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

13 March 2015

Incident Code

CI051

Location

الحضر, Hatra, Nineveh, Iraq
A US airstrike ‘likely’ killed four civilians when a pair of vehicles was hit during an attack on a reported ISIL checkpoint, a CENTCOM investigation later concluded. After a later investigation by the Washington Post found that eleven civilians actually died – including five children, four women and two civilian drivers – the Coalition raised…

Summary

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

Incident Date

9 March 2015

Incident Code

CI050

Location

تل كيف‎, Telkaif, Nineveh, Iraq
Eight civilians including three women were claimed by NINA to have been killed in a coalition airstrike on Telkaif, 20km north of Mosul. A dozen militants also reportedly died in the attack.  

Summary

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

Incident Date

8 March 2015

Incident Code

CS061

Location

اطمه, Atimah, Idlib, Syria
Sources reported that five unnamed civilian were killed – along with fighters with the al-Nusra Front – in an airstrike on the Syria-Turkey border town of Atama. The building targeted was described as the local headquarters of the al-Nusra Front, an al Qaeda linked faction occasionally targeted by US forces. Photographs and videos depicted heavy…

Summary

Published
8 March 2015
Civilians reported killed
5–6
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

8 March 2015

Incident Code

CS062

Location

Mundbaith Refinery, Tal Abyad, Raqqa, Syria
Up to 30 people, including civilian oil workers and alleged ISIL militants, died in a night time strike on Mundbaith Refinery according to multiple reports. Ara noted that “The bombing also caused the breaking of glass in houses near the border including shops on the Turkish side, causing panic among the population, and the evacuation…

Summary

Published
8 March 2015
Civilians reported killed
2–15
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

6 March 2015

Incident Code

CI049

Location

الفلوجة‎, Fallujah, al Karma General Hospital, Al Anbar, Iraq
An alleged coalition air strike on Garma hospital in east Fallujah reportedly killed one doctor and injured five other medical staff. According to Al Sumaria TV, one source stated that “the bombing of the hospital was due to the presence of armed men belonging to Daesh inside.” However the Iraqi Spring site attributed the attack…

Summary

Published
6 March 2015
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

6 March 2015

Incident Code

CS060

Location

مشفى عائشة الخيري, البوكمال, Abu Kamal, al Aisha Hospital, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Up to five non-combatants including a woman and two infants were reported killed in an alleged 1pm Coalition airstrike on the Aisha hospital in the town of Bukamal. The Violations Documentation Center named one woman as a victim of the strike (described as pregnant by SOHR in an email to Airwars.) Also reported slain were two…

Summary

Published
6 March 2015
Civilians reported killed
4–6
Civilians reported injured
4
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident