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

6 May 2016

Incident Code

CS209

Location

دابق‎, Dabiq, Aleppo, Syria
A 6-year old girl was reported killed in an alleged Coalition raid on the town of Dabiq, though the alliance has denied responsibility. VDC has named the victim as Sara al Naser. In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition denied responsibility for the event, saying that it conducted no strikes nearby that day:…

Summary

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

Incident Date

5 May 2016

Incident Code

CS208

Location

ﺣﻠﺐ, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
In an incident previously unknown to Airwars, the Coalition announced on December 1st 2016 that it had assessed a claimed incident ‘near Aleppo’ on May 5th – but that no strikes had been conducted in the vicinity. According to the Coalition release, “May 5, 2016, near Aleppo, Syria: No Coalition strikes were conducted on that…

Summary

Published
5 May 2016
Civilians reported injured
0–1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

5 May 2016

Incident Code

CI236

Location

تل عفر, Tall Afar, Nineveh, Iraq
Many local sources claimed that Coalition aircraft struck civilian homes in a nighttime attack on Tal Afar city west of Mosul, resulting in 17 deaths including 12 children and 3 women. The Coalition has confirmed airstrikes in the city. Later local source named one of the child victims. In the first of their March 2020…

Summary

Published
5 May 2016
Civilians reported killed
17
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

2 May 2016

Incident Codes

CS207 RS0792

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Between six and 21 civilians died and up to 50 were injured in multiple night time airstrikes on the city of Raqqa, according to local sources. While most reports alleged that Russia was responsible, others did not identify the aircraft, while one blamed the Assad regime and another said that the Coalition might have carried…

Summary

Published
2 May 2016
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
6–21
Civilians reported injured
20–50
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

30 April 2016

Incident Code

CI235

Location

الموصل, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq
In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the CENTCOM later confirmed the deaths of five civilians in a US strike in Mosul. Their November 2016 report noted: "during a strike against ISIL military leadership, it is assessed that five civilians were killed after entering the target area after the aircraft released its weapon.” In…

Summary

Published
30 April 2016
Civilians reported killed
5
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

29 April 2016

Incident Code

CI234

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq
The attempted US targeted killing of the Australian Neil Prakash, ‘an ISIL external operations facilitator’ instead “struck three civilians on the road and one civilian located on an adjacent compound,” CENTCOM admitted three months later. Among the four civilians who were killed in the airstrike that day, one man was named by local sources, Ziad…

Summary

Published
29 April 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident