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

19 March 2017

Incident Code

CS589

Location

مزرعة الأندلس, Al Andalus Farm, Raqqa, Syria
Nine civilians from one family were killed in an alleged Coalition strike at al Andalus Farms. According to Qasioun, the strike hit a residential neighbourhoods inhabited by displaced people from Maskana. Nation Defense, which also blamed the Coalition, put the death toll as high as 18. According to Shaam News “unidentified” warplanes targeted a farmhouse…

Summary

Published
19 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
9–18
Civilians reported injured
2–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

19 March 2017

Incident Code

CS590

Location

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Raqqa, Syria
Between ten and 15 civilians died and 20 or more were injured in alleged Coalition airstrikes on multiple locations in Al Tabaqa, according to local sources. Qasioun reported: “According to A’maq [ISIL], Coalition warplanes raids in Tabaqa targeted the fire station and the bakery and killed 10 civilians and wounded 19. Coalition warplanes also targeted…

Summary

Published
19 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
10–15
Civilians reported injured
7–20
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

19 March 2017

Incident Code

CI559

Location

الموصل الجديدة/الآبار, New Mosul/Abar, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq
Locals reported the deaths of 46 civilians including 28 children and 18 men and women with 80 others injured – mostly children and women – by different kind of shelling in many neighborhoods of Old Mosul. At least 26 bodies reportedly reached the local forensic medicine hospital. Iraq News Center spoke of two dozen civilians…

Summary

Published
19 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
46–47
Civilians reported injured
80
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

19 March 2017

Incident Code

CI560

Location

حي التنك, Mosul, Tanak, Nineveh, Iraq
Amnesty International field researchers reported that 11 civilians died in a likely airstrike on al Tanak. The following account was published: “Amnesty International interviewed witnesses about an explosion in al-Tenak neighbourhood on 20 March which they attributed to an air strike. The explosion caused two houses to collapse just off Street 20, killing 11 civilians.…

Summary

Published
19 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
11
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

19 March 2017

Incident Code

CS591

Location

حمرة بلاسم, Hamra Blassem, Raqqa, Syria
At least one named civilian was reportedly killed in a Coalition airstrike which hit a bakery in the town of Hamra Blassem village. According to multiple sources, Mazid Adham Al-Mazid died in the raid and at least two other civilians were injured. One source claimed that ten people died in the attack – though this…

Summary

Published
19 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
1–10
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

18 March 2017

Incident Code

CS587

Location

شبهر, Shabhar, Raqqa, Syria
Seven named civilians including four women and a child died in a reported Coalition strike in Raqqah governorate – though there was confusion about whether they had died at Shabhar or Al Matar. Orient News, citing Raqqa Post, said that seven civilians – five from the Matar family – died. It blamed the Coalition. Raqqa…

Summary

Published
18 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
7–9
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident