

LOCATION

السكرية, Sukariya, Al Bukamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Between six and 17 civilians died and dozens more were injured in an airstrike on Sukariya area, according to local media. While most sources blamed the Coalition, one alleged that the Iraqi air force was responsible. @ALAMAWI and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights were among sources that reported the death of a family of

Summary

First published
April 15, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6 – 17
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 belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

September 14, 2017

Incident Code

CS1491

LOCATION

دشيشة, Al Dasheisha, Al Hassakah, Syria

Seventeen civilians were reported killed in alleged airstrike by the US-led Coalition on al Dashisha village, according to local sources. However the claim has been strongly refuted by some sources. Jisirtv said the civilians were inside a car which was subject to an “intensive aerial bombardment” by Coalition forces. @watannews2015 said the family of Abyan

Summary

First published
September 14, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
17
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

June 23, 2017

Incident Code

RS2301

LOCATION

محيمدة, Muheimeda, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Sources on the ground reported that as many as 17 civilians were killed, and dozens more were wounded, following airstrikes on Muheimeda in the early hours of the morning. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. The majority of sources attributed blame to the Syrian regime, others pointed to Russian warplanes, however there

Summary

First published
June 23, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6 – 17
(4 children2 women)
Civilians reported injured
12–25
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Named victims
9 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

September 5, 2017

Incident Code

CS1450

LOCATION

Firdous, Raqqa, Syria

Step News Agency reported that 17 civilians died in a Coalition strike on a five-storey residential building in Al Firdous street. According to Nhadshmot and 24 Raqqa, the Coalition “targeted the National Hospital area”. No names have been linked to this event to date, and no addiitonal details are presently known.

Summary

First published
September 5, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
17
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