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

11 July 2015

Incident Code

CS099

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
In the last of three reported Raqaa incidents for July 11th, a civilian firefighting team in the city reportedly died in a coalition airstrike. According to Al Araby, the Coalition “launched eight raids targeting Daesh sites on the outskirts of Raqqa city. These hit the areas of Al Hamrat, Al Sina’a [Industry] and the Faculty…

Summary

Published
11 July 2015
Civilians reported killed
4
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

9 July 2015

Incident Code

CS095

Location

الحسكة, Al-Hasakah, Al Hassakah, Syria
The death of a 12 year old boy, Fares al-Khodour in an alleged Coalition airstrike on al Hassakah on July 9th led to an international outpouring of grief and condemnation of the ongoing civil war in Syria – and of the Coalition’s own involvement. Fares had fled as a refugee with his family to Beirut,…

Summary

Published
9 July 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–7
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

9 July 2015

Incident Code

CI082

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq
Up to 15 civilians including women and children were allegedly killed in a reported coalition airstrike at Mosul, which was also said to have injured seven people. The National Iraq News Agency (NINA), citing what it described as a local source, reported that “the international coalition aircraft bombed houses belonging to unarmed civilians believed to…

Summary

Published
9 July 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
15
Civilians reported injured
7
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

9 July 2015

Incident Code

CS096

Location

تدمر‎, Palmyra, Homs, Syria
A badly wounded Syrian refugee told Buzzfeed that he believed his injuries had been caused by a Coalition airstrike at Palmyra, although no strikes at that location had been reported at the time (the first publicly reported Coalition strikes on Palmyra were on September 9th 2015.) Mohamed Raja, aged 23, lost his right arm and…

Summary

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

Incident Date

8 July 2015

Incident Code

CS093

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
A single source, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, claimed that two civilians were killed and others wounded, “some of them injured badly.” In a possible linked event, Al Hurra reported that the coalition targeted and killed Daesh leader Abu Abdallah Al Ozbeki [‘the Uzbek’], outside a hotel in the centre of Raqaa. Citing SOHR’s…

Summary

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

Incident Date

8 July 2015

Incident Code

CS094

Location

كفردريان, Kafr Daryan, Idlib, Syria
A US night time airstrike on a vehicle carrying alleged al-Nusra Front personnel also killed two passing civilian motorcyclists. They were later identified by the Syrian Network for Human Rights as two cousins aged 25 and 30. Both worked in the local shoe industry. In January 2016 CENTCOM confirmed that its airstrike had targeted “a…

Summary

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