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

16 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1214a

Location

Ar Raqqah: Nazlet Al-Shehada, area of Dara’iya , Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", 12 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. Field notes suggested that 11…

Summary

Published
16 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
12
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

15 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1207

Location

الدرعية, Al Dariya near Tariq Ibn Zaid school, Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
A civilian male was killed following alleged SDF mortar fire or Coalition artillery strikes into the Al Dariya neighbourhood of Raqqa, local sources reported. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently and @Q_Alenezy reported that he was killed after shells hit his home behind the Tariq Ibn Ziyad school. Four of the five sources alleged that the…

Summary

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

Incident Date

15 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1208

Location

البدو, Ar Raqqah: Badou neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria
Local media reported that 13 civilians, including two children, died and eight were wounded in Raqqa’s Al Badou neighbourhood. According to Smart, “13 civilians were killed, including two children, and eight others were wounded in the past 24 hours by an aerial bombardment that is likely to be the international coalition and SDF artillery on…

Summary

Published
15 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
13
Civilians reported injured
8
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

15 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1209

Location

المستشفى الوطني, National Raqqa hospital, Raqqa, Syria
One man and his son died in an airstrike near the National Raqqa hospital, local media said. According to Smart, “The aircraft bombed a car transporting water near the National Hospital, killing a man and his son who were inside the vehicle”.

Summary

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

Incident Date

15 July 2017

Incident Code

CI812

Location

الميدان, Al Maydan, Mosul, Old City, Nineveh, Iraq
A number of local sources reported that 300 civilians were killed and 400 more were wounded – said to be mostly women and children – following alleged Coalition and Iraqi government airstrikes in the Al Maydan neighbourhood of Mosul. All four sources who reported the deaths alleged that both the Coalition and the Iraqi government…

Summary

Published
15 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
300
Civilians reported injured
400
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

15 July 2017

Incident Code

CI813

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Al Anbar, Iraq
Local sources reported that 13 civilians were killed in addition to 8 ISIL fighters following alleged Coalition airstrikes on residential areas within the district of Al Qa’im in western Anbar Province, next to the Iraqi-Syrian border. All three sources reporting the incident alleged that the Coalition was responsible. No further details were available.

Summary

Published
15 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
13
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident