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

15 July 2016

Incident Code

CS264

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
According to a single source, four civilians from one family were killed and 13 additional civilians injured following a Coalition airstrike. The Syria News Desk reported that “Coalition aircraft launched more than a dozen raids on Manbej, affected some national hospital west of the city perimeter, four of which targeted residential sites in the middle…

Summary

Published
15 July 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
13
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

15 July 2016

Incident Code

CS265

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
A young adult civilian male named as Ahmad Ibrahim al Faress was reported killed in a Coalition strike on Manbij. It is either the second reported event of the day in Manbij, or is linked to the previous incident. The Syrian Network reported Coalition strikes on the city that day but made no mention of…

Summary

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

Incident Date

14 July 2016

Incident Code

CS263

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
Continued heavy Coalition airstrikes on Manbij reportedly resulted in further heavy civilian casualties. According to Lens Young Manbij, “The family of Mahmoud Bin Ali al Manssini [the barber] was killed. The father is in a critical condition. The daughter of Safi Miassni was with them and she was also killed. Ahmad Bin Safi was lost…

Summary

Published
14 July 2016
Civilians reported killed
8
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

14 July 2016

Incident Code

CI266

Location

القيارة, Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the injury of a civilian in an attack on Qayyarah. In November 2016, CENTCOM noted in their civilian casualty report that "during a strike on an ISIL-held building, it is assessed that one civilian was killed." In April 2017 the Coalition revised its…

Summary

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

Incident Date

13 July 2016

Incident Code

CS261

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
Three civilians were reported killed in Manbij, either by Coalition aircraft or more likely, as a result of a Daesh-boobytrapped vehicle. As Lens Young Manbij reported, “Al Haj Mahmoud Sarmini, his wife and daughter Alaa Sarmini, 4 years old, were killed near al Fatah station. We don’t know whether it was an IS booby trap…

Summary

Published
13 July 2016
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

13 July 2016

Incident Code

CS262

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
In a second alleged Coalition event in Manbij on July 13th, between 6 and 12 civilians were reported killed Manbij Direct reported “the death of the entire family of al Haj Hassan Abd al Rahman [Khalilo] the blacksmith in al Salaleen market as a result of the [air] raids and he himself is missing.” According…

Summary

Published
13 July 2016
Civilians reported killed
6–12
Civilians reported injured
10
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident