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

19 March 2016

Incident Codes

CS192 RS0743

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
In a second day of airstrikes on Raqqa, 43 civilians were reported killed and 60 injured – though sources are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime – with one report suggesting this may be a Coalition incident. The Daesh agency Al A’maq said there had been nine…

Summary

Published
19 March 2016
Civilians reported killed
39–43
Civilians reported injured
60
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

18 March 2016

Incident Code

CI202

Location

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq
Up to 41 civilians were allegedly killed and 53 injured in an airstrike on Hawijah which was said to have struck the city’s main market and hospital. The Daesh-linked Al A’amaq Agency initially reported the “Killing of four [civilians] and the wounding of 10 – most of them women and children – in an air…

Summary

Published
18 March 2016
Civilians reported killed
41
Civilians reported injured
53
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

18 March 2016

Incident Codes

CS191 RS0741

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Between 15 and 20 civilians including up to eight children and five women died in airstrikes on Ar Raqqah, according to multiple local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime – with one source suggesting the warplanes responsible may have belonged to the…

Summary

Published
18 March 2016
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
15–20
Civilians reported injured
25–40
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

15 March 2016

Incident Code

CI201

Location

باب لكش, Mosul, Bab Laksh, Nineveh, Iraq
Local sources said at least four and as many as 13 civilians were killed and 25 injured including children and women after alliance jets struck residential apartments used by displaced people in the Alaymen district of eastern Mosul. The National Iraqi News Agency reported: “residents said that international coalition aircraft bombed a residential compound belonging…

Summary

Published
15 March 2016
Civilians reported killed
4–18
Civilians reported injured
5–30
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

14 March 2016

Incident Code

TS001

Location

جكة, Jakka, Aleppo, Syria
A single source, the Daesh-linked propaganda outlet Al A’amaq Media, reported an alleged ‘friendly fire’ event in the village of al Jakka: “An American plane carries out a raid by mistake on a position for the armed opposition on the outskirts of the village of Jakka in the northern Aleppo countryside, leading to deaths in…

Summary

Published
14 March 2016
Military Actor
Turkish Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

13 March 2016

Incident Codes

CS190 RS0738

Location

أبو قلقل, Abu Qalqal, Aleppo, Syria
Two civilians were reported killed in an airstrike on the town of Abu Kalkal. Opinion was split as to whether the attack was Russian, Coalition or Syrian regime in origin. Daesh-linked Al A’amaq Media, the Syrian Observatory, the Syrian Network, the Syrian Human Rights Committee, Shaam News and al Hall Media all said the attack…

Summary

Published
13 March 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident