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

27 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1425b

Location

البوليل, Al Boulil, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A single source, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported that a Coalition airstrike struck an ISIS vehicle, killing two young men who had previously been arrested and forced to join ISIS. Two members of ISIS guarding them were also killed in the attack. The source reported that increasing numbers of young men were forcibly…

Summary

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

Incident Date

27 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1421

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Two infants were reported killed along with their mother after “bombing” and “shelling” of Raqqa city. A Tweet by @AhmadShibli blamed the US-led Coalition for the attack, however, the majority of other sources did not specify an actor. The city of Raqqa was reportedly “besieged by International Coalition aircraft” at the time of the incident.

Summary

Published
27 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

27 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1422

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
One civilian male was reported killed following the “bombing of Raqqa city”. The specific location of the incident is presently unknown. One of the sources, Ahmed Shbili, identified the “International Coalition” as the culprits, while other sources only referred to the general bombardment of the city.

Summary

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

Incident Date

27 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1423

Location

Fardous, Raqqa, Syria
Five family members of a ‘Kazakh ISIS fighter’ (a woman, her two sons and one daughter) died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Fardous in Raqqa, according to local media. Smart reported that “a local source told Smart that the family was made up of a woman and three of her children, and including a…

Summary

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

Incident Date

27 August 2017

Incident Code

CI835

Location

Eyathia, Tal Afar, Nineveh, Iraq
A major civilian casualty event took place in Tal Afar district, North West of Mosul, following aerial bombardment, local media reported. Dozens were killed according to witnesses, including entire families of mostly women and children. The local media organisation Kurdistan24 said that as many as 59 families had died in an attack it blamed on…

Summary

Published
27 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
40–150
Civilians reported injured
30
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

26 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1419

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
A male civilian was killed as a result of US-led Coalition airstrikes on Raqqa, local media reported. All tracked sources held the US-led Coalition responsible, referring to “bombing by International Coalition aircraft”. Airwars has limited information on the location of the incident.

Summary

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