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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

24 February 2015

Incident Code

CI042

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, al-Zohour, al-Tahrir, al-Bunook [also known as Al Massaref] and al-Muthanna neighborhoods, Nineveh, Iraq
Reported Coalition airstrikes on multiple targets in eastern Mosul – said to be occupied by Islamic State forces – allegedly killed 14 civilians, including women and children. According to NINA, medical forensic teams in Mosul “received 14 dead bodies belonging to civilians, [who] were killed in al-Zohour, al-Tahrir, al-Bunook [also known as Al Massaref] and…

Summary

Published
24 February 2015
Civilians reported killed
14
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

24 February 2015

Incident Code

CI043

Location

الكرمة, Garma, near Fallujah, Al Anbar, Iraq
Seven civilians from one family – including young children – were killed and 8 injured when a house was allegedly struck by a coalition aircraft. However other sources attributed the attack to an artillery assault by the Iraq Army. The dead were later named by the Iraqi Spring Centre. Seven additional people were named as…

Summary

Published
24 February 2015
Civilians reported killed
7–20
Civilians reported injured
7
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

23 February 2015

Incident Code

CS057

Location

تل حميس, Tall Hamis, Al Hassakah, Syria
According to Syria’s Violations Documentation Center, a Coalition airstrike at Tal Hamis – scene of a major battle between Kurdish forces and Islamic State at the time – resulted in the death of a male teenager. In July 2017, the Coalition classed the event as non credible on grounds of lack of available evidence of…

Summary

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

Incident Date

23 February 2015

Incident Code

CS058

Location

الجيسي, Al Jesse, Al Hassakah, Syria
It was reported that a coalition airstrike in the vicinity of Al Hassakah had killed three unnamed civilians: “The car was bombed while it was on the bridge of a village near the town [of Al Hassakah] which led to the death of three civilians, displaced from the city of Tal Hamis,” according to Thawrah.…

Summary

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

Incident Date

22 February 2015

Incident Code

CS056

Location

سليمة, Salima, Al Hassakah, Syria
A number of sources report that up to 10 civilians, including possibly children, were killed after the coalition mistakenly bombed the wrong village. According to the Stepagency site: “Today six children and a few other civilians were killed in the village of Salima after the coalition planes bombed the village by mistake as it was…

Summary

Published
22 February 2015
Civilians reported killed
2–10
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

18 February 2015

Incident Code

CI041

Location

حديثة, Haditha, Al Anbar, Iraq
Local sources in Haditha reported that up to 15 civilians were killed and an unknown number were injured after an alleged coalition airstrike hit Albu Haiyat mosque at midday prayers. Al Iraq News stated that among those killed were captured “members of the Iraqi security forces who are were being guarded at the mosque.” However…

Summary

Published
18 February 2015
Civilians reported killed
12–15
Civilians reported injured
2–4
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident