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

6 January 2017

Incident Code

CI396

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Al Anbar, Iraq
Up to eighteen people were killed and 24 injured – mostly women and children – in government and Coalition airstrikes, in Al Qaim, Anbar province. Yaqein reported the incident and added – quoting local sources – that “the raids focused on the areas of Karabila and Saada east of the city, and resulted in the…

Summary

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

Incident Date

6 January 2017

Incident Code

CI397

Location

حي الزراعي, Mosul: Agricultural District, Nineveh, Iraq
Local sources initially said that a family of three children and their grandmother were killed after their house was hit by a missile during Coalition raids on the Agricultural residential neighbourhood in central Mosul area, which at the time was under ISIS control. The New York Times later put the overall death toll at 16.…

Summary

Published
6 January 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
16
Civilians reported injured
3–6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

6 January 2017

Incident Code

CS427

Location

سويدية كبيرة, Sowaiydiya Kabira, Raqqa, Syria
At least eight civilians were reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Sowaydiya, as the US-led Coalition and its SDF ground proxies continued to battle ISIL in Raqqa governorate. According to Raqqah is Being Slaughtered, there were “nine martyrs and three injured in a massacre at the village of al Sowaydiya Kabira following targeting…

Summary

Published
6 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
5–12
Civilians reported injured
10–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

6 January 2017

Incident Code

CS428

Location

الضبعان, Dabaan, Raqqa, Syria
At least two civilians were killed in a reported Coalition airstrike on Dabban village in Raqqa governorate. According to the Syrian Observatory, “the international coalition’s warplanes bombed places in Dabaan area in the countryside of Al-Raqqah, and confirmed information about the death of two people.” ISIL also said that “two people were killed in an…

Summary

Published
6 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
3–6
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

5 January 2017

Incident Code

CI392

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq
Local sources told Mosul Ateka that 26 civilians from four families were killed when their home was bombed by Coalition strikes. There are no additional accounts of this alleged incident at the moment.  

Summary

Published
5 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
26
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

5 January 2017

Incident Code

CI393

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Fatih, Nineveh, Iraq
Fourteen people including women and children were killed, and 15 wounded by Coalition strikes in the Garage and Fatih areas, according to local reports. Several outlets, including Iraqi Spring Media Center, reported that 14 people, “mostly women and children” were killed and an additional 15 wounded by Coalition raids in eastern Mosul.  

Summary

Published
5 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
14
Civilians reported injured
15
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident