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

21 September 2015

Incident Code

CS129

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
An adult male named as Muhammad Khalifa al Hasan – a civil engineer from Bokros in Deir Ezzor – was allegedly killed in a Coalition strike according to some sources. Others said he had died in a regime attack. A Facebook page covering the locality of Deir Ezzor, where the victim is from, noted that…

Summary

Published
21 September 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

Incident Code

CI108

Location

جزيرة الخالدية, Khalidiya island, Al Anbar, Iraq
An alleged Coalition strike at Khalidiya island, to the east of Ramadi, reportedly killed seven civilians including two cildren. Thirteen people were also reported injured, described as ‘mostly women and children.’ A Coalition report issued in December 2016 stated the following: “After a thorough review of the facts and circumstances of each alleged civilian casualty…

Summary

Published
20 September 2015
Civilians reported killed
7
Civilians reported injured
13
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

20 September 2015

Incident Code

CI109

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq
A US airstrike on an ‘ISIS headquarters’ in Mosul in fact killed four members of one family – named as university professor Mohannad Al Rezzo (pictured below); his 18-year old son Najib Mohannad Al Rezzo (pictured below); his brother Bassim’s wife Miyada Rezzo and their 21-year old daughter Tuka Rezzo. The Coalition admitted the deaths…

Summary

Published
20 September 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

20 September 2015

Incident Code

CI110

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq
A reported coalition airstrike on an ISIL IED factory [see CI109] injured ‘dozens’ of civilians, it was claimed, after a chemical cloud spread across local areas. Waradana cited Ghias Surja of the Nineveh Union of Kurdistan National Center as saying: “The lab was used by the criminal organization for terrorist activities against the innocent and…

Summary

Published
20 September 2015
Civilians reported injured
70
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

20 September 2015

Incident Code

CS128

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
An internally displaced person, a young girl named as Fatima Hasan Al Steif from Aleppo, was allegedly killed by a Coalition strike according to sources. Fatima was said to be the daughter of Hasan Al Steif, and the family had been displaced from the town of Al Safira, in Aleppo province, to Raqaa. In its…

Summary

Published
20 September 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

19 September 2015

Incident Code

CI107

Location

كبيسة, Kabaisa, Al Anbar, Iraq
A family home was reported destroyed in an airstrike at Kubais in Anbar province. Photographs showed a number of injured children, although there were no confirmed overall casualty figures. One of the images used, however, had already been posted by a source in incident CI103. In its July 2017 monthly report, the Coalition said it…

Summary

Published
19 September 2015
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
7
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident