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

10 June 2017

Incident Code

CS957

Location

سيف الدولة, 23rd February road, Raqqa, Syria
Five civilians including four from the same family died and several more were injured in what appears to have been an artillery bombardment, according to local sources. Multiple reports said that the Thalji building on 23 February Street was hit by shells. Most sources referred to “shelling” and “artillery” but didn’t name the culprit. While…

Summary

Published
10 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 June 2017

Incident Code

CS958

Location

الميادين, Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A member of ISIL was killed along with his wife and two children in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor according to local media. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the victims died “when the rubble of a building fell on them while they were trying to get away in…

Summary

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

Incident Date

10 June 2017

Incident Code

CS959

Location

الميادين, Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A six-year-old girl, Raghad Badi’ al Suleiman, died of a heart attack after she heard the sound of warplanes circling the sky in Al Mayadeen, Deir Ezzor, multiple local sources reported. While reports didn’t identify who the planes belonged to, the Coalition was said to have conducted heavy raids on the city that day. According to…

Summary

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

Incident Date

10 June 2017

Incident Code

CS960

Location

الرقة, Raqqah, al Qadisiyyah, Raqqa, Syria
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on September 29th 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment on claims of civilian harm “near Raqqah, Syria” via an NGO report. According to the Coalition report, “ 104. June 10, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via NGO report: The report contains insufficient information of the…

Summary

Published
10 June 2017
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 June 2017

Incident Code

CS956b

Location

حي الدرعية, Dar’iya neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria
Initially, this incident was reported on by several sources as mass artillery shelling in the Dar’iya neighbourhood in the city of Raqqa, in which 6 to 12 civilians, including a maximum of 6 children and 2 women died and 9 were wounded. During investigations of this event for the April 2019 joint Airwars and Amnesty…

Summary

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

Incident Date

10 June 2017

Incident Code

CS961

Location

near Sina’a neighborhood, Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on December 28th 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment on claims of civilian harm. According to the Coalition report, “87. June 10, 2017 near Sina’a neighbourhood, Raqqah, Syria via a regional humanitarian report. After a review of available information and strike video, it was…

Summary

Published
10 June 2017
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident