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 November 2014

Incident Code

CS030

Location

Deir Ez Zor Oil Collection Point, Deir Ezzor, Syria
An internal Coalition report noted that civilians may have been killed near an oil collection point in Deir Ez Zor. The Coalition assessed the incident as non-credible: “Open source video indicated that three civilians were killed in a deliberate strike on an oil collection point in DeZ. 13 Nov 2014: Review could not determine that…

Summary

Published
13 November 2014
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

12 November 2014

Incident Code

CI016

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Jawsag, Nineveh, Iraq
Iraqi news agency NINA and others reported that seven civilians – including children – died in “international coalition raids” in the vicinity of both Denden and Jawsaq, south of Mosul city. An additional strike by the Iraq military at nearby Mithaq in eastern Mosul reportedly killed an additional 15 civilians.  

Summary

Published
12 November 2014
Civilians reported killed
7
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 November 2014

Incident Code

CS026

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
According to some sources, a civilian man was killed alongside two militants in an alleged coalition airstrike on Islamic State’s headquarters town of Ar Raqqah. The slain civilian was identified as a resident of Ma’ar Shoureen in Idlib. Two ‘Daesh militants’ were reportedly killed with him, one named as Mohammad Said Al Kaddour Nasser. In contrast,…

Summary

Published
11 November 2014
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 November 2014

Incident Code

CS027

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
A number of sources cited SN4HR (in a report now lost) as claiming that two unnamed civilian males and one ISIL militant were killed in a coalition airstrike at Manbij, near Aleppo.  

Summary

Published
11 November 2014
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 November 2014

Incident Code

CS028

Location

الشنان, Shanan, Deir Ezzor, Syria
The Syrian Martyrs website claimed that a civilian male died in a coalition airstrike on the village of al Shanan near Dayr az Zawr. He was later named as Rashed Hamdan Al Abd Al Jassem. According to the Facebook page of local activist Abu Mohammad Al Dairi, al Jassem was one of 12 casualties from…

Summary

Published
11 November 2014
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

8 November 2014

Incident Code

CS024

Location

الخريطة, Khareeta, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Two civilian men were reported by a number of sources as having been killed in a coalition airstrike.  

Summary

Published
8 November 2014
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident