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

30 April 2015

Incident Code

CS065

Location

بئر محلي, Jubb Mahli (Ber Mahli), Aleppo, Syria
In one of the worst reported incidents in nine months of bombings by the US-led Coalition, 64 civilians were said to have died in an attack on the village of Ber Mahli near Sareen – the majority of them women (19) and children (32). It remains disputed as to whether the village was partly or…

Summary

Published
30 April 2015
Civilians reported killed
64
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

29 April 2015

Incident Code

CI065

Location

حي الجغيفي, Fallujah, Jughaifi, Al Anbar, Iraq
According to local reports, coalition airstrikes killed nine civilian non-combatants and injured three more in Al Sharika Street, Aljughaifi neighborhood. The dead were named by the Iraqi Revolution website as “belonging to the family of Khamis Sufook al-Jumaili, killing him and his wife and her sister, their sons and daughters, as well as his brother…

Summary

Published
29 April 2015
Civilians reported killed
9
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

29 April 2015

Incident Code

CI066

Location

الرمانة, Roumana, Al Anbar, Iraq
Four coalition strikes allegedly hit the village of Roumana near al Qaim, in Anbar province. According to the Baghdad Center for Human Rights, an unspecified number of non-combatants died in the event. Islamic State may have been the source for those claims, which it made on one of its websites.  

Summary

Published
29 April 2015
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

26 April 2015

Incident Code

CS064

Location

متراس, Mitras, Aleppo, Syria
Reported Coalition airstrikes at 11 am on the village of Mitras killed three civilians, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights.  These were identified as an adult male, a teenager and a child. This event bears a resemblance to an April 19th incident at the same location (CS063) in that the victims are from…

Summary

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

Incident Date

22 April 2015

Incident Code

CI064

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Bareed, Nineveh, Iraq
At least four civilians died in a Coalition airstrike on the Bareed quarter of Mosul. A home was completely destroyed in the event, killing four members of one family. One report also named a fifth family member, a young disabled girl named Sadra (cousin to Abdullah) as being killed. However as the Fiscal Times noted,…

Summary

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

Incident Date

21 April 2015

Incident Code

CI063

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, East, Nineveh, Iraq
A claimed coalition airstrike on the centre of Mosul killed up to 23 militants and five or more non-combatants according to reports, after four homes were destroyed. NINA cited a medical source as saying that 23 civilians died when aircraft struck the Mdaana neighbourhood – though this appears to be a mis-cite of other casualties…

Summary

Published
21 April 2015
Civilians reported killed
5–9
Civilians reported injured
12
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident