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

14 April 2017

Incident Code

CI638

Location

رأس الجادة, Mosul, Ras Al Jadda, Nineveh, Iraq
Two local sources reported that seven civilians from one family died when an airstrike or bombardment hit their house in Ras Al Jadda neighbourhood in the old part of Mosul. The victims were named by MNN and Sawlf Ateka (local Facebook group) as: Wa’ed Ali Saleh al-Sharifi, his wife, sons Ali and Nashwan, his daughter…

Summary

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

Incident Date

14 April 2017

Incident Code

CI639

Location

تل خيمة, Tel Kheimeh near Badoosh, Nineveh, Iraq
In a major alleged incident, two interviewees reported that up to 55 civilians died in an Iraqi or Coalition airstrike and ground-based machine gun fire as they attempted to flee ISIS control. The following unpublished field report was shared by Amnesty International with Airwars: “Interviewee 1: ‘I’m from Tel Kheimeh, a small village, around one…

Summary

Published
14 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
55
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

14 April 2017

Incident Code

CS693

Location

حمرة غانم, Hamra Ghanem, Raqqa, Syria
Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported the death of one civilians "as a result of a raid by international coalition aircraft on the town of Hamra Ghanem”. Local news source Sharaf News also reported a few days later that “Activists from Raqqa said that international coalition aircraft targeted the house of Bashir Yusuf al-Sultan in…

Summary

Published
14 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
1–4
Civilians reported injured
2–6
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

13 April 2017

Incident Code

CI636

Location

حي التنك, Mosul, Tanak, Nineveh, Iraq
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of six civilians in an incident near Mosul. Their June 2017 civilian casualty report noted: "During a strike on an ISIS VBIED engaging Iraqi Security Forces, it was assessed that six civilians were unintentionally killed when a group of fleeing civilians…

Summary

Published
13 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
6
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

13 April 2017

Incident Code

CS688

Location

حطلة, Hatla, Deir Ezzor, Syria
The state news agency Sana reported the death of ‘hundreds of people’ in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Hatla. The Coalition said they were not responsible. However in its own published reports for that day the Coalition did later confirm three strikes in the province. According to Sana: “The General Command of the Army and…

Summary

Published
13 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
0–100
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

13 April 2017

Incident Code

CS689

Location

الخاتونية, Khatouniya, Raqqa, Syria
Local sources reported the death of three civilians following an alleged Coalition drone or air strike on a fire engine which was passing along the road between Al Jazara and Khatouniya. The local news agency reported: “A local source told the Smart correspondent on Thursday that three civilian workers were killed in an air strike…

Summary

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