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

25 October 2016

Incident Code

CI310

Location

Mosul, Buwayd, Nineveh, Iraq
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition admitted in its February 2017 civilian casualty report that it had killed one civilian during a strike on a moving vehicle. The report noted "During a strike on ISIL fighters in a moving vehicle it is assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed when the…

Summary

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

Incident Date

24 October 2016

Incident Code

CS348

Location

تل أسود, Tall Aswad, Aleppo, Syria
Manbij Mother of All the World initially reported what it said were Coalition strikes on Tal Aswad, targeting a reservoir. In a subsequent report, it said a “massacre” had been committed “against two familes as a result of wrong information from the Kurdish units in the village.” It named four victims. A report by the…

Summary

Published
24 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
7–9
Civilians reported injured
4
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

24 October 2016

Incident Code

CI307

Location

أبو جربوعة, Abu Jarbua, Nineveh, Iraq
A local source told Airwars’ Iraq-based field researcher that three families have died in the village of Abu Jarbuha, followed Coalition airstrikes allegedly destroyed their homes. With British airstrikes confirmed in the area that day, Airwars reached out to the MoD, with information which included geolocates within 1km of the likely vicinity of the event…

Summary

Published
24 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
6–9
Civilians reported injured
4
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

24 October 2016

Incident Code

CI308

Location

طوبزاوة, Tubzawa, Nineveh, Iraq
A local source reported that An adult civilian male killed followed an alleged Coalition strike on the village of Tubzawa. According to a single source, Mr Shihab’s two sons Younis aged 7 and Mustafa aged 2 years old were also severely injured in the incident – and were being treated in the intensive care unit at Irbil…

Summary

Published
24 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

24 October 2016

Incident Code

CI306

Location

تل كيف‎, Tel Kepe (Tel Kayf), Nineveh, Iraq
Eight members of the same family were killed followed an alleged Coalition strikes, according to local sources. Multiple local outlets reported that 8 civilians – all members of the same family – were killed on October 24th in Tel Kepe, a town less than 15km north of Mosul. Yagen identified the father of the family…

Summary

Published
24 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
8–9
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

24 October 2016

Incident Code

CS346

Location

الجرنية, Al Jarnia, Raqqa, Syria
Coalition raids in the vicinity of ground fighting left at least 2 civilians dead, according to local sources. Initial reports from ISIS-controlled Al A’amaq Agency blamed the Coalition for the deaths of two civilians. Subsequent reporting echoed that account (they may have been based on Al A’amaq);Al Jarnia and several other outlets named the two…

Summary

Published
24 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
2–4
Civilians reported injured
2–5
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident