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

2 August 2019

Incident Code

CS1317a

Location

الفردوس, near Raqqa, Syria, Raqqa, Syria
In an incident previously not tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the death of one civilian near Raqqa. In its February 2019 report, the Coalition noted the following: “Coalition aircraft conducted two airstrikes and one artillery strike. The airstrikes targeted one ISIS weapons cache and one ISIS command and control facility. Regrettably, one civilian…

Summary

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

Incident Date

1 August 2019

Incident Code

CS1926

Location

قرية بكعة في تل حميس, Baka`a Village in the area of Tal Hamis, Al Hassakah, Syria
Six civilians were reported killed by an alleged Coalition action in Baka`a Village, Al Hasaka, on August 1st. Al Khabour News reported that: "The International Coalition forces, backed by elements of the Democratic Unionist Party (BYD), committed a massacre in which six people, including children and women, were killed in the village of Beka`a in…

Summary

Published
1 August 2019
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

29 July 2019

Incident Code

CS1925

Location

الزر, Al Zer, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Alleged Coalition airstrikes on Al Zer killed claimed the lives of a number of people and injured others, although it is unclear whether they were combatants or non-combatants. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that it "learned from a number of reliable sources that helicopters affiliated to the International Coalition targeted a cell of…

Summary

Published
29 July 2019
Civilians reported killed
0–5
Civilians reported injured
0–2
Military actors reported killed
0–5
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

16 July 2019

Incident Code

CS1924

Location

الطكيحي, Al Takihi, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Local sources alleged that the International Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) carried out an airstrike that struck the home of ISIS leader Ragheb Hussein al-Hindoura at dawn, and claimed that the airstrike killed between 10 to 15 relatives in the house adjacent to Hassan's house and wounded others. The dead and wounded relatives were reported…

Summary

Published
16 July 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2–15
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Military actors reported killed
0–5
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

13 July 2019

Incident Code

CS1923

Location

بادية (فليطح) فلطيح, Faltih (Fletih) desert (Badit Faltih), Deir Ezzor, Syria
Abed Abdullah al-Numan, a shepherd from the town of Al Tayana, was killed by an alleged Coalition airstrike when he was out working in the Faltih(Fletih) desert (Badit Faltih), north of Deir Ezzor - near the Syrian-Iraqi border, according to local media. Suriye u.a.d. reported that the victim was killed by a Coalition helicopter, whereas…

Summary

Published
13 July 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

4 July 2019

Incident Code

CS1922

Location

شاميكو, Shamikou, Al Hassakah, Syria
One child was reported killed, and another injured, in a collision with a vehicle belonging to the US-led Coalition in Al-Hasakah on July 4th. Haleb Today TV documented that those wounded and injured were two children, stating that a correspondent from Aleppo Today reported "a child killed and another seriously injured in a traffic accident…

Summary

Published
4 July 2019
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Use of objects and other means
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident