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 DatePublication Date

Incident Date

5 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1451

Location

الدرعية, Ar Raqqah: Dar’iya neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria
Eleven named civilians from two families died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqah’s al Diri’ya neighbourhood, according to local media. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported: “11 civilians, including 5 children and 3 women, IDPs from Deir Ez-Zour city, killed in International Coalition warplanes fired missiles on al Der’iya neighborhood west of Raqqa…

Summary

Published
5 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
11
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

4 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1445a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", 15 civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes in Raqqa. Although Airwars assesses single sourced incidents as "weak", researchers have assessed this incident "fair" due to the depth of material provided by Amnesty. Only five of the victims were…

Summary

Published
4 September 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
15
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

4 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1441

Location

Raqqa city: Traffic Park, Raqqa, Syria
At least one man was locally reported killed following alleged artillery shelling near the Traffic Park in Raqqa. Both the Coalition and the US individually later admitted responsibility According to local reports at the time, father of six Abdul Ghani Ahmed al-Yusuf al-Bashir was killed when a shell fell near Traffic Park. While some sources…

Summary

Published
4 September 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

4 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1443

Location

National hospital, Raqqa, Syria
Eighteen civilians were reported killed and many others wounded following airstrikes on the National Hospital in the besieged city of Raqqa. According to Syrianpc the civilians were subject to both “aerial bombardment” and “artillery” whilst inside the hospital. Al Hassaka Marsad said “hundreds” were injured; due to “monitoring of the armed Kurdish units” people were…

Summary

Published
4 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
18–20
Civilians reported injured
30
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

4 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1444

Location

Hamda barrier on road to Al-Hool camp, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Local sources reported that two civilians, an elderly man and woman, were killed following airstrikes in Eastern Deir Ezzor. The civilians killed were displaced from the town of Al-Matarada, Deir Ezzor, and they were travelling in a van toward the Al-Hool refugee camp in the southern countryside. The US-led Coalition was not blamed for the…

Summary

Published
4 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

4 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1445

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Local media reported on the death of on civilian following alleged US-led Coalition airstrikes on Raqqa City. All sources blamed the Coalition for the attack and loss of life. Eldorar news reported “69 air raids launched by the international coalition aircraft” in a 48 hour period, resulting in the death of 20 civilians and the wounding…

Summary

Published
4 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident