US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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

Incident date

July 18, 2015

Incident Code

CS103

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Al Sabahiah area of West Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria

An alleged coalition strike on an Islamic State checkpoint in a suburb of west Raqaa reportedly killed 22-year old Omar Huwaidi Al Mueissat when a missile hit the family house. His 17-year old brother Ali Huwaidi al Mueissat was also reported to have been severely injured in the incident, suffering a broken pelvis and wounds

Summary

First published
July 18, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
1
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
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

November 20, 2015

Incident Code

CI144

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident which may relate to incident CI143 – or was unknown to Airwars – the Coalition announced in January 2017 that it was investigating a possible civilian casualty event near Manbij almost 14 months earlier. According to the statement “five reports of civilian casualties received in November are still being assessed… Sept. 20,

Summary

First published
November 20, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
Civilians reported injured
0–1
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
View Incident

Incident date

August 11, 2016

Incident Code

CS293

LOCATION

ذيبان‬, Ziban, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Coalition airstrikes on ‘ISIL oil tankers’ reportedly resulted in the death of a civilian driver and the injuring of others. In September 2020, the Coalition admitted that a strike had been conducted on August 11th 2016 against Daesh equipment, killing one civilian and injuring at least one other. According to the Syrian Observatory, “Coalition warplanes

Summary

First published
August 11, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

November 11, 2016

Incident Code

CS370

LOCATION

خنيز جنوبي, Khaniz Janoubi, Raqqa, Syria

A reported Coalition airstrike on an ISIL ‘police facility’ also killed a named civilian non-combatant. According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered, Ali al Awwad al Rahil died when his home was struck during the raid. However a local media activist claimed he died as a result of “YPG Kurdish militia targeting of his home while

Summary

First published
November 11, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
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
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 14, 2017

Incident Code

CI423

LOCATION

Mosul, Jaza'ir / Algeria, Nineveh, Iraq

Medical sources in Erbil confirmed that the child Marwa Duraid Younis Khalil was severely injured and her mother (Eman Jamal Kamber Ali) was killed when a Coalition airstrike targeted their home in Jaza’ir neighborhood, east of Mosul. News of Iraq posted two videos of the girl (who was found alone in the hospital after her

Summary

First published
January 14, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 woman)
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 belligerents
US-led Coalition, Unknown
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 10, 2017

Incident Code

CS564

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Al Qitar/Al Bustan, Raqqa, Syria

One civilian died and five others were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike in Raqqa, according to a single source. According to Smart News, “a local source in the town of Raqqa said the strikes targeted al Qitar (Train) Street and al Bustan park, killing one civilian and wounding five others”. It said the strikes were

Summary

First published
March 10, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
5
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 16, 2017

Incident Code

CS581

LOCATION

سد الفرات, Euphrates Dam, Raqqa, Syria

An alleged Coalition airstrike at the Euphrates Dam near al Tabaqa reportedly killed one named civilian worker. According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered, “an air raid launched by the international coalition yesterday on the area around the Euphrates Dam in al Tabaqa killing Hamidi al Abd al Majid al Nayef one of the employees at

Summary

First published
March 16, 2017
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 19, 2017

Incident Code

CS1035

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Raqqa, Syria

One civilian male was killed following alleged ‘SDF’ shelling into Raqqa city. The victim was named as Mohammed al Kasbah by a number of sources and a photo of him was provided. Four of five of the sources who reported the incident alleged that the US-backed SDF was responsible. However, only the Coalition reports using

Summary

First published
June 19, 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

June 28, 2017

Incident Code

CS1116

LOCATION

ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺔ ﺍﻻﺩﺧﺎﺭ ﻭﺻﻮﺍﻣﻊ ﺍﻟﺤﺒﻮﺏ, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

According to Al Hassaka Rasd, “The International Alliance Aviation targeted the area of al Idkhar and the grain silos with several air raids this morning. The death of a pharmacist was documented in the coalition raids on the city of Raqqa”. The Syrian Press Center and @Raqqa24 both also reported the incident and alleged that

Summary

First published
June 28, 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

July 12, 2017

Incident Code

CS1192

LOCATION

الرقة‎: منطقة مفرق الحصيوة, Al Hassawiya Junction (unknown location), Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria

One civilian male was killed by an “SDF mortar shell” in the Al Hassiyawa junction area, according to Sharqiya Voice and Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently. No further details are currently available.

Summary

First published
July 12, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 17, 2017

Incident Code

CS1220

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

A one-year-old child was killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike in Raqqa, according to local sources. The date of death may have been earlier, with Abu Muaz al Raqqa tweeting that the child died “as a result of bombing coalition aircraft on the city of Raqqa several days ago.”

Summary

First published
July 17, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
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 6, 2017

Incident Code

CS1339

LOCATION

دوار البكرة, Al Mayadin, al Bakra roundabout, Deir Ezzor, Syria

One civilian girl  was reported killed after air strikes during the night, near Ali Bin Abi Taleb mosque in Deir Ezzor. At present there is a single allegation in a Smart report against the US-led Coalition, though this is contested in a Facebook post by Free Deir Ezzor which attributed the strikes to “Russian criminal

Summary

First published
August 6, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
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, Russian Military
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

September 6, 2017

Incident Code

CS1452

LOCATION

Al Houssainiyah, Deir Ezzor, Syria

One civilian, was killed by alleged airstrikes on the al Houssainiyah village, Deir Ezzor, local media reported. According to local sources, he was killed in “his his home by shrapnel” after the strikes hit. The US-led Coalition were not documented as the culprit however, and nor was any other actor, with only “warplanes” and “airstrikes”

Summary

First published
September 6, 2017
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 belligerents
US-led Coalition, Unknown
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

September 22, 2017

Incident Code

CS1514

LOCATION

قریة مظلوم , Mazloum village, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Euphrates Post and Marsad Al Hasaka reported “the martyrdom of Mr. Abdullah Aljama and the injury of Ibrahim Abu Darwish as a result of the aerial bombardment of Mazloum village yesterday.” Neither source identified a culprit.  

Summary

First published
September 22, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
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

December 9, 2017

Incident Code

CS1693

LOCATION

سويدان جزيرة, Suwaydan Jazeera, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Euphrates Post reported the death of “Haj Hamad Taha al-Salem from the town of Suwaydan Jazira, who was killed as a result of air strikes targeting the perimeter of Al-Huda mosque (also known as al-Sayyid mosque)”. The victim was also named by Asharq al Arabi. According to Al Araby al Jadid, “a civilian was killed

Summary

First published
December 9, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
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

February 9, 2018

Incident Code

CS1724

LOCATION

قرية البحرة, Al Bahra village, Deir Ezzor, Syria

In its monthly casualty report of 30th August 2018, the Coalition conceded it had caused civilian harm in an event not previously tracked by Airwars. This was later identified as a likely French airstrike – thougfh Paris has refused to confirm or deny this. According to the official report, “February 9, 2018, near al-Bahrah village,

Summary

First published
February 9, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Known target
ISIS
View Incident

Incident date

October 12, 2018

Incident Code

CS1808

LOCATION

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

A named adult civilian male was reported killed by Coalition shellling at al Soussa, in an attack which also was said to have killed five ISIS fighters. Radio al Kul and a number of other sources noted only the deaths of the ISIS fighters. According to Syrian PC one of them was a high value

Summary

First published
October 12, 2018
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

December 2, 2018

Incident Code

CS1863

LOCATION

البوبدران, Al Soussa: al Boubadran, Deir Ezzor, Syria

One child from the town of Abu Kamal died of his injuries according to multiple sources, following shrapnel injuries to the head received at some point in an air or artillery strike between December 2nd and 4th. Abdul Aziz Maher Jamal Al-Khabour died in the village of al Boubadran near al Soussa. Smart News said that

Summary

First published
December 2, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
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

January 14, 2015

Incident Code

CS043

LOCATION

حماة, Um al Nayr, Idlib, Syria

A female civilian, a civil engineer, was reported by Syrian Martyrs to have been killed in a Coalition airstrike. Confused reporting placed her death either at Umm Al Nayr near Hama, or at nearby Kaferzita. However, VDC – which named the victim – stated that a 25 year old instead died in an attack by

Summary

First published
January 14, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 woman)
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 Regime
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 24, 2017

Incident Code

CS1265b

LOCATION

Raqqa, Syria

In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, one civilian was reportedly killed in an alleged Coalition artillery strike in Raqqa. Although Amnesty researched this incident on the ground, Airwars has decided to grade it “weak” due to the depth of material provided. According to the Amnesty report,

Summary

First published
July 24, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
3 named
View Incident

Incident date

August 3, 2015

Incident Code

CS110

LOCATION

الحسكة, Al-Hasakah, Al Hassakah, Syria

A number of sources named a 17-year old civilian, Ibrahim Al Hamdo Al Shabo Al Khateib, as having been killed in a Coalition strike. There were no further details.  

Summary

First published
August 3, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
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 18, 2015

Incident Code

CS139

LOCATION

السخنة, As Sukhnah, Homs, Syria

An adult male was killed in a reported Coalition strike at Sukhna. While he was described as a civilian by one source, all others reported that he was in fact a combatant. The VDC has named Sabri Abd al Wahab al Ozbaki as a civilian victim of what it says was “coalition air force’s shelling.”

Summary

First published
October 18, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
(0–1 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 11, 2016

Incident Code

CS165

LOCATION

سلوك, Suluk, Raqqa, Syria

A civilian man named as Hmaid al Agha was reported by VDC as having been killed at Slouk in a Coalition airstrike. The website Al Sharq al Arabi also listed Mr al Agha as killed, though did not attribute responsibility. In their February 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were

Summary

First published
January 11, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

February 20, 2016

Incident Code

CI194

LOCATION

عامرية الفلوجة, Ameriat al Fallujah, Al Anbar, Iraq

Ameriat Al Fallujah council complained that a mistaken strike by undefined aircraft had hit a civilian house in the village 17km south of Fallujah, which resulted in the death of one civilian and the injuring of 7 others. According to Shaker Mahmoud, head of the council, the strike hit a house in the Heramat Amiriyah

Summary

First published
February 20, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
7
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 6, 2016

Incident Code

CS209

LOCATION

دابق‎, Dabiq, Aleppo, Syria

A 6-year old girl was reported killed in an alleged Coalition raid on the town of Dabiq, though the alliance has denied responsibility. VDC has named the victim as Sara al Naser. In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition denied responsibility for the event, saying that it conducted no strikes nearby that day:

Summary

First published
May 6, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

November 15, 2016

Incident Code

CI340

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Airport and Gizlani camp, Nineveh, Iraq

In January 2017 the Coalition issued a statement denying responsibility for alleged civilian casualties in Mosul six weeks earlier. Nov. 15, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in this strike, the Coalition noted. A senior official later informed Airwars that the

Summary

First published
November 15, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
Civilians reported injured
0–1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

November 26, 2016

Incident Code

CI351

LOCATION

Mosul, Karama, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources said one civilian was killed by Unknown bombing in Karama neighbourhood east of Mosul. Airwars’s researcher contacted Zareen Ali, the victim relative who published the death event post and Ali had confirmed that bombing was by Daesh mortars. In their June 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible

Summary

First published
November 26, 2016
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

April 4, 2017

Incident Code

CI605

LOCATION

الاقتصاديين, Mosul, Iqtishadeen, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the death of a civilian in an event near Mosul. Their June 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIS mortar team egressing their firing position, it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed by a secondary explosion caused

Summary

First published
April 4, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

June 3, 2017

Incident Code

CS911

LOCATION

امن الدولة, Amn al Dawa, Raqqa, Syria

Al Raqqa Truth reported that one civilian died after being hit by shrapnel following an airstrike. The source didn’t identify the culprit of the raid. Q_Alenzy reported that “Air strikes targeted the State Amn Al Dawla building near the Al-Roos pool northwest of the city center” – though this report may be referring to the

Summary

First published
June 3, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

June 26, 2017

Incident Code

CS1098

LOCATION

عياش, Ayyash, Deir Ezzor, Syria

A civilian male was identified as killed and two others were injured in “cluster bombs” on the town of Ayyash, local sources reported, however it was not clear who was responsible. The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights and Free Deir Ezzor both reported that the strikes consisted of four raids. None of the four sources

Summary

First published
June 26, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 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 belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident