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

30–31 May, 2017

Incident Code

CS896a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", one civilian was reportedly killed in alleged Coalition artillery strikes 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. According to the report, "Firas…

Summary

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

Incident Date

30 May 2017

Incident Code

CS891

Location

معدان, Al Suweidiya, Raqqa, Syria
Between four and five civilians including one woman and three or four children died – and ten other civilians were wounded – in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Al Suweidiya, east of Ma’adan according to local media. All sources attributed the event to the Coalition. According to Alaraby, there were two strikes: the first hitting “the…

Summary

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

Incident Date

29 May 2017

Incident Code

CS881

Location

جامع الفواز, Fawwaz Mosque, Raqqa, Syria
According to Al Araby, “a civilian was killed as a result of renewed artillery shelling of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units on al-Fawaz mosque area, in conjunction with battles.” Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently named the victim as Muhammad al-Taqi but didn’t say who was responsible for his death. In July 2018 the US-led alliance…

Summary

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

Incident Date

29 May 2017

Incident Code

CS882

Location

SSE of Ratla, Raqqa, Syria
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition confirmed the injury of a civilian in an event near Raqqa. Their September 2017 civilian casualty report noted: "During a strike on an ISIS vehicle, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally injured when he entered the target area after…

Summary

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

Incident Date

29 May 2017

Incident Code

CS883

Location

القورية, Qorya, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Up to three civilians including a woman and her two children died in an airstrike on Qorya, according to local media. While most sources attributed the incident to the Coalition, two reports alleged that Russia carried out strikes in the area, leading to the injury of several non-combatants. Euphrates Post and other sources blamed the…

Summary

Published
29 May 2017
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

29 May 2017

Incident Code

CS884

Location

طيبة, Tayba, Homs, Syria
The Smart News Agency reported that Coalition warplanes “targeted two vehicles in the vicinity of the village of Taybeh (245 km east of the city of Homs), killing ten elements of the organization [IS], and three civilians who tried to extinguish the burning cars.” No further details are currently available.

Summary

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