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 June 2017

Incident Code

CS906

Location

Jamili building, Raqqa, Syria
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on April 1st 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment on media claims of civilian harm “near Raqqa, Syria”. According to the Coalition report, “113. June 2, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via media report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no…

Summary

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

Incident Date

2 June 2017

Incident Code

CI744

Location

ِعنة, Anah, Al Anbar, Iraq
Local sources reported that an elderly man was killed and his son and another woman were severely injured as a result of airstrikes hitting their houses in Anah district, in the west of Anbar province. According to several Facebook posts, the elderly man was called Hajj Juma al-Abd. He reportedly died when shelling on a…

Summary

Published
2 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
1–4
Civilians reported injured
2–4
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

1–15 June, 2017

Incident Code

CS1006a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", two 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 stated that "Hassan Hammadi…

Summary

Published
15 June 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

1 June 2017

Incident Code

CS897

Location

Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Euphrates Post and Sharqiya Voice reported that one civilian male was killed when a drone targeted his car in Al Mayadin. The sources didn’t say who was responsible. @radioamalfm1 , @Syria_feed and Smart News all reported that a drone struck a car belonging to IS at the entrance to the city – but the reports made…

Summary

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

Incident Date

1 June 2017

Incident Code

CS898

Location

بقرص, Bokros, Deir Ezzor, Syria
The Coalition reportedly struck an ISIL weapons depot in the Al Ta’as area of Bokros town. Sources said that member of ISIL were killed – however only one report mentioned civilian casualties. Sharqiya Voice reported that there were aftershocks following an air raid (but didn’t say who carried it out), and an explosion which “shook…

Summary

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

Incident Date

1 June 2017

Incident Code

CI743

Location

حي الزنجيلي, Mosul, Zinjili, Nineveh, Iraq
Local sources reported more than twenty civilians died – mostly children and women – after artillery shelling and/or an airstrike hit their houses in Zanjili neighbourhood, West Mosul. Among the victims were eleven members of one family. Most sources blamed Iraqi government forces for the shelling, while others did not say who was responsible. Local…

Summary

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