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

18 June 2017

Incident Code

CI770

Location

المشاهدة, Mosul, Meshada, Nineveh, Iraq
A field report by PBS Newshour found that 12 civilians – all members of one family – had died in a likely Coalition airstrike on Meshada. In August 2019 the Coalition announced that they had assessed this allegation of civilian to be non-credible. Their monthly civilian casualty report noted: "After a review of all available…

Summary

Published
18 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
18
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

18 June 2017

Incident Code

CI771

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Al Anbar, Iraq
Local media reported that an unknown airstrike killed eight civilians and injured a further 20 at Al Qaim. Iraqi Spring Media Centre reported the death of 8 people and 20 additional injuries resulting from an airstrike near a mosque in Al Qaim. Iraqi News Center reported the same figures.

Summary

Published
18 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
8
Civilians reported injured
20
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

18 June 2017

Incident Code

CI772

Location

الموصل: غرب, Mosul, West (Shifa and Zanjili), Nineveh, Iraq
Colonel Talal Najm al-Hamdani, from the Directorate of Civil Defense of Nineveh, said that about 200 bodies had been recovered over a 48 hour period in different parts of West Mosul. In an interview with Al Araby al Jadeeda, Colonerl al-Hamdani estimated that as many as 4,000 bodies remained under the rubble of West Mosul…

Summary

Published
18 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
200
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

18 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1032

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Two civilian children were killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Raqqa, local sources reported. Both the children were identified by local sources and were reportedly displaced from the city of Sukhna, according to @PalmyraRev1. Four of the five sources alleged that the children died as a result of Coalition bombing. No further details were available.  

Summary

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

Incident Date

18 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1025

Location

Al Zaer, Deir Ezzor, Syria
One civilian was reportedly killed in an airstrike on Al Za’er village in Deir Ezzor, but it was not clear who was responsible, Smart News Agency reported. As the local agency noted, “The activist Mohammed Hassan, who relies on information from local sources said, that unidentified warplanes launched raids on the village, which led to…

Summary

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

Incident Date

17 June 2017

Incident Code

CS1016

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah , Raqqa, Syria
Multiple local sources reported the deaths of two named civilians in Coalition airstrikes or artillery shelling. No additional details are presently known. In their June 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as "non-credible", stating that the allegation provided insufficient information on the…

Summary

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