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 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1284

Location

سوق الهال القديم, Old Hal market, Raqqa, Syria
Four civilians – a father and his three children – died in a “rocket attack” or artillery bombardment on Raqqa’s Old Hal Market, local media reported – though it was unclear whether the Coalition or the SDF were responsible. According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, “Fahd Abdulaziz Al-Majbil died in addition to three of…

Summary

Published
27 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
4
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

27 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1285

Location

Euphrates river, Raqqa, Syria
Local media reported that two civilians were killed when an alleged Coalition airstrike struck the boat they were in on the Euphrates river as they attempted to flee to safety to Hawija al-Swafi.

Summary

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

Incident Date

27 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1285a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", five civilians were 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. According to Amnesty field notes…

Summary

Published
27 July 2017
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

26 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1274

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
An elderly male was killed following alleged aerial bombardment of Raqqa, according to local media. There are no other details available at this time.

Summary

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

Incident Date

26 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1275

Location

دوار الساعة, near Al Sa'a roundabout, Raqqa, Syria
One civilian male died in an alleged Coalition air or artillery strike on Raqqa, according to multiple local sources. On July 29th, Palmyra Media Centre reported: “Anwar Mohammed Salim was killed several days ago in coalition forces near al Sa’aa roundabout and today the news of his death arrived.” Asfet Al Sahraa, posting in Martyrs…

Summary

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

Incident Date

26 July 2017

Incident Codes

CS1276 RS2369

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Between 29 and 36 civilians died in air and artillery strikes in Raqqa over the previous 24 hours, according to local sources. Most reports blamed the Coalition – though one also said that Russia had carried out strikes in the city. It should be noted that the numbers given in these reports are general numbers…

Summary

Published
26 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
29–36
Civilians reported injured
50
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident