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 August 2015

Incident Code

CI093

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq
Local sources claimed that a Coalition airstrike aimed at an ISIL vehicle instead hit nearby celebrations, killing 18 people including three medics. One was later named as dentist Dr. Samir Ibrahim while the UN noted that a father and child died in the reported event. According to NINA, the deaths occurred when a missile accidentally…

Summary

Published
19 August 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
18
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

19 August 2015

Incident Code

CS116

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Reports claimed that three civilians (a woman and one or two children) and 8 Daesh fighters were killed following two raids by the Coalition in an area surrounding a sugar factory or grain mill near the city. Local activist Abu Ibrahim Al Raqawi said of the attack on the mill: “Although it is not a…

Summary

Published
19 August 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3
Military actors reported killed
8
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

18 August 2015

Incident Code

CI092

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Al Anbar, Iraq
One civilian was reported killed and five injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike at the border town of al Qaim. Citing a ‘medical source in the city, al-Gharbiya eported that “a young man was killed as a result of the bombing was carried out by one of the [Coalition] warplanes on the neighborhoods of the…

Summary

Published
18 August 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

15 August 2015

Incident Code

CS115

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
A young adult male civilian was reported killed in an afternoon airstrike by the Coalition in Raqqah. He was named on a Facebook memorial page as Mut’ib Khamees Al Jarbou’. No further details were given of how he had died. In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for October 2019 – published on December 5th of…

Summary

Published
15 August 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

14 August 2015

Incident Code

CS114

Location

تلبيسة, Talbisah, Homs, Syria
Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies named Bassam Abd Al Kareem Al Sai’id as a civilian victim of alleged Coalition bombing on Talbissa, Homs. A second source naming him also as Abu Khaled, says he was from Talbissa, Homs but killed in Raqqa as a result of coalition bombing. In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for…

Summary

Published
14 August 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

13 August 2015

Incident Code

CS112

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Two or more US targeted airstrikes aimed at killing 21-year old British cyber terrorist Junaid Hussain instead resulted in the deaths of 3 civilians and the injuring of at least 5 more, a US investigation later concluded. “On Aug. 13, 2015, near Ar Raqqah, Syria, during strikes against Junaid Hussain, an ISIL cyber-operative, it was…

Summary

Published
13 August 2015
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident