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

1 March 2017

Incident Code

CS545

Location

كسرة شيخ (جمعة), Kasrat Sheikh (Juma'a), Raqqa, Syria
Between one and five civilians died and nine others were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Ksrat Sheikh al Juma’a, according to single source Smart News. There was some confusion in reporting. In the first paragraph, Smart said that one civilian died, but in the second paragraph put the death toll at five. A…

Summary

Published
1 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
1–5
Civilians reported injured
9
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

1 March 2017

Incident Code

CI499

Location

الموصل الجديدة, Mosul, Mosul al-Jadid / New Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq
At least two children were killed and other family members injured in New Mosul neighborhood in western Mosul. One source said ISIL targeted an unidentified warplane, which responded by launching a missile. The missile hit a house nearby, close to Yakatha mosque. However, Urgent Mosul News (Facebook) said that an ISIL car was targeted, which…

Summary

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

Incident Date

1 March 2017

Incident Code

CI500

Location

النبي شيث, Mosul, Nabi Sheet, Nineveh, Iraq
Local residents said 14 civilians from three families were killed in a Coalition airstrike reportedly targeting a car bomb parked near their houses in Nabi Sheet neighborhood, at the right side of Mosul. The sources reported that “the victims’ bodies [are] still under the rubble and could not be pulled out because of the intensification…

Summary

Published
1 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
14
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

1 March 2017

Incident Code

CI501

Location

Mosul, Mosque of Imam Al-Baher, Nineveh, Iraq
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on June 2nd 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment of civilian harm “near Mosul, Iraq”. According to the Coalition report, “12. March 1, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes…

Summary

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

Incident Date

28 February 2017

Incident Code

CS542

Location

كسرة الفرج, Kasrat Faraj, Raqqa, Syria
A single source, the Smart news network, reported the death of two civilians in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the village of Kasra Faraj. According to Smart’s source, “two people were killed when the international coalition aircraft targeted a medicine depot belonging to the Islamic State in the southern countryside of Raqqa, north-eastern Syria. The…

Summary

Published
28 February 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

28 February 2017

Incident Code

CS543

Location

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Raqqa, Syria
An unspecified number of civilians were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Tabaqa, according to local reports. Step news agency and Ka’aka al A’nzi reported that the Coalition had carried out raids “near the workers’ residences in Tabaqa leading to a number of civilians being wounded”. According to Raqqa’s Rebels Brigade, “Coalition planes…

Summary

Published
28 February 2017
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident