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

March 24, 2016

Incident Code

CI206

LOCATION

القيارة, Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, CENTCOM later confirmed the death of a civilian in an airstrike near Qayyarah. Their November 2016 report noted: “near Qayyarah, Iraq, during a strike against an ISIL target, it is assessed that one civilian was killed.” The event occurred near the beginning of operations to liberate Qayyarah

Summary

First published
March 24, 2016
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

March 23, 2016

Incident Code

CI205

LOCATION

Hajj Ali, Nineveh, Iraq

The Coalition announced on April 30th 2017 that it had concluded an assessment on an NGO’s claims of civilian harm “near Hajj Ali, Iraq”. It is unknown to Airwars which NGO it is referred to. According to the Coalition report, “1. March 23, 2016, near Hajj Ali, Iraq, via NGO report: No Coalition strikes were

Summary

First published
March 23, 2016
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
View Incident

Incident date

March 22, 2016

Incident Code

CI204

LOCATION

Mosul, University of Mosul residencies, Nineveh, Iraq

In a fresh day of reported Coalition airstrikes on Mosul University, local sources said three university professors and some of their families were killed and many other civilians wounded, after jets hit academic residences. Up to 15 Daesh fighters also reportedly died. Heavy Coalition activity above the city was reported from dawn onwards. Yagen was

Summary

First published
March 22, 2016
Last updated
February 12, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8 – 11
(2–4 children3–6 women3–4 men)
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
11 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 19, 2016

Incident Code

CI203

LOCATION

الثقافية, Mosul, cultural group area, Nineveh, Iraq

At least 15 civilians were claimed killed alongside 40 or more Daesh fighters, in an alleged Coalition air raid on Mosul. NRN News first flashed at around noon local time “the fall of dozens of civilians by bombings on both sides of the city. More soon.” In a later bulletin, the news agency said the

Summary

First published
March 19, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
15 – 25
(3 men)
Civilians reported injured
30–103
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
View Incident

Incident date

March 19, 2016

Incident Code

CS192

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

In a second day of airstrikes on Raqqa, 43 civilians were reported killed and 60 injured – though sources are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime – with one report suggesting this may be a Coalition incident. The Daesh agency Al A’maq said there had been nine

Summary

First published
March 19, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian infrastructure
Healthcare facility
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
39 – 43
(5 children7 women)
Civilians reported injured
60
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
12 named, 3 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 19, 2016

Incident Code

RS738 CS192

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

In a second day of airstrikes on Raqqa, 43 civilians were reported killed and 60 injured – though sources are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime – with one report suggesting this may be a Coalition incident. The Daesh agency Al A’maq said there had been nine

Summary

First published
March 19, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
39 – 43
(5 women8 men)
Civilians reported injured
60
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Unknown, Syrian Regime, US-led Coalition
Named victims
14 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 19, 2016

Incident Code

CI203a

LOCATION

القيارة, Qayarrah, Nineveh, Iraq

According to a field investigation conducted by reporters Azmah Khan and Anand Gopal for the New York Times, seven civilian were killed and one injured by a Coalition airstrike on a railway station in Qayyarah. The two journalists provided Airwars with the following: “According to our reporting, the following occurred: When ISIS left a mortar

Summary

First published
March 19, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Suspected target
ISIS
Named victims
7 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 18, 2016

Incident Code

CI202

LOCATION

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq

Up to 41 civilians were allegedly killed and 53 injured in an airstrike on Hawijah which was said to have struck the city’s main market and hospital. The Daesh-linked Al A’amaq Agency initially reported the “Killing of four [civilians] and the wounding of 10 – most of them women and children – in an air

Summary

First published
March 18, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
41
Civilians reported injured
53
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 18, 2016

Incident Code

RS736 CS191

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Between 15 and 20 civilians including up to eight children and five women died in airstrikes on Ar Raqqah, according to multiple local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime – with one source suggesting the warplanes responsible may have belonged to the

Summary

First published
March 18, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian infrastructure
School
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
15 – 20
(3 children3 women4 men)
Civilians reported injured
25–40
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Unknown, Syrian Regime, US-led Coalition, US-led Coalition
Named victims
10 named, 3 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 15, 2016

Incident Code

CI201

LOCATION

باب لكش, Mosul, Bab Laksh, Nineveh, Iraq

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

Summary

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

Incident date

March 14, 2016

Incident Code

TS001

LOCATION

جكة, Jakka, Aleppo, Syria

A single source, the Daesh-linked propaganda outlet Al A’amaq Media, reported an alleged ‘friendly fire’ event in the village of al Jakka: “An American plane carries out a raid by mistake on a position for the armed opposition on the outskirts of the village of Jakka in the northern Aleppo countryside, leading to deaths in

Summary

First published
March 14, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerents
Turkish Military, US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

March 13, 2016

Incident Code

CS190 RS734a

LOCATION

أبو قلقل, Abu Qalqal, Aleppo, Syria

Two civilians were reported killed in an airstrike on the town of Abu Kalkal. Opinion was split as to whether the attack was Russian, Coalition or Syrian regime in origin. Daesh-linked Al A’amaq Media, the Syrian Observatory, the Syrian Network, the Syrian Human Rights Committee, Shaam News and al Hall Media all said the attack

Summary

First published
March 13, 2016
Last updated
March 21, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
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 belligerents
US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

March 12, 2016

Incident Code

CS189

LOCATION

Al Mashlab, Raqqa, Syria

According to Al A’amaq Media – linked to Daesh – “A child and his father were killed in a raid by an unmanned American plane on the outskirts of Raqqa city.” No other sources in the city reported civilian casualties. However Raqqa is Being Slaughtered did note that “An unmanned plane targets a Daesh pickup

Summary

First published
March 12, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(1 child)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

March 10, 2016

Incident Code

RS720 CS188

LOCATION

خشام, Khusham, Deir Ezzor, Syria

At least two civilians including a girl and a woman died in airstrikes on the town of Khusham. While the majority of the sources allege that this was a Coalition incident, other reports say Russia was responsible. According to Free Deir Ezzor, Russian raids targeting oil fields in Khusham killed two civilians displaced from Qaryatain,

Summary

First published
March 10, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 20
(1–8 children1 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
Unknown, Syrian Regime, US-led Coalition
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 9, 2016

Incident Code

CI200

LOCATION

العصرية, Asriya, Al Anbar, Iraq

In a major mass casualty incident, 69 civilians were reported killed and 100 injured after alleged Coalition or possibly Iraq government aircraft allegedly struck the village of Asriyah. All of the victims were said to be from the Al Bojaber tribe. According to al Rafidain and other sources, fifteen of those killed were said to

Summary

First published
March 9, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
69
(10 children10 women1 man)
Civilians reported injured
100
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
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 7, 2016

Incident Code

CI198

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, South, Nineveh, Iraq

According to a local source, six civilians from the same family were killed after two missiles by allegedly Coalition jets struck their home in the Shura district south of Mosul. According to Yaqen News, the local Mosul source who reported the deaths also added that “indiscriminate bombardment by Coalition aircraft operations has increased dramatically recently,

Summary

First published
March 7, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

March 7, 2016

Incident Code

CI199

LOCATION

يت, Hit, Al Anbar, Iraq

Twelve civilians reportedly died when their homes were struck in alleged Coalition airstrikes at Hit – although no strikes were publicly declared in the near vicinity. According to local media, among those killed ‘in Coalition strikes’ were Hadi Hassan Jihad, Bashar Hadi Jihad and five other family members with several more wounded, near the secondary

Summary

First published
March 7, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
12
(1 woman3 men)
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
4 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 5, 2016

Incident Code

CI197

LOCATION

شركة البناء الجاهز, Mosul, Industrial area in Arabi, Nineveh, Iraq

At least 21 civilians including 13 children reportedly died after an alleged night time Coalition strike on an abandoned factory in Mosul, which was being used by Daesh. The Coalition later said it had targeted an ‘ISIL weapons production facility’ in the city. This may also have been linked to the terror group’s chemical weapons

Summary

First published
March 5, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
21 – 24
(13 children4 women4 men)
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
Named victims
21 named, 4 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 2, 2016

Incident Code

CS187

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Airstrikes in the Al Hosh and al Fouroussiya areas of Raqqah killed at least three civilians including a child according to reports – although it was unclear whether the attack was the work of Russia or the Coalition. Ten Daesh fighters were also said to have been killed. The Syrian Observatory reported in English that

Summary

First published
March 2, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 7
(1–2 children)
Civilians reported injured
35
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

February 27, 2016

Incident Code

CS185

LOCATION

عين العروس, `Ayn al `Arus, Raqqa, Syria

According to reports up to 16 civilians including 10 members of a family died in Ain al A’rouss “following Coalition raids.” One adult male civilian victim – the head of the family – was named by VDC as Faeour al Abo. According to Shaam News, Daesh targets had been struck in the town: “International coalition

Summary

First published
February 27, 2016
Last updated
March 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
15 – 16
(3 children6 women7 men)
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
15 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

February 27, 2016

Incident Code

RS688 CS186

LOCATION

محيميدة, Mahimideh, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Up to three civilians were killed in an airstrike on Mahimideh according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the US-led Coalition was responsible. Euphrates post named two fatalities including an unidentified victim. It said that Russia was responsible. However, Al Jazeera and Lebanon360 alleged this was a Coalition

Summary

First published
February 27, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 3
(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 belligerents
Unknown, US-led Coalition
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

February 26, 2016

Incident Code

CI196

LOCATION

شارع بغداد, Mosul, Baghdad Street, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources reported that up to 5 civilians died, including children, when more than 30 Daesh fighters were killed and injured in alleged Coalitions strike on the Mayer garage near Baghdad Street in eastern Mosul. According to NRN News, the night time attack targeted 40 trucks being used by Daesh to transport goods between Syria

Summary

First published
February 26, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(2 children)
Civilians reported injured
9–11
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known 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

February 25, 2016

Incident Code

CS184

LOCATION

ميادين, Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Two adult civilian males named as Adnan Abd al-Wahab al-Bonaia al-Jasem and Ahmad Dalf al-Saleh were reported killed in al Mayadeen in an alleged Coalition airstrike. No additional details are presently known. In their February 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as

Summary

First published
February 25, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

February 24, 2016

Incident Code

RS666 CS183

LOCATION

البوكمال, Al Bukamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Between one and four civilians died in an airstrike on al Bukamal according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the US-led Coalition were to blame. SyrianPC said four non-combatants died in a Russian shelling of “oil separators in the Al-Hajjana area”. Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently also

Summary

First published
February 24, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 4
(1–4 men)
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
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

February 23, 2016

Incident Code

CS182

LOCATION

Bahssa, Al Hassakah, Syria

Two civilian males named as Ahmad Salem Al A’tiya and Issa Turky Al Sulayman died in an alleged Coalition strike on a car in the village of Al Bahsa, west of al Shadadi. Al Jazeera also noted the event: “In Hassakah northeast Syria, activists reported the fall of two dead and several wounded in air

Summary

First published
February 23, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
2 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

February 18, 2016

Incident Code

CS181

LOCATION

الشدادي, Shadadi, Al Hassakah, Syria

Multiple civilian sites in the city were allegedly targeted by Coalition F-16s and F-15Es according to reports, reportedly leading to the deaths of 12 civilians. According to the Damascus Center, “According to field information, the raids were carried out by white and blue/gray fighter planes on civilian areas inhabited by displaced persons from Dayr ez

Summary

First published
February 18, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
12
Civilians reported injured
32
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 18, 2016

Incident Code

CI193

LOCATION

الفتحة, Fatha, Nineveh, Iraq

Four civilians were reported killed and two injured during an alleged Coalition strike on the village of Fatha north of Mosul according to Al Araby, which said the bodies were transfered to a local morgue. No additional information is presently available. In their February 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they

Summary

First published
February 18, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 18, 2016

Incident Code

CS180

LOCATION

جرير, Jareer, Al Hassakah, Syria

According to reports up to nine civilians died in the village of Al Jareer 4km east of Al Shadadi, after a Coalition aircraft allegedly struck a vehicle. According to the Union of Hassakah Youth Movement, most of those who died were women. Ara news cited a local man it named as Hamid Al Abdullah: “The

Summary

First published
February 18, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8 – 9
(5 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