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 October 2018

Incident Code

CS1817

Location

متجرعطية العبيدي الشيخ القديمات, Shop of Attia Al Obaidi Al Sheik Al Qadimat, Al Shaafa, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Three civilians were reportedly killed in alleged US-led Coalition airstrikes on Al Shaafa, Deir Ezzor, on October 30th, 2018, according to local sources. Al Shaafa town's Facebook page wrote on October 30th that an alleged Coalition airstrike on “the shops of Atiyya Al Obeidi Al Sheikh Al Qadimat on the public street at the division…

Summary

Published
30 October 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

30 October 2018

Incident Code

CS1820

Location

و الكشمة, Al Kashma, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Local sources reported on “two new massacres” resulting from alleged Coalition airstrikes targeting the towns of Al Sha’fa and al-Kashma in Deir al-Zour. Several sources including Free Deir Ezzor Radio and Baladi News reported the killing of a total of 17 non-combatant civilians including four women and three children. Baladi added that the victims were…

Summary

Published
30 October 2018
Civilians reported killed
17
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

30 October 2018

Incident Code

CS1821

Location

الشعفة, Al Sha'afa, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Local sources reported on “two new massacres” resulting from alleged Coalition airstrikes targeting the towns of Al Sha’afa and al-Kushma in Deir al-Zour.  Media reported said that four civilians died in this particular event in Sha’fa, when a civilian’s home was allegedly struck by the Coalition. According to The Al Sha’afa Facebook page on October…

Summary

Published
30 October 2018
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

28 October 2018

Incident Code

CS1819

Location

الشعفة, Al Sha'afa, Deir Ezzor, Syria
At least one and as many as 20 civilians including an unspecified number of women and children died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the town of Al Shaafa, which was under the control of ISIS, according to local media. Several local sources including Euphrates Post reported that “a number of civilian died” in the…

Summary

Published
28 October 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–20
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

27 October 2018

Incident Code

CS1816

Location

البوبدران, Al Boubadran, Deir Ezzor, Syria
In what local media referred to as a “massacre”, five civilians including a woman and two or three children were reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the house of Rajab al-Hassan in the area of Al Boubadran, a village near al Soussa said to be under ISIS control. The victims were named by multiple…

Summary

Published
27 October 2018
Civilians reported killed
5
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

27–28 October, 2018

Incident Code

CS1816a

Location

هجين, Hajin, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Between 5 and 20 civilians were reportedly injured or killed in Hajin as a result of alleged Coalition air and /or artillery strikes between October 27th and 28th, according to local media. On October 28th, Syria Unified Observatory reported “the martyrdom of about 20 people of the city of # Hajin and village # Al-Shaafa…

Summary

Published
27 October 2018
Civilians reported killed
5–20
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident