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

9 April 2017

Incident Code

CS675

Location

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Al Manghiya, Raqqa, Syria
A man, his wife and his son were reported killed and six members of their family wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on “the garage and the market” in the Al Manghiya neighbourhood of Tabaqa, according to local media. Citing a local source, Al Watan said that “[Coalition] aircraft targeted the industrial zone and the…

Summary

Published
9 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
6
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

9 April 2017

Incident Code

CS676

Location

كسرة الفرج, Kasrat Faraj, Raqqa, Syria
Two people – possibly civilians – died in an alleged Coalition airstrike which hit the car they were traveling in at Kasrat Faraj, according to local media. Step News noted “a dawn raid by Coalition forces today which targeted a car carrying two people in the village of Kasrat Faraj south of the city, which…

Summary

Published
9 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
0–2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

9 April 2017

Incident Code

CS677

Location

الرقة‎, Fardous, Raqqa, Syria
Two civilians died and four were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa’s Fardous neighbourhood, according to the Smart News Agency. However the Coalition did not report any strikes on the city that day. According to Smart, “One of the sources pointed out that the [likely Coalition] aircraft targeted al-Fardous neighborhood in the city…

Summary

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

Incident Date

9 April 2017

Incident Code

CS678

Location

المشلب, Al Mashlab, Raqqa, Syria
“An air strike targeted the neighborhood of al-Mashlad in the city of Al-Raqqa, injuring civilians,” according to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently. Other sources also said that the Coalition carried out a strike on Al Mashlab resulting in casualties, though numbers were not given. However the Coalition did not report any strikes on the city…

Summary

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

Incident Date

9 April 2017

Incident Code

CS679

Location

مزرعة تشرين, Tishreen farm, Raqqa, Syria
Local media reported the death of two families in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the Tishreen Farms area. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, four non-combatants including a woman and her child died at the hands of the Coalition. Other sources put the number of dead at six, again pointing to Coalition warplanes…

Summary

Published
9 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
4–10
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

8 April 2017

Incident Code

CI618

Location

17 تموز, Mosul, 17 July, Nineveh, Iraq
Local sources said that three named family members were killed and their daughter injured on the morning of April 8th, after an airstrike reportedly struck their house in West Mosul. They also reported a “number of wounded”. Yaqein said a “wrong” Coalition airstrike killed three and wounded two of the same family in West Mosul…

Summary

Published
8 April 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident