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

Incident Code

CS042

Location

near al-Bo Omar, Syria, Deir Ezzor, Syria
In the January 25th 2018 civilian casualty report, the Coalition reported that a civilian casualties allegation near al-Bo Omar had been assessed as non credible: “#1 Jan. 12, 2015, near al-Bo Omar, Syria via regional human rights group report. After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in…

Summary

Published
12 January 2015
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 January 2015

Incident Code

CI028

Location

القيارة, Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq
A single source claimed that a coalition strike on the town of Qayyarah near Mosul killed and injured “dozens.”  

Summary

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

Incident Date

11 January 2015

Incident Code

CS041

Location

دير الزور‎, Deir ez-Zor, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Extensive coalition air raids on Islamic State-controlled oil fields reportedly killed four civilian oil workers, according to a number of sources. Local website Step Agency listed what it said were the targets struck: “The alliance planes at dawn today launched more than five raids targeting Islamic State near the town of Abu Kamal in the…

Summary

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

Incident Date

5 January 2015

Incident Code

CS040

Location

معرحطاط, Ma`arr Hitat, Idlib, Syria
The Syrian Martyrs website, lists one civilian male as a victim of a coalition strike. It is unclear whether he was killed in his home town of Ma’ar Hatat in Idlib or in Raqqa. However, the original listing in Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies lists him as a militant from Idlib - and reports…

Summary

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

Incident Date

2 January 2015

Incident Code

CI027

Location

الفرحانية, Villages of Al-Farhaniya and al-Subaihat, Salah Al Din, Iraq
An airstrike by an unspecified belligerent reportedly killed 12 civilians including women and children, and wounded an additional 23. The deaths occurred during an Iraqi government offensive against Islamic State.

Summary

Published
2 January 2015
Civilians reported killed
12
Civilians reported injured
23
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

28 December 2014

Incident Code

CS038

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria
In one of the the worst known incidents of mass civilian casualties reportedly caused by coalition bombings, at least 51 non-combatants were killed when aircraft struck an Islamic State local headquarters, which was also being used as a temporary prison. Somewhere between 150 and 400 people were being held by ISIL on petty charges at…

Summary

Published
28 December 2014
Civilians reported killed
51–65
Civilians reported injured
20
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident