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

27 October 2016

Incident Code

CS351

Location

بريهة, Bariha, Deir Ezzor, Syria
At least 10 civilians were killed and more than a dozen wounded from airstrikes, according to local reports. Shaam News Network cited activists who reported warplanes “thought to belong to the international coalition” launched airstrikes on a house, resulting in “martyrs and wounded among civilians, most of them children.” At the time, it reported five…

Summary

Published
27 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
10–11
Civilians reported injured
13–15
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

26 October 2016

Incident Codes

CS350 TS005e

Location

نعمان, Nu'man, Aleppo, Syria
Ten civilians were killed by alleged Turkish or Coalition airstrikes in the vicinity of Nu'man, according to local sources. The US-led alliance later denied conducing strikes in the vicinity on this date. An initial report by ISIS-controlled propaganda unit Al A’amaq said that “10 civilians [were] killed in American raids on a group of fuel…

Summary

Published
26 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
10
Military Actor
Turkish Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

26 October 2016

Incident Code

CI311

Location

بعشيقة‎, Bashiqa, Nineveh, Iraq
An Iraq-based journalist told Airwars he had been informed by a peshmerga contact of four civilian deaths near Bashiqa. According to the reporter, A peshmerga called me and said he saw three wounded and four were crushed to death when their house was hit by either a missile or a bomb. Anadolu reported a military…

Summary

Published
26 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

26 October 2016

Incident Code

CI312

Location

حي القاهرة, Mosul, Cairo, Nineveh, Iraq
Five civilians were killed and seven others injured – Furthermore, 8 ISIL fighters killed – Followed an alleged Coalition on an ISIL web media office in the Cairo neighbourhood of eastern Mosul. According to LBC, Maj. Younis Khalil al-Taie, a Special Forces (Gold Division of the Ministry of Defense), quoting medical sources, that the forensic…

Summary

Published
26 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
7
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

25 October 2016

Incident Code

CS349

Location

الحمر الشرقية, Al Hamar al Sharqiya, Aleppo, Syria
Syria News Desk quoted a resident of the twon who said “planes launched more than three raids on the villages of Al Hamar al Sharqiya and al Madoura and Tal Asward… which led to the killing of two civilians and wounding six others in Hamar al Sharquiya.” Another report from a local facebook page said…

Summary

Published
25 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
0–2
Civilians reported injured
0–6
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

25 October 2016

Incident Code

CI309

Location

ليلان, Lylan, Kirkuk, Iraq
Five civilians were reported killed in an alleged Coalition strikes in the Lylan area south of Kirkuk. The Baghdad Post cited a local source as saying that an air strike carried out by international coalition aircraft near the village of Lylan killed five civilians. Iraq Amsi said the strikes took place in the evening.  

Summary

Published
25 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
5
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident