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

16 July 2015

Incident Code

CS102

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Coalition aircraft allegedly destroyed an “ISIS-owned digger,” killing a man local monitoring group Raqaa is Being Slaughtered Silently described as a civilian driver: “Coalition planes targeted a drilling vehicle belonging to Daesh which is used for digging berms in the area of Tal Al Bayi’a. This led to the burning of the vehicle, and to…

Summary

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

Incident Date

13 July 2015

Incident Code

CS101

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
The Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies website named Ala’a Abou Abdallah from Deir Ba’alba, Homs as having been killed by Coalition bombing in Raqqa on July 13th. The Syrian Human Rights Committee also named Ala’a as having been killed. No additional public details could be found relating to this event. In its civilian casualty…

Summary

Published
13 July 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

12 July 2015

Incident Code

CS100

Location

مزرعة الأسدية, Al Assadiyah near Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
A boy named as Amjad Mohammed was reportedly killed along with eleven alleged Daesh militants, in a fresh coalition airstrike on the outskirts of Ar Raqaa. According to SOHR, the child may have belonged to ‘Cubs of the Caliphate’ – an Islamic State indoctrination unit for young children in the city. One report claimed he…

Summary

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

Incident Date

11 July 2015

Incident Code

CI083

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq
There were fresh claims of Coalition-inflicted civilian casualties at Mosul, with 37 non-combatants alleged killed and injured in airstrikes reportedly aimed at disrupting power supplies to the city. According to NINA, the dawn raid “caused a complete interruption of electricity – and some water pumps stopped in the city.” Some hospitals reportedly lost access to…

Summary

Published
11 July 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
20
Civilians reported injured
17
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 July 2015

Incident Code

CS097

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
A young civilian male named as Issa Al Hmeidan was reportedly killed along with an Islamic State militant in a confirmed US airstrike near Ar Raqaa. According to a number of sources, aircraft targeted a sugar factory which was used as a base by the militants. In January 2016, CENTCOM admitted civilian casualties had been…

Summary

Published
11 July 2015
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 July 2015

Incident Code

CS098

Location

الرقة‎, Warakat Samra near Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
In the second of three Raqaa incidents for July 11th in which Coalition aircraft allegedly caused non-combatant deaths, a woman and two or three of her children died in an airstrike at the village of Warakat Samra according to reports. Her husband was severely injured in the attack, losing his leg. Local activist Abu Ibrahim…

Summary

Published
11 July 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident