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

30 September 2016

Incident Codes

CS319 RS1380

Location

البصيرة, al Basira, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Between four to 20 civilians were reported killed and 12 or more injured after an alleged Coalition, Russian or Assad regime strike at al Basira, according to local media. A photograph published by Euphrates Post showed what appeared to have been a major strike in a built up area of the town. And a video…

Summary

Published
30 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
4–20
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

30 September 2016

Incident Codes

CS320 RS1381

Location

الشحيل, Al Shaheel, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Two or three children and an elderly woman died in an airstrike on a primary school at al Shaheel, according to local media – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of the Syrian regime, Russia or the US-led Coalition. Deir Ezzor 24, the Syrian Observatory and Euphrates Post reported only…

Summary

Published
30 September 2016
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
4
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

30 September 2016

Incident Codes

CS321 RS1382

Location

بقرص, Bokros, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Up to 10 civilians including a family of four died following air raids on Bokros, according to sources on the ground. The Syrian regime, Russia and the Coalition were all blamed. According to Shaam News, “In the town of Bokros Coalition aircraft attacked houses belonging to civilians, which led to the death of four people,…

Summary

Published
30 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
4–10
Civilians reported injured
7
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

29 September 2016

Incident Code

CS318

Location

حاجي كوسا, Haji Koussa, Aleppo, Syria
A woman and her three children were reported killed in an alleged Coalition or Russian strike at Haji Koussa, near Al Bab. Blame was divided. Local Syran Civil Defence and Qasioun said Russia carried out the strike. Syrian News Desk blamed the Assad regime. Syrian Rebels Gathering said unidentified aircraft were responsible. And Radio Al…

Summary

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

Incident Date

27 September 2016

Incident Code

CS317

Location

العريمة, Al `A'rīma, Aleppo, Syria
Fouad al Waisi, his wife and his daughter were all reported killed in a daytime Coalition strike near Manbij, in the village of al A’rima. The Coalition later reported that three civilians had been injured in the incident, without mentioning any civilians killed. On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition…

Summary

Published
27 September 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

24 September 2016

Incident Code

CI291

Location

كراج الشمال, Mosul, ISIS court in North Garage, Nineveh, Iraq
Two sources reported that 11 civilians killed followed alleged coalition jets targeted ISIS court in Mosul. The media office of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Mosul, Ghayath al-Surji, said, The international coalition aircraft bombed, at dawn today, ISIS Sharia court inside a residential neighbourhood at Karaj, in central Mosul, killing 11 civilians who…

Summary

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