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

7 March 2017

Incident Code

CI517

Location

السجن القديم, Mosul, Old Prison, Nineveh, Iraq
Local sources said entire families were trapped under rubble, mostly children and women, after their houses were bombed near the Old Prison area and Muthanna school. It was reported that that the screaming of the victims could still be heard. It was unclear who carried out the raids – Iraqi Spring mentions both the Coalition…

Summary

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

Incident Date

7 March 2017

Incident Code

CI518

Location

المنصور, Mosul, Al Mansour, Nineveh, Iraq
There were reports that children and women were killed or injured due to different kinds of shelling and airstrikes on Mansour neighborhood in West Mosul. @shvm_90 said in a Tweet: “Heavy shelling and brutal air and artillery aimed at reviving #right side [of Mosul] and the strongest was on #Mansour neighborhood and the fall of…

Summary

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

Incident Date

7 March 2017

Incident Code

CI519

Location

Mosul, Dur al Resala, Nineveh, Iraq
Nine members of a family were reported killed in an airstrike in ‘early to mid March’ including four children and three women. Amnesty International has published the following account: “Witnesses told Amnesty International that in early-mid March (they could not be certain of the exact date), a warplane hit two houses in al-Risala neighbourhood, near…

Summary

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

Incident Date

7 March 2017

Incident Code

CI520

Location

Mosul, al Amil, Nineveh, Iraq
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on September 1st 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment of civilian harm “near Mosul, Iraq” via an NGO report. According to the Coalition report, “March 8, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no…

Summary

Published
7 March 2017
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

6 March 2017

Incident Code

CI513

Location

محطة القطارٌ, Mosul, Central railway station, Nineveh, Iraq
Local residents and security sources reported that up to 33 civilians (mostly former Iraqi and police officers) died after Coalition airstrikes targeted the railway station at the right side of Mosul. The sources reported that the Coalition had ‘mistakenly’ targeted the train station, which killed up to 33 people (25 -33 civilians and eight ISIL…

Summary

Published
6 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
18–33
Civilians reported injured
8–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

6 March 2017

Incident Code

CI514

Location

الدواسة, Mosul, Dawassa area, Nineveh, Iraq
Local residents sources said that between 41 and 52 civilians were killed, including 23 children and one woman, and more than 70 injured after Coalition airstrikes and shelling by Iraqi government forces struck civilian homes at dawn, at the right side of Mosul. Witnesses told Iraq News that there were “dozens of women and children…

Summary

Published
6 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
41–52
Civilians reported injured
70
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident