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

12 June 2017

Incident Code

CS967

Location

حي المشلب, Al Mashlab, Raqqa, Syria
One child died in an alleged Coalition airstrike or artillery shelling, according to local media. The victim was named by multiple sources as Laith Omar al Haram. According to the Step News Agency, “international Coalition aircraft targeted the eastern and western neighbourhoods of the city with a large number of raids and targeted the outskirts…

Summary

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

Incident Date

11–17 June, 2017

Incident Code

CS1024a

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 an alleged Coalition airstrike in Raqqa. Although Amnesty researched this incident on the ground, Airwars have decided to grade it "weak" due to the depth of material provided. The victims were not specifically named…

Summary

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

Incident Date

11 June 2017

Incident Code

CI757

Location

حي الزنجيلي, Mosul, Zanjili, Nineveh, Iraq
Multiple local sources reported that Iraqi forces found a child alone in a house in Zanjili neighbourhood, who had survived the shelling while his entire family was found dead inside. @nbras_almamory said “US planes” were responsible for the strike. Other sources, however, did not say who carried out the raids.

Summary

Published
11 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 June 2017

Incident Code

CI758

Location

المدينة القديمة, Mosul, Old City neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq
Multiple local sources, as well as sources in the Iraqi army, reported that dozens of civilians were killed or injured in the fighting for the liberation of Shifa, Zanjili and Health neighbourhoods in Old Mosul. Alaraby news said that Iraqi forces allegedly used heavy shelling and air strikes on the area in an attempt to…

Summary

Published
11 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
19–80
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 June 2017

Incident Code

CS965a

Location

Ar Raqqah: near Omar Bin Al Khattab mosque, Raqqa, Syria
A female child was killed by artillery shelling from the US-led Coalition. The Coalition later conceded a total of eight deaths and 24 injuries clustered across this event and CS965 and CS965b. To avoid triple counting, the official OIR tally is only counted in CS965. This civilian was initially listed as killed in an airstrike…

Summary

Published
11 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 June 2017

Incident Code

CS962

Location

البوكمال, Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Hashim Abdul Fattah Al-Ali, eight or 12-years-old, died of a heart attack after he was said to have heard a nearby Coalition airstrike in Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, local sources reported. Aletihadpress put Hashim’s age at 12 years, reporting that “according to local sources, 12-year-old Hashim Abd al-Fattah al-Ali was sitting with his family in…

Summary

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