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

18 August 2017

Incident Code

CI827

Location

Akashat, Al Anbar, Iraq
Local press and other sources reported on the death of three civilians, all from the same family, in airstrikes on Al Rutba, 420 km west of Baghdad. According to Amad Al-Dulaimi, the mayor of Ar Rutba, the family was killed following a bomb dropped by an unknown aircraft. Sahafaty News also quoted the mayor who…

Summary

Published
18 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

18 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1385

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Local media sources reported on the death of up to 46 civilians and 60 others wounded following suspected Coalition airstrikes on Raqqa over the previous 48 hours. According to a report by the Thiqa Agency the “shelling focused on civilian homes and residential neighbourhoods”. These are general numbers and it is likely that they will…

Summary

Published
18 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
39–46
Civilians reported injured
60
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

18 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1386

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Abdul Rahman Samer Akl (b.1997), a second year medical student from Deir ez-Zour, was killed whilst trying to aid the wounded in the city of Raqqa, local media reported. According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, this was a result of “aerial bombardment by Coalition aircraft”, with the majority of other sources also blaming the…

Summary

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

Incident Date

18–24 August, 2017

Incident Code

CS1413a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", two civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition mortar attack 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. The report states that "Mohamed…

Summary

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

Incident Date

18 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1384

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
The death of Ayman Abdul Razzaq al-Suwaif and five members of his family, was reported by multiple local media sources. All sources blamed the US-led Coalition for the attack. No additional details including the neighbourhood location are presently known.  

Summary

Published
18 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
6
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

17 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1380

Location

Mu'awiya school/Mal'ab Al-Aswad area, Raqqa, Syria
Thirty civilians including up to 13 children and three women from three families died and dozens more were injured in alleged Coalition airstrikes and artillery shelling on Raqqa, according to local sources. Reports said that the entire Al-Sayer Al-Enezi family died in the strike – along with multiple members of other families. There was, however,…

Summary

Published
17 August 2017
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
30
Civilians reported injured
12–36
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident