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

15 January 2017

Incident Code

CI426

Location

الموصل الجديدة, Mosul, Mosul al-Jadid / New Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq
Local sources said that 30 civilians were killed and dozens injured in Coalition and governmental airstrikes, as well as artillery and missile shelling, on New Mosul and other neighbourhoods at the right side of Mosul. A source told Yaqein that “at least three rockets landed in the New Mosul area on the right coast of…

Summary

Published
15 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
30
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

14 January 2017

Incident Code

CI424

Location

حي الضباط, Mosul, Dhubat / Officers, Nineveh, Iraq
Local sources reported that ‘hundreds of civilians’ were killed or injured due to Coalition airstrikes and shelling with artillery and missiles, which targeted the ‘Police and other neighborhoods’ in the East and North of Mosul. News of Iraq said 17 civilians were killed in two separate incidents in the Dhubat (Police) district of Mosul. It…

Summary

Published
14 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
17
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

14 January 2017

Incident Code

CS444

Location

ميادين, Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Two civilians died and up to eight others were reported injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on a conserves factory and surrounding homes in Al Mayadeen, according to local sources. The Syrian Observatory reported: “Four European warplanes of the international coalition targeted a conserves factory which was already destroyed and deserted in al-Mayadeen city east…

Summary

Published
14 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2–8
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

14 January 2017

Incident Code

CI425

Location

الموصل الجديدة, Mosul, al-Jadid, Nineveh, Iraq
A UN report on the protection of civilians in the context of Nineveh operations and the retaking of Mosul stated: “In the afternoon of 14 January, airstrikes reportedly targeted the house of an ISIL local leader in the Mosul al Jadida neighbourhood of western Mosul. The attack resulted in the collapse of the targeted house…

Summary

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

Incident Date

Incident Code

CI420

Location

العربي, Mosul, Arabi, Nineveh, Iraq
An Iraqi military source said that Coalition airstrikes bombed three civilian houses, killing 12 civilians and injuring 18 others in Al Arabi neighborhood, northeast of Mosul. Alghad.tv cited a statement published by Turkish state news agency Anatolia, speaking of “about five airstrikes on three houses in the Arabi neighborhood” carried out by the international Coalition.…

Summary

Published
14 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
12
Civilians reported injured
18
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

14 January 2017

Incident Code

CI421

Location

الدركزلية, Mosul, Al-Darkazliyah, Nineveh, Iraq
A relative of a victim said that his nephew Fuad Ahmed Saeed was killed in Coalition raids on his house in Darkazliya neigbourhood, at the centre left side of Mosul. The relative confirmed to Airwars that he was killed on 14th January, in the Al Darkazliya district. Mosul Jantna (Facebook) also reported that “the father…

Summary

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