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

23 April 2017

Incident Code

CS721

Location

الهزيمة, Al Hazimah, Raqqa, Syria
Four civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Hazimah, according to local sources. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently said that “a number of martyrs fell following Coalition raids on Hazima town north of Raqqa city.” Step News reported “more than nine raids north of Raqqa” including strikes on the outskirts of Hazimah but…

Summary

Published
23 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

23 April 2017

Incident Code

CS722

Location

ميادين, Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Three civilians died and between four and 12 others were injured in an airstrike on Al Mayadeen, according to local media. Though most reports didn’t identify the culprit, two sources pointed towards the US-led Coalition. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “warplanes believed to belong to the International Coalition carried out after midnight…

Summary

Published
23 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
4–10
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

23 April 2017

Incident Code

CI660

Location

17 تموز, Mosul, Talmuz / July 17th, Nineveh, Iraq
Local sources reported that airstrikes on Tammuz (17 July) neighbourhood in West Mosul killed and injured forty civilians, in a dawn attack. Iraqyoon said that two neighbourhoods were hit, noting that “an aerial bombardment targeted the neighborhoods of July 17 ( Tammuz ) and al-Rifa’i, West Mosul.” Mosul News Agency blamed the Coalition. Other sources…

Summary

Published
23 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
2–40
Civilians reported injured
2–40
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

23 April 2017

Incident Code

CI661

Location

تل عفر, Tall Afar, Nineveh, Iraq
A single local source reported that dozens of civilians were killed and injured after Coalition airstrikes allegedly hit Tal Afar city, West of Mosul. According to Yaqein, “dozens of civilians were killed and wounded on Monday in a raid by coalition warplanes in the district of Tal Afar west of the city of Mosul, the…

Summary

Published
23 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
2–24
Civilians reported injured
2–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

23 April 2017

Incident Code

CI662

Location

الموصل: الزنجيلي, Mosul, Al-Zinjili, Nineveh, Iraq
Two sources reported that dozens of civilians from three families died when ‘joint forces aircraft’ (either the Coalition or the Coalition with ISF aircraft) hit Zanjili neighbourhood in West Mosul. Al Jazeera said that “local sources reported that dozens of members of three families were killed in the bombing of the Zanjili district of Mosul.”

Summary

Published
23 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
12–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

23 April 2017

Incident Code

CI663

Location

بعاج, Mosul, Ba'aj, Nineveh, Iraq
Local sources reported that twelve civilians were killed and dozens wounded in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Ba’aj in western Nineveh. A press source told Yaqein that “aircraft of the International Coalition launched intensive raids on the district of the western area of Nineveh province” and that it “resulted in the deaths of 12 civilians and…

Summary

Published
23 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
12
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident