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

7 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1350

Location

ﺍﻟﺪﺷﻴﺸﺔ, Al Dasheisha, Al Hassakah, Syria
Multiple local sources said that two people were killed in al Dasheisha village. The names of the dead were given as Khalil al-Khalaf al Hamoud and his wife. The name of the wife was not stated. It was alleged that the strike was carried out by the US-led coalition. The alliance itself publicly reported no…

Summary

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

Incident Date

7 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1351

Location

Road from Al Mayadin to Damascus, Homs, Syria
Local sources reported the death of a young girl, Rawan Abdul Qader al-Wahid. She was said to be travelling between the cities of Mayadeen and Damascus when she died. At present the cause of death is unclear and sources are not attributing the event to airstrikes or to any specific actors.  

Summary

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

Incident Date

7 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1352

Location

Hisham ibn Abdul Malik, Raqqa, Syria
Twenty two civilians including 15 women reportedly died and dozens wounded in alleged Coalition airstrikes behind al-Andalus bakery in the city of Al-Raqqa. There is - according to research done by Amnesty and Airwars - no precise location for the building. According to a tweet from @PalmyraRev1 it was mostly “women, children and the elderly”…

Summary

Published
7 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
22
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

7 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1353

Location

Hurriyah, Raqqa, Syria
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of two civilians. In January 2018, their monthly civilian casualty report noted “During a Coalition strike which destroyed an ISIS indirect fire weapon system it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed when they inadvertently crossed into the area of…

Summary

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

Incident Date

6 August 2017

Incident Code

CI824

Location

الشرقاط, Al Shirkat, Salah Al Din, Iraq
According to Yaqein report, 170 people including both ISIS fighters and civilians were killed as a result of airstrikes carried out by the Iraqi Air Force and possibly the Coalition. Al Yaqein also reported that a large number of civilian houses had been hit in strikes on al-Shirkat. Alsumaria, citing a security source said that an…

Summary

Published
6 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
0–170
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

6 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1340

Location

شارع الوادي, Al Wadi street, Raqqa, Syria
One male civilian died in an alleged Coalition artillery strike on Raqqa’s Al Wadi street, according to local media. Al hassaka Rasd, Al Raqqa Truth and other sources said he died in artillery shelling of Al Wadi street. Airwars understands that only the Coalition has access to artillery in Raqqa. In April 2019 the Coalition…

Summary

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