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

8 May 2017

Incident Code

CS785

Location

كديران, Kdeiran, Raqqa, Syria
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “warplanes believed to belong to the International Coalition bombed places in the Kdieran area which is located in the western countryside of al-Raqqa. There is information about casualties and damage to the property of the citizens.” Both Qasioun and Sohaib_heskayi reported the Coalition “destroyed the Al-Hamdawi mosque”…

Summary

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

Incident Date

8 May 2017

Incident Code

CS786

Location

حي الوهب, Tabaqah, Al Wahab (First Neighbourhood), Raqqa, Syria
A family – comprising of a husband, wife and a two-year-old child – were reportedly killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike in the Al Awwal neighbourhood of Tabaqa. The first source, Mohab Nasser, reported the casualties and blamed the Coalition. All subsequent reporting was based on this report, however Euphrates Post also published an image…

Summary

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

Incident Date

7 May 2017

Incident Code

CS778

Location

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Raqqa, Syria
At least five civilians, including two women, were reportedly killed and 11 more were injured in Tabaqa in what appears to be shelling by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) supported by airstrikes carried out by the Coalition. One member of ISIL was also reportedly killed and several more were injured, according to Smart News Agency.…

Summary

Published
7 May 2017
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
11
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

7 May 2017

Incident Code

CI693

Location

الشلالات, Mosul, Shalalat, Nineveh, Iraq
Residents and local media sources said that 34 civilians were killed and 77 (numbers reportedly mentioned by ISIL press agency) wounded after Coalition airstrikes and shelling by Iraqi government forces hit many neighbourhoods in West Mosul. @sh0_news said in a tweet that “more than 130 martyred civilians are the result of the bombing of the…

Summary

Published
7 May 2017
Civilians reported killed
34
Civilians reported injured
77
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

7 May 2017

Incident Code

CI694

Location

الموصل: غرب/الجانب الأيمن, Mosul, West / Right side, Nineveh, Iraq
One report on social media said that an ISIS member named Ali Ubaid ‘Issa Dagher (Abujrajis) was killed with his “entire family” including his mother in an airstrike. It is presently unclear in which West Mosul neighbourhood the strike occurred. No further details are presently known.

Summary

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

Incident Date

Incident Code

CS779

Location

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Raqqa, Syria
Between 20 and 40 civilians including eight children and four women died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the Al Awwal and Al Thaleth neighbourhood of Al Tabaqa, according to local media. All sources attributed the incident to the Coalition, though there was some uncertainly on the date of the incident with a number of…

Summary

Published
7 May 2017
Civilians reported killed
20–40
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident