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 June 2015

Incident Code

CS077

Location

الموحسن, Al Muhassan, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A lawyer and muezzin of the village mosque,  died in an alleged Coalition strike which damaged the building according to reports. The victim's two brothers Juma’a and Saleh had also previously been killed during clashes with regime forces.  

Summary

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

Incident Date

11 June 2015

Incident Code

CS078

Location

سلوك, Slouk, Raqqa, Syria
Two or three alleged Coalition incidents were clustered together in most news reports: the killing of a family of five at Slouk; the death of a child near Ma’adan; and up to 15 further civilian deaths in other airstrikes in the vicinity. According to SOHR, “international coalition aircraft last night carried out several strikes in…

Summary

Published
11 June 2015
Civilians reported killed
6–20
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 June 2015

Incident Code

CS075

Location

عربيد, A'rbeed, Raqqa, Syria
A reported Coalition strike near the ISIL-occupied village of A'rbeed was said by the Syrian Network for Human Rights to have killed three civilians in a farmhouse – a 43 year old man and his two wives. Two other sites described Coalition strikes in the vicinity, though did not refer to civilian deaths. In February…

Summary

Published
10 June 2015
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

8 June 2015

Incident Code

CI072

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Zuhour and other neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq
In January 2016, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq reported that it had learned of a major civilian casualty incident in Mosul on June 8th 2015, though had been unable either to verify the claim or attribute responsibility to any party: “On 8 June, local sources reported that an airstrike in Mosul, Ninewa, caused…

Summary

Published
8 June 2015
Civilians reported killed
20–23
Civilians reported injured
13–21
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

7 June 2015

Incident Code

CS074

Location

دالي حسن, Dali Hasan, Aleppo, Syria
The Syrian Network for Human Rights posted a video which it said showed “the destruction caused by an international Coalition air strike on a house in Dali Hasan killing seven civilians from one family, including 5 children and a woman.” In February 2019, the Coalition accepted responsibility for the event, noting: "Coalition aircraft engaged ISIS fighters…

Summary

Published
7 June 2015
Civilians reported killed
8
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

5 June 2015

Incident Code

CI071

Location

عنه, Anah al Jadidah, Al Anbar, Iraq
A young man, Mustafa Tarif Habib al-Ani (pictured below) was reportedly killed along with three or four of his relatives in an alleged coalition airstrike. According to the Iraqi Spring site, the family home was struck “near Rabe’e Sooq in the Rasil Gharbi area of Anah district, in western Anbar.”  

Summary

Published
5 June 2015
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident