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

11 April 2017

Incident Code

CI630

Location

اليرموك, Mosul, Yarmouk, Nineveh, Iraq
Local sources reported that 13 civilians from two families were killed and 17 others injured in Coalition airstrikes on houses in Yarmouk neighbourhood, which had been liberated by Iraqi forces the previous day. Today Egypt News quoted Captain Yazen Abdul-Ilah al-Dubardani of the Iraqi Air Force, saying that “Coalition aircraft launched an air strike on…

Summary

Published
11 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
13
Civilians reported injured
17
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 April 2017

Incident Code

CI631

Location

حي الفاروق, Mosul, Farouk, Nineveh, Iraq
Local sources said that nine people from the same family died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on their house in Al-Farouk Street, in Farouk neighbourhood in West Mosul, at midnight. Local Facebook page Sawlf Ateka reported that Tarek al-Sanjari, his five sons and two daughters died. Reportedly, a large explosion blew off the roof of…

Summary

Published
11 April 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
7–9
Civilians reported injured
11
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 April 2017

Incident Code

CI632

Location

سحاب, Mosul, al-Sahab, Nineveh, Iraq
A UN report on the protection of civilians in context of Nineveh operations and the retaking of Mosul stated: “In the morning of 11 April, an airstrike reportedly killed a civilian man and wounded seven other civilians, including a woman, in the ISIL-controlled al-Siha neighbourhood of western Mosul. At the time of the incident, the…

Summary

Published
11 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
7
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 April 2017

Incident Code

CS680

Location

شعيب الذكر, دبسي فرج, Sho'aib Al Zakir and Dibsi Faraj , Raqqa, Syria
Between six and ten civilians including two children and one woman died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the villages of Shoeib Al Zakar and Dibsi Faraj, according to local sources. The Smart News Agency reported that the Coalition carried out five raids, killing six non-combatants including two children and a woman as well as…

Summary

Published
10 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
6–10
Civilians reported injured
4
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 April 2017

Incident Code

CS681

Location

الرقة‎, Al Idkar, Raqqa, Syria
One civilian died and seven others were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Idkhar at Raqqa according to Alaraby, Sadasham and the Smart News Agency. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the Coalition carried out strikes in Raqqa on “the former Political Security building” used as a headquarters by ISIL. It…

Summary

Published
10 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
7
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 April 2017

Incident Code

CS682

Location

هنيدة, Hunayda, Raqqa, Syria
According to a single source, Smart News Agency, four civilians were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Hunayda. No further details are currently available.

Summary

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