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

Incident Code

CI406

Location

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq
Local sources said that civilians, including women and children, were killed or injured due to Coalition airstrikes on Rashad and Riad regions Sunday evening in Hawija, southwest of Kirkuk. Only once source, News of Iraq, claimed there were civilian casualties.

Summary

Published
8 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

7 January 2017

Incident Code

CS432

Location

السوا, Sawa, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Between five and 40 civilians reportedly died following a Coalition airstrike at al Sa’wa, according to local sources. The Coalition later confirmed killing just two civilians. According to Step News, “international coalition planes targeted last night oil terminal wells near the town of Al Sa’awa in the western countryside with dozens of air strikes, killing…

Summary

Published
7 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
5–40
Civilians reported injured
2–15
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

Incident Code

CI402

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Dargizliya, Nineveh, Iraq
A UN report on the protection of civilians in context of Nineveh operations and the retaking of Mosul stated: “In the morning of 7 January, 15 civilians, including two women and three children, were alleged to have been killed in an airstrike targeting ISIL vehicles at the Hamameel roundabout in the Dargizliya neighbourhood of eastern…

Summary

Published
7 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
15
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

7 January 2017

Incident Code

CI398

Location

حي سومر, Mosul, Sumer, Nineveh, Iraq
Local sources said civilians were killed and injured after Coalition Apache helicopters targeted a market in Sumer neighborhood, southeast of Mosul, with machine guns. On the same day, a young man named as Mostafa al Lahibi was reported killed by unspecified shells in the same neighbourhood.

Summary

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

Incident Date

7 January 2017

Incident Code

CI399

Location

الموصل: غرب/الجانب الأيمن, Mosul, West, Nineveh, Iraq
Five civilians were reported killed, including three children and two women in raids in West Mosul. Shafaaq reported that strikes of unknown origin had that “wrongly” targeted displaced people west of Mosul.  

Summary

Published
7 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
5
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

7 January 2017

Incident Code

CI400

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, East, Nineveh, Iraq
Local and medical sources said that 15 civilians were killed and many others injured and children displaced, in an alleged Coalition airstrike. Al Jazeera said that as many as 27 civilians were killed on Saturday in an airstrike by the international coalition in the east of Mosul. A medical source, D. Raed Ahmed al-Hamdani, had…

Summary

Published
7 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
15
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident