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 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

April 11, 2016

Incident Code

CS202

LOCATION

حمام صغير, Hamam Sagheir, Aleppo, Syria

Up to four civilians were reported killed and ten injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Hamam Sagheir village in Aleppo governorate. One of those killed was a child, who died alongside his father. The Syrian Network placed the death toll at two including a child. Syria Post said up to four died, noting that

Summary

First published
April 11, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 4
(1 child1 man)
Civilians reported injured
10
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

June 22, 2016

Incident Code

CS238

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

A British schoolgirl Kadiza Sultana – who had run away with two friends to join ISIL – was killed in a Coalition strike on an ‘ISIL finance centre’ – a local bank. Sultana reportedly lived in an apartment above the building targeted that day. The US has not admitted civilian deaths related to this strike,

Summary

First published
June 22, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 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
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 13, 2016

Incident Code

CS261

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Three civilians were reported killed in Manbij, either by Coalition aircraft or more likely, as a result of a Daesh-boobytrapped vehicle. As Lens Young Manbij reported, “Al Haj Mahmoud Sarmini, his wife and daughter Alaa Sarmini, 4 years old, were killed near al Fatah station. We don’t know whether it was an IS booby trap

Summary

First published
July 13, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(1 child1 woman1 man)
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
3 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

August 1, 2016

Incident Code

CI271

LOCATION

القائم, Al Qa'im, Al Anbar, Iraq

Local sources claimed that Coalition airstrikes had struck neighbourhoods in Qa’im City resulting in 9 civilian deaths – 5 children and 4 women- and 10 injuries. According to Iraq Spring, five homes were hit. ISIL’s media arm later issued a graphic video showing significant destruction at the scene and the bodies of four young children.

Summary

First published
August 1, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9
(5 children4 women)
Civilians reported injured
10
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

October 11, 2016

Incident Code

CS336

LOCATION

الشعفة, Al Sha'afa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Alleged Coalition airstrikes on a house and vehicles killed at least four and as many as nine civilians, according to local sources – though reports give conflicting accounts on the combat status of some of those killed. Deir Ezzor 24 reported that Coalition planes targeted a house in al Sha’afa village, leading to the “death

Summary

First published
October 11, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 9
(1 child)
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
5 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

October 26, 2016

Incident Code

CI311

LOCATION

بعشيقة‎, Bashiqa, Nineveh, Iraq

An Iraq-based journalist told Airwars he had been informed by a peshmerga contact of four civilian deaths near Bashiqa. According to the reporter, A peshmerga called me and said he saw three wounded and four were crushed to death when their house was hit by either a missile or a bomb. Anadolu reported a military

Summary

First published
October 26, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
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

November 8, 2016

Incident Code

CS367

LOCATION

تل السمن, Tall al Samin, Raqqa, Syria

One civilian was reported killed and four injured following an alleged Coaliiton strike on Tal al Samin. According to Qasioun, “Coalition planes also raided the village of Tal Samin in the northern city of Raqqa, killing a civilian and wounding four others.” While no other sources alleged civilian deaths, heavy fighting in the vicinity between

Summary

First published
November 8, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
4
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

December 5, 2016

Incident Code

CS402

LOCATION

الهزيمة, Al Hazimah, Raqqa, Syria

A woman was reported killed and several injured during an alleged Coalition strike on al Hazima. According to LCCSY, “international coalition warplanes target the town of #Hazima to the north of the city where a civilian was martyred and several others were injured.” In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this

Summary

First published
December 5, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 woman)
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

December 22, 2016

Incident Code

CS419

LOCATION

جعبر, Ja'abar, Raqqa, Syria

Seven or more civilians were reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike at Ja’abar during fighting for control of the town. According to LCCSY, “Civilian martyrs and wounded by the international coalition aircraft bombed on the outskirts of the village of #Ja’abar #Tabaqa city.” According to the Syrian Network, “six civilians died in International Coalition

Summary

First published
December 22, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7 – 9
(1 woman1 man)
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
6 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 7, 2017

Incident Code

CI400

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, East, Nineveh, Iraq

Local and medical sources said that 15 civilians were killed and many others injured and children displaced, in an alleged Coalition airstrike. Al Jazeera said that as many as 27 civilians were killed on Saturday in an airstrike by the international coalition in the east of Mosul. A medical source, D. Raed Ahmed al-Hamdani, had

Summary

First published
January 7, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
15
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 10, 2017

Incident Code

CI454

LOCATION

الحضر, Hatra, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources said that three children and a woman were killed and and five other people were injured after Coalition airstrikes targeted the Hatra region, south of Mosul. Yaqein said its sources added that “the bombing also caused significant damage to a number of civilian houses in the affected areas.” While all sources blamed the

Summary

First published
February 10, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
(3 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
5
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, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident

Incident date

February 18, 2017

Incident Code

CS503

LOCATION

حي الدرعية, Dir'iya, Raqqa, Syria

A single source, Smart, reported the deaths of three civilians including one woman and the injury of six others in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the Dir’iyta neighbourhood of Raqqa. According to Smart, “a local source in the town of Raqqa said that two men and a woman were killed and six others seriously injured

Summary

First published
February 18, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
6
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 22, 2017

Incident Code

CS528

LOCATION

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

According to a single source, the Violations Documentation Center, two adult males from Qusair died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Idlib. No further details are currently available.  

Summary

First published
February 22, 2017
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 27, 2017

Incident Code

CI493

LOCATION

near Al Qa’im, Al Anbar, Iraq

In an incident previously unknown to Airwars the Coalition assessed that it didn’t harm civilians: “72. Feb. 27, 2017, near Al Qa’im, Iraq, via social media report: After review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

Summary

First published
February 27, 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 6, 2017

Incident Code

CI515

LOCATION

النبي شيث, Mosul, Nabi Sheet, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources reported that 16 civilians were killed and dozens of others injured in violent clashes and airstrikes on Nabi Sheet neighbourhood. Mosul Ateka posted a photo (see below) of the aftermath, stating “This is the area of Nabi Sheet, the centre of Mosul city, and the main market for handicraft and construction…” A UN

Summary

First published
March 6, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
13 – 16
(4 children2 women)
Civilians reported injured
7–24
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 11, 2017

Incident Code

CS567

LOCATION

الكرامة, Al Karama and Al Ghassaniyah, Raqqa, Syria

Two civilians died and five were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Karama and Al Ghassaniya, according to a single source. Activists told the Smart news agency that warplanes “likely” belonging to the Coalition carried out strikes on Al Karama and Al Ghassaniya. Smart reported that “the planes launched raids on al Karama

Summary

First published
March 11, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
5
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
Known target
ISIS
View Incident

Incident date

March 17, 2017

Incident Code

CS584

LOCATION

مزرعة الصفصاف, Safsaf farms, Raqqa, Syria

According to reports one civilian male died and at least two others were injured following alleged Coalition strikes at Al Safsafa. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently and SHRC were among some sources who didn’t identify the warplanes responsible – though other reports blamed the Coalition. In December 2018, the Coalition announced that it had classed

Summary

First published
March 17, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
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

March 21, 2017

Incident Code

CI567

LOCATION

الموصل الجديدة, Mosul, Mosul al-Jadid / New Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources said that six civilians from the same family were killed in an assault on the New Mosul district in the western half of the city. Sayed Al Bajari reported on Facebook: “Six civilians of a single family were killed in Mosul, west of Mosul, after being bombed 40 minutes ago”

Summary

First published
March 21, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
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 25, 2017

Incident Code

CS622

LOCATION

ميادين, Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

An unspecified number of civilians were wounded in an alleged Coalition strike on Al Mayadin, according to local sources. Euphrates Post reported that “international Coalition raids targeted the refineries in the desert of the city [Al Mayadeen] injuring several civilians.” Alamawi also blamed the Coalition, while Omran_mo reported that Coalition jets destroyed a number of

Summary

First published
March 25, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
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

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 4, 2017

Incident Code

CI604

LOCATION

الموصل: الثورة, Mosul, Thawra, Nineveh, Iraq

A single local sources reported that the wife of professor Hussein Qassem Al-Fakhri was killed in an airstrike on Al Thawra neighborhood in West Mosul. No additional details are presently known. While the Coalition would later confirm two civilian casualty events in Mosul that day, the nearest was 2.5km from Al Thawra.

Summary

First published
April 4, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 woman)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

April 9, 2017

Incident Code

CS676

LOCATION

كسرة الفرج, Kasrat Faraj, Raqqa, Syria

Two people – possibly civilians – died in an alleged Coalition airstrike which hit the car they were traveling in at Kasrat Faraj, according to local media. Step News noted “a dawn raid by Coalition forces today which targeted a car carrying two people in the village of Kasrat Faraj south of the city, which

Summary

First published
April 9, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 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
View Incident

Incident date

April 14, 2017

Incident Code

CS693

LOCATION

حمرة غانم, Hamra Ghanem, Raqqa, Syria

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported the death of one civilians “as a result of a raid by international coalition aircraft on the town of Hamra Ghanem”. Local news source Sharaf News also reported a few days later that “Activists from Raqqa said that international coalition aircraft targeted the house of Bashir Yusuf al-Sultan in

Summary

First published
April 14, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 4
(1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
2–6
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 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

April 26, 2017

Incident Code

CI667

LOCATION

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq

In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition denied involvement in an incident that it said had been reported on social media. In its report, the Coalition wrote: “April 26, 2017, near Hawija, Iraq, via social media report: No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian

Summary

First published
April 26, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
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

April 29, 2017

Incident Code

CI677

LOCATION

مشيرفة, Mosul, Meshrfa, Nineveh, Iraq

Seven families – an estimated 20 to 40 people – reportedly died in a Coalition or ISF airstrike on a house on the outskirts of Msherfa in West Mosul. Amnesty International shared the following field report with Airwars, citing a local eyewitness: “I witnessed another airstrike (presumed) on 29 April in Msherfa. It was a

Summary

First published
April 29, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
20 – 40
(2 children2 women)
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 5, 2017

Incident Code

CS772

LOCATION

دبسي عفنان, Dibsi Afnan, Raqqa, Syria

According to the Smart News Agency, “eleven civilians were killed and injured earlier in the day in a bombing by likely allied aircraft on the village of Dabsi Afnan (120 km west of Raqqa).” No further details are currently available.

Summary

First published
May 5, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 11
Civilians reported injured
1–11
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

May 10, 2017

Incident Code

CS793

LOCATION

شنينة, Shanina, Raqqa, Syria

Four civilians including two children and one woman were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes at Shanina village, north of Raqqa city. Among the dead were one woman and two children, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported the names of civilians killed. All three sources alleged the

Summary

First published
May 10, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
4
(2 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
Named victims
4 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

May 14, 2017

Incident Code

CS821

LOCATION

البوكمال, Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

One child was reportedly injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike targeting ISIL fighters in the “Old Corniche” area in the city of Abu Kamal, according to local sources.

Summary

First published
May 14, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
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
View Incident