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

30 March 2017

Incident Code

CS649

Location

الصفصاف, Al Safsaf, Raqqa, Syria
According to the Smart News Agency, “a local source said on Thursday night that a civilian was killed and three others were injured in the village of Safsaf west of Raqqa in a bombardment likely to be from the French artillery stationed in the village of Ja’aber in the countryside under the control of SDF“.…

Summary

Published
30 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

30 March 2017

Incident Code

CS643

Location

المنصورة, Al Mansoura, Raqqa, Syria
A family of six including four children and their mother and father died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Mansoura. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, Euphrates Post and the Shaam News Network reported that the strike hit the home of Abd al Aziz Barakat al Ahmad Al Faraj, killing his four children and his wife.…

Summary

Published
30 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
6–8
Civilians reported injured
1–3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

30 March 2017

Incident Code

CS644

Location

المنصورة, Al Mansoura, Raqqa, Syria
According to the Smart News Agency, Coalition aircraft “targeted a pick-up vehicle belonging to IS with a missile inside the town, killing two people [militants], while a civilian was killed on a motorcycle by another missile from the same aircraft.” In December 2018, the Coalition announced that it had classed the event as non credible…

Summary

Published
30 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

30 March 2017

Incident Code

CI588

Location

الشفاء, Mosul, Al-Shafaa, Nineveh, Iraq
Local reports claimed that an airstrike struck the Emergency hospital and severely damaged it. This reportedly led to the death of 29 ISIL fighters and 23 civilians. Mosul Eye blamed the Coalition for the attack, which it also said injured 15 and killed 29 ISIL fighters. A report in Sawlf Ateka said that one of…

Summary

Published
30 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
23
Civilians reported injured
15
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

30 March 2017

Incident Code

CI589

Location

المشاهدة, Mosul, Al-Mashada, Nineveh, Iraq
Locals said that up to 60 civilians were killed after residential houses in the Mashahda area in old Mosul were accidentally struck. Coalition airstrikes, an Iraqi missile and artillery were all blamed. Iraqyoon reported that 12 civilians were killed in a “mistaken air strike” that destroyed four homes. Al Jazeera put the death toll at…

Summary

Published
30 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
10–60
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

30 March 2017

Incident Code

CI590

Location

باب لكش, Mosul, Bab Laksh, Nineveh, Iraq
Al Jazeera reported that four civilians were killed and three were injured after mortars hit residential houses in Bab Lakash neighbourhood in Old Mosul. Sources did not say who was responsible for the mortar shelling, though Al Jazeera noted that the Bab Laksh district had faced “several days of armed confrontations by Iraqi forces trying…

Summary

Published
30 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident