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

18 October 2015

Incident Code

CS139

Location

السخنة, As Sukhnah, Homs, Syria
An adult male was killed in a reported Coalition strike at Sukhna. While he was described as a civilian by one source, all others reported that he was in fact a combatant. The VDC has named Sabri Abd al Wahab al Ozbaki as a civilian victim of what it says was “coalition air force’s shelling.”…

Summary

Published
18 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

17 October 2015

Incident Code

CS138

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
Four named civilians were reported killed in an airstrike at Manbij, although opinions were split as to whether the victims had been killed by the Assad regime or by the Coalition. As Ara News noted, “the identity of the planes remains unknown, because of the number of different actors that are bombing the Aleppo countryside…

Summary

Published
17 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

16 October 2015

Incident Code

CI123

Location

يت, Hit, Al Anbar, Iraq
According to local sources, ten civilians were killed and 23 wounded after Coalition aircraft struck Hit city, in the west of Anbar province. According to Iraqi Revolution a number of civilian homes at Shap Corniche were destroyed in the attack which had targeted Daesh elements, with children reportedly among the victims. One photograph showed a…

Summary

Published
16 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
10
Civilians reported injured
4–33
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

15 October 2015

Incident Code

CS137

Location

الأتارب, Al Atarib, Aleppo, Syria
In a Coalition targeted strike, three men were killed when a car was destroyed at Al Atarib on the road between Sarmada and Bab Al-Hawa. The Coalition originally reported destroying a car at Aleppo on October 15th-16th 2015. This was later amended to a US unilateral action, a targeted killing which the Pentagon said had…

Summary

Published
15 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
0–3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

15 October 2015

Incident Code

CI122

Location

تل عفر, Tall Afar, Nineveh, Iraq
In a previously unknown casualty event, the US confirmed on January 29th 2016 that its aircraft had injured at least two civilians in a targeted strike on an ISIL religious judge three months earlier. According to CENTCOM, “On Oct. 15, 2015, near Tal Afar, Iraq, during strikes against ISIL Sharia Judge Mullah Maysar, it was…

Summary

Published
15 October 2015
Civilians reported injured
2–5
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 October 2015

Incident Code

CS136

Location

حربل, Harbel, Aleppo, Syria
Two civilians, sharing the same surname, were reported killed, either by Coalition airstrikes or a car bomb either in Harbel or in Deir Hafer in Aleppo governorate. According to a Sultan Al-Musalmeh, two “young men” were killed by a car bomb when they were trying to “emigrate from Syria”. All sources identified the individuals as…

Summary

Published
10 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident