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

26 April 2016

Incident Code

CI233

Location

الشرقاط, Al Shirqat, Salah Al Din, Iraq
US aircraft attacked an ISIS checkpoint in the town of Sharqat. According to a CENTCOM release issued three months later, “it is [now] assessed that one civilian was killed when a motorcycle unexpectedly appeared in the target area after the US aircraft had already released its weapon.” That attack on a checkpoint near the Jumeila…

Summary

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

Incident Date

24 April 2016

Incident Code

CS206

Location

كفرغان, Kafr Ghan, Aleppo, Syria
The Daesh-linked Al A’Amaq Agency reported the deaths of four civilians “in an American bombing on the village of Kafr Ghan in Souran in the northern Aleppo countryside.” Other news agencies also reported the deaths of civilians in an alleged Coalition event. Syria News, while making no mention of civilian casualties, reported that “International coalition…

Summary

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

Incident Date

23 April 2016

Incident Code

CS205

Location

مرقدا, Marqadah, Al Hassakah, Syria
A claimed evening airstrike by the Coalition on Daesh fighters in Marqadah also reportedly killed and injured a number of civilians when a mosque was struck. Syria News reported local sources as saying that “The dead and wounded were killed by Coalition bombing of a mosque during evening prayers in the city of Marqadah in…

Summary

Published
23 April 2016
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

22 April 2016

Incident Code

CI232

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Al-Malyia, Nineveh, Iraq
Four families comprising 36 civilians, including women and children, were killed in the Al-Maliya district east of Mosul in a strike by the international coalition, according to a senior medical source in Nineveh quoted by NINA. In a rarely named citation, Director of the Emergency General Hospital in Mosul Dr Mahdi al-Rubaie told the National…

Summary

Published
22 April 2016
Civilians reported killed
36–37
Civilians reported injured
8
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

21 April 2016

Incident Code

CS204

Location

البوكمال, Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria
At least four and up to ten members of one family were reported killed in alleged Coalition (or possibly Russian) night time strikes on Abu Kamal. According to the Deir Ezor Observatory there were three Coalition strikes on the city, all after midnight. And News of the Revolution reported that “International coalition planes last night…

Summary

Published
21 April 2016
Civilians reported killed
4–10
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

20 April 2016

Incident Code

CI231

Location

الموصل, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq
An alleged Coalition airstrike on a bank in Faisaliah reportedly killed six students and injured a further eight civilians. According to NINA, “The international Coalition bombed on Thursday [April 21st] the Um Al- Rabiein bank in the Al Faisaliah area in the north of Mosul, which led to the martyrdom of six students who were…

Summary

Published
20 April 2016
Civilians reported killed
6
Civilians reported injured
8
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident