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

3 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1326a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", three civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition artillery strike 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 "Mohammed…

Summary

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

Incident Date

3 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1323

Location

حارة البد, al Badou and al Thakana neighbourhoods, Raqqa, Syria
Up to 20 civilians including seven children and their mother died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the al Badou and al Takana neighbourhoods in Raqqa, according to local media. All sources blamed the US-led Coalition, and put the minimum death toll at eight. According to Sound and Picture and Raqqa18, 10 people from the…

Summary

Published
3 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
8–20
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

3 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1324

Location

معيزيلة, Maizeela, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Local media reported that an airstrike on an oil tanker killed the driver and “lightly” wounded two other civilians near Maizeela in the southern countryside of Abu Kamal. Only one source, Al Natek Network, said that the Coalition carried out the strike. Other reports didn’t apportion blame.

Summary

Published
3 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

3 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1325

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
In an event not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition self-reported a civilian harm event in July 2018, noting that it had unintentionally killed a civilian on a motorbike in the city centre of Raqqa. According to the report, “August 3, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria via self-report. During a strike on reported Daesh fighting positions,…

Summary

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

Incident Date

2 August 2017

Incident Codes

CS1322a RS2386

Location

زور شمر, Zor Shamer, Raqqa, Syria
One civilian was killed in an airstrike in Zor Shamer, Raqqa, according to local media sources - though it was not clear who was responsible. Most sources attributed responsibility to Russian forces, though one reported that Coalition aircraft conducted the strike. DeirEzzor24, reported that "Coalition aircraft targeted the area south of Hsaywa, Zor Shamer". Syrian…

Summary

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

Incident Date

2 August 2017

Incident Code

CS1317

Location

الطب الحديث, Al Toubb al Hadith, Raqqa, Syria
Six people; two women, two children and two men were killed when the building they were sheltering in was hit in an airstrike in Al Toubb al Hadith, Raqqa, a joint Amnesty International/Airwars report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality" found after conducting field research on the ground. Additionally, several local sources echoed the death…

Summary

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