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

23 June 2016

Incident Code

CS240

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
In a previously unreported incident, the US admitted six months later that it had killed four civilians in an attack on Raqqa, noting that “June 23, 2016, near Ar Raqqah, Syria, during a strike against an ISIL-held building, it is assessed that four civilians were killed after entering the target area after the aircraft released…

Summary

Published
23 June 2016
Civilians reported killed
4
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

22 June 2016

Incident Code

CS238

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
A British schoolgirl Kadiza Sultana – who had run away with two friends to join ISIL – was killed in a Coalition strike on an ‘ISIL finance centre’ – a local bank. Sultana reportedly lived in an apartment above the building targeted that day. The US has not admitted civilian deaths related to this strike,…

Summary

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

Incident Date

22 June 2016

Incident Code

CS239

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
One male civilian was killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike, according to two local sources. Halab News Network reported that he died when a Daesh vehicle carrying him was targeted, as he was being moved to the terrorist organisation’s prison. In the second of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that…

Summary

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

Incident Date

21 June 2016

Incident Code

CS236

Location

‏الجعابات‬, Al Ja'abat, Aleppo, Syria
One male civilian was killed and a number of others wounded, in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the village of al Jaabat, according to multiple sources. Both Halab News and SHRC Daily reported that he was hit by shrapnel during an air raid. However the Coalition has publicly reported no strikes in the vicinity. In the…

Summary

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

Incident Date

21 June 2016

Incident Codes

CS237 RS0930

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Up to 38 civilians including six children and three women were killed and up to 150 injured in airstrikes on Raqqa, according to multiple sources. While most alleged that Russia carried out the attack, the United States later admitted responsibility – though admitted only three civilians deaths: “June 21, 2016, near Ar Raqqah, Syria, during…

Summary

Published
21 June 2016
Civilians reported killed
23–38
Civilians reported injured
150
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

20 June 2016

Incident Code

CS235

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
Two adult male civilians, named as Mohammad Abdi al Barho, 20 years old, and Ahamad Jaber al Issa, 23 years old, were killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Manbij, according to local sources. Manbij Mother of the World reported that the two men died when Coalition planes struck them while they were on a motor…

Summary

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