U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

In 2014 a U.S.-led coalition began a campaign of airstrikes in Iraq and Syria – officially known as Operation Inherent Resolve – following the capture of large swathes of the countries by the so-called Islamic State (ISIS). An intense air and ground campaign drove ISIS out of almost all territory by 2018 but resulted in significant destruction and loss of life.

Airwars documented thousands of allegations of civilian harm from U.S.-led Coalition strikes and has conducted numerous major investigations and research papers on the topic.

Airwars estimate of civilian deaths

8,249 – 13,342

Locally reported civilian deaths from declared or likely U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by the U.S.-led Coalition. These originate from 3,003 separate alleged incidents.

1,728 – 2,371
children likely killed
1,127 – 1,468
women likely killed
5,930
likely injured
3,784
named victims

U.S.-led Coalition estimate of civilian deaths

1,457

Confirmed civilian deaths, from U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria, originating from 364 separate incidents of civilian harm.

411
civilians confirmed injured
Alleged deaths
19,217 – 29,816
Locally reported civilian deaths from U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria.
3,003 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
8,249 – 13,342
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by U.S.-led Coalition
1,553 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
2,397 – 2,821
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
435 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
7,877 – 12,576
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
783 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
694 – 1,077
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
232 seperate alleged incidents
2996 incidents
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

4 May 2021

Incident Code

CS1958

Location

الشنان, Al Shanan, Deir Ezzor, Syria
At least one man was killed in an alleged US-led Coalition drone strike in al-Shanan village in eastern Deir Ezzor on May 4, 2021. While the majority of sources that reported on the incident claimed that the man killed was no longer part of any armed groups, a spokesman for the Coalition identified him as…

Summary

Published
4 May 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Military actors reported killed
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

4 April 2021

Incident Code

CS1957

Location

مبروكة‎, Mabrouka countryside, Al Hassakah, Syria
At least one named man, whose status as a civilian or belligerent presently remains contested, was killed and a civilian was injured in alleged Coalition airstrikes (or possibly an IED attack) near the city of Ras Al-Ain in the Al Hassaka countryside on April 4th 2021. The UK declared a Reaper drone strike in the…

Summary

Published
9 April 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike), Ground operation
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Civilians reported injured
1
Military actors reported killed
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

25 February 2021

Incident Code

CS1956

Location

حارم, Harem, Idlib, Syria
Some local sources which reported the sounds of an explosion from an alleged US-led coalition drone strike in Harem, Idlib said that three 'people' were injured as a result of that on February 25th, 2021. While most sources didn't specify identities of those injured, @AlnahdaNews_24 said they were militants. "An unknown drone struck a point…

Summary

Published
25 February 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

9 January 2021

Incident Code

CS1955

Location

العزبة, Al Azbat, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A 7-year-old child was killed and his mother and brother were injured when an alleged US-led Coalition mortar shell hit the family's home in the town of Al Azbat, Deir Ezzor governorate, on January 9th, 2021. Local sources reported that the incident occured during a military training near the Coalition base near the Koniko oil…

Summary

Published
9 January 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

30 December 2020

Incident Code

CS1954

Location

الطريق الواصل بين سلقين و بلدة اسقاط, The road between Salqin and Isqat, Idlib, Syria
Two local sources reported that a civilian was wounded in an alleged US-led Coalition drone strike on a vehicle on the road between the city of Salqin and the town of Isqat in Idlib countryside on December 30th. Two other sources stated that there had been no reports of casualties. The Syrian Civil Defence reported:…

Summary

Published
30 December 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported injured
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

7 November 2020

Incident Code

CS1953

Location

غريبة الشرقية, Ghariba al-Sharqiya, Deir Ezzor, Syria
One person was reported killed in an alleged US-led Coalition and QSD/SDF joint security operation/landing in Ghariba al-Sharqiya in Deir Ezzor, Syria on November 7th, 2020. Some of the local sources which reported the incident said the person killed was an internally displaced person (IDP), and others described him as an ISIS member. For example,…

Summary

Published
7 November 2020
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Military actors reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident