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

5 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1163a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’ joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", 11 civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes 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 by Amnesty/Airwars stated that…

Summary

Published
5 July 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
7
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

5 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1160

Location

شارع المنصور, Al Mansour Street, Raqqa, Syria
An elderly civilian male was killed in an alleged Coalition bombardment, local sources reported. There are no other details at this time. In April 2019 the Coalition announced that it had classed this allegation of civilian harm as non-credible, noting: "After review of all available strike records it was determined that more likely than not…

Summary

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

Incident Date

5 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1161

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah: multiple locations, Raqqa, Syria
Five civilians were killed and 14 more were injured, including women and children, in alleged Coalition air and/or artillery strikes on the Old Raqqa, Al Nahda and al Yarmouk neighbourhoods of Raqqa, local sources reported. According to Smart News, “One of the sources said that warplanes likely to be the coalition, bombed neighborhoods of the…

Summary

Published
5 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
5–6
Civilians reported injured
14
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

5 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1162

Location

دلحة وكسرة محمد الآغا, Dahla and Kasrat Muhammed al Agha, Raqqa, Syria
Sharqiya Voice reported that a “number” of civilians were injured following ‘SDF artillery fire’ – which would most likely have been a Coalition action – on the villages of Dahla and Kasrat Muhammed al Agha in Raqqa. Other sources – Newsjorf and Baladi – reported that the victims had been wounded as a result of…

Summary

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

Incident Date

5 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1163

Location

حرير حاتم, Hareer Hatem, Al Hassakah, Syria
Up to eight civilians, including women and children, were reportedly killed following alleged Coalition airstrikes which struck a house in the village of Hareer Hatem, north of Markada in the Al Hasaka governorate, according to local sources. A single source – Jisr TV – said the morning strike had injured three children. All sources blamed…

Summary

Published
5 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
8
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

4 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1154

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
A civilian male was killed ‘along with his entire family’ in alleged Coalition airstrikes, local sources reported. The two sources reporting the incident, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently and Hasaka111, both alleged that the Coalition was responsible. In what may be the same or a separate event, Sharqiyas reported that “3 civilians were killed and…

Summary

Published
4 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident