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

13 November 2016

Incident Code

CS372

Location

طريق حزيمة - تل أبيض, Hazima-al Tabyad road, Raqqa, Syria
A family of four was reported killed when their car was struck in an alleged Coalition airstrke on the Hazime-Tal Abiyad road. Sadaa al Sham cited local sources as saying that “Coalition aircraft targeted a car belonging to displaced people on the road between Hazima and Tal Abiyad north of the city of Raqqa, killing…

Summary

Published
13 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 November 2016

Incident Code

CI333

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, East, Nineveh, Iraq
Airwars’ Iraq researcher met three young victims of violence in eastern Mosul at an evacuation centre. The three children were all boys aged between 10-11 years. Two were brothers who had been injured by an unidentified explosion outside their home in eastern Mosul on November 14th. The third said he had been injured by an…

Summary

Published
11 November 2016
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 November 2016

Incident Code

CS370

Location

خنيز جنوبي, Khaniz Janoubi, Raqqa, Syria
A reported Coalition airstrike on an ISIL ‘police facility’ also killed a named civilian non-combatant. According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered, Ali al Awwad al Rahil died when his home was struck during the raid. However a local media activist claimed he died as a result of “YPG Kurdish militia targeting of his home while…

Summary

Published
11 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 November 2016

Incident Code

CI331

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Hatra subdistrict, Nineveh, Iraq
A UN report on the protection of civilians in the context of Nineveh operations and the retaking of Mosul stated: on 10 November: An airstrike hit Hatra subdistrict of Mosul. According to sources, between two civilians (children, aged seven and nine, respectively) and four civilians (two children and two women) were killed and nine other…

Summary

Published
10 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
2–4
Civilians reported injured
9
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 November 2016

Incident Code

CI332

Location

حمام العليل, Mosul, Hamam al Alil subdistrict, Nineveh, Iraq
A UN report on the protection of civilians in the context of Nineveh operations and the retaking of Mosul stated: on 10 November: An airstrike reportedly hit Hamam al-Alil subdistrict of Mosul. Six members of one family (a married couple with four children) were killed and two other family members (a girl and a woman)…

Summary

Published
10 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
6
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

9 November 2016

Incident Code

CS368

Location

خنيز السلمان, Khaniz al Salman, Raqqa, Syria
The Step News Agency, reported "international coalition planes targeted at noon today, Wednesday 9th of November, the village of Khaniz in the northern Raqqa countryside. There's news about civilian casualties and a new massacre." Step went on to add that "coalition aircraft also launched an air raid targeting the IS security perimeter in the city…

Summary

Published
9 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident