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

8 November 2018

Incident Code

CS1825

Location

هجين, Hajin, Deir Ezzor, Syria
An alleged Coalition airstrike targeted the town of Hajin, which according to local reports resulted in the deaths of between 12 and as many as 40 civilian casualties. Halab Today TV reported that “Coalition aircraft carried out more than 50 air raids on the city of the Hajin, east of the Euphrates, on Thursday evening [Nov…

Summary

Published
8 November 2018
Civilians reported killed
12–41
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

8 November 2018

Incident Code

CS1826

Location

الشعفة, Al Sha'afa, Deir Ezzor, Syria
An alleged Coalition airstrike on an “ISIS headquarters” was reported to have resulted in civilian casualties. Smart News Agency reported that one of four high precision missiles fell on an ISIS HQ and that 12 members of the terror group died. Smart did not report any civilian casualties. However, according to Deir Ezzor 24, “many…

Summary

Published
8 November 2018
Civilians reported killed
4–20
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

4 November 2018

Incident Code

CS1824

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A single source, Free Deir Ezzor Media, reported that “a civilian woman and her child were killed by artillery shelling targeting the town of Al-Soussa in Deir al-Zour countryside.” No further details are currently available. In its December 2020 monthly civilian casualty report, the Coalition assessed this event as ‘non credible’, asserting that "The allegation…

Summary

Published
4 November 2018
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

3 November 2018

Incident Code

CS1822

Location

مسجد خالد بن الوليدهجين, Hajin: House near Khalid bin Walid mosque, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Local media reported that between 14 and 21 civilians – over half of them children, according to some sources – were killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on a house near the Khalid bin Walid mosque in Hajin. Several sources mentioned al Soussa, al Kushma and al Sha'afa as other locations targeted by airstrikes that…

Summary

Published
3 November 2018
Civilians reported killed
14–21
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

3 November 2018

Incident Code

CS1823

Location

الشعفة و, Al Sha'afa, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Multiple local sources named three children as killed and “many” more civilians wounded in an alleged Coalition air or artillery strike on Al Shaafa on November 3, 2018. Some sources reported that the airstrike targeted a house in a residential neighbourhood. Euphrates Post for example reported: "The killing of three children, the children of Imad…

Summary

Published
3 November 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
5–10
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

31 October 2018

Incident Code

CS1821a

Location

هجين, Hajin, Deir Ezzor, Syria
In an incident previously not tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the injuries of four civilians in an airstrike near Hajin. There are indications that this was either a French or Dutch action. In its April 2019 civilian casualty report, the Coalition noted: "Coalition aircraft conducted one strike on a Daesh improvised explosive device…

Summary

Published
31 October 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident