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

8 September 2016

Incident Code

CI284

Location

تل عفر, Tall Afar, Nineveh, Iraq
Between two and seven civilians including women and children died – and five were injured – in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the Tel Al Shaeer and Aski Mosul areas in Tal Afar, west of Mosul, according to local sources. Yaqein reported that the Coalition carried out a strike that “targeted the villages of Tel…

Summary

Published
8 September 2016
Civilians reported killed
2–7
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

7 September 2016

Incident Code

CS306

Location

دير الزور, Deir ez-Zor, Deir Ezzor, Syria
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, CENTCOM reported on 13 September 2016 that non-combatants may have been killed or injured after a non-ISIL vehicle strayed into a strike kill box. “In a strike on Sep. 7, near Dayz Az Zawr, Syria, on an ISIL target, what appeared to be a non-military vehicle drove…

Summary

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

Incident Date

6 September 2016

Incident Code

CS305

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
A single source, Halaab News, named the child Zuheir Mohammad al Maghrabi as having been killed in an alleged Coalition raid on Manbij. No further details are currently available. In their May 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that…

Summary

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

Incident Date

31 August 2016

Incident Code

CS304

Location

تلحوذان, Tal Houdan, Aleppo, Syria
Six civilians were reported killed in the village of Tal Housan, in what Halab Today said was “a result of Coalition aerial bombing and the artillery of democratic forces; and the bombing by Daesh of a car on the outskirts of the village.” Fierce clashes between ISIL and US proxies the SDF were reported in…

Summary

Published
31 August 2016
Civilians reported killed
6
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

31 August 2016

Incident Code

CI283

Location

الرمادي, Ramadi, Al Anbar, Iraq
In a previously unreported incident, the US admitted three months later that it had killed two civilians in an attack on Ramadi, noting that near Ramadi, Iraq, during a strike against an ISIL target, it is assessed that two civilians were killed. No additional details are presently known.  

Summary

Published
31 August 2016
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

29 August 2016

Incident Code

CS303

Location

البصيرة, Al Besera, Deir Ezzor, Syria
The Syrian Observatory reported that 6 civilians died and 25 were injured when an alleged Coalition strike hit an internet cafe in the town of al-Besera. However in response to a query from Airwars, the Coalition stated that “We can confirm there were no coalition strikes at the location you have indicated. Per our strike…

Summary

Published
29 August 2016
Civilians reported killed
6
Civilians reported injured
20–25
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident