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

12 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1366

Location

چراكسة, Jaraksa, Raqqa, Syria
The death of Muhammad Nur Ahmad al-Yassin al-Suwayha was documented by multiple local sources. All sources blamed the US-led Coalition for this civilian fatality. This event might or might not be related to the two events in which the Coalition conceded having caused civilian harm (See CS1370 and CS1371).

Summary

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

Incident Date

12 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1367

Location

مرقدا, Marqadah, Al Hassakah, Syria
The death of a young male civilian, identified as Bashir Al-Matar Awad, was reported by multiple local reports. The US-led Coalition was blamed for the incident in all sources presently collated. In a facebook post by Shbab it was reported that, “the death of a young man, Bashir Al-Matar Awad from the village Al-Dashaisha” was…

Summary

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

Incident Date

11 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1363

Location

Al Na'im area, Raqqa, Syria
Multiple local sources reported that there had been an “escalation of civilian martyrs” following alleged artillery shelling on the Na’im area of Raqqa. This was later confirmed to have been a US airstrike. Raqqa News Post for example reported at the time: "#Urgent : # Ar Raqqa The fall of artillery shells on the area…

Summary

Published
11 August 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1362a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", one civilian was reportedly killed in alleged Coalition artillery strikes 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 stated that"Mohannad Mohammed…

Summary

Published
10 August 2017
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

10 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1362

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Five civilians including one child died in an airstrike on Raqqa, local media reported. Among sources blaming the Coalition were the Step News Agency and Al Hassaka Rasd.

Summary

Published
10 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 August 2017

Incident Code

CI826

Location

تل عفر, Tal Afar, Al Anbar, Iraq
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of five civilians in an event near Tal Afar, Iraq. Their December 2017 civilian casualty report noted: "During a Coalition strike which destroyed an ISIS headquarters, it was assessed that five civilians were unintentionally killed." In July 2019, the Coalition provided…

Summary

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