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

21 November 2017

Incident Code

CS1680

Location

هجين, Hajeen, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Euphrates Post reported “the death of the daughter of Saleh al-Zaker from the city of Abu Kamal due to a heart attack caused by the panic and fear of flying warplanes at low altitude over the city of Hajeen.” No further details are currently available.  

Summary

Published
21 November 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

21 November 2017

Incident Code

CS1681

Location

سوح الرفاعي, Souh al Rifai camp, Abu Kamal countryside, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Three civilians, a father and his two daughters, died and many more were wounded in shelling of a camp for displaced people in the Abu Kamal countryside. It was not clear who was responsible for the incident as no sources apportioned blame. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, unidentified warplanes carried out a…

Summary

Published
21 November 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

20 November 2017

Incident Code

CS1678

Location

باغوز فوقاني, Al Baghouz, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Two civilians – reportedly women – were wounded in Al Baghouz, according to local media. The attack may have resulted from Iraqi or Coalition artillery. Sharqiya Voice reporetd that “two women were injured as a result of the fall of Iraqi artillery shells on the village of # Albaguz amid the movement of the displacement…

Summary

Published
20 November 2017
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

20 November 2017

Incident Codes

CS1679 IRS001 RS2747

Location

القريا, Al Quoriya, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Two civilians were reportedly killed by a drone strike in al Qouriya, local media said, though neither source has said who was responsible. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “two men were killed and another was wounded after being targeted by a drone in the al-Quriyah area”. Sharqiya Voice provided some more detail,…

Summary

Published
20 November 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition, Iranian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 November 2017

Incident Code

CS1676

Location

ابو حمام, Abu Haman, Deir Ezzor, Syria
According to the Euphrates Post, the Syrian Democratic Forces carried out an artillery bombardment on Abu Hamam. It said that there had been civilian casualties but didn’t specify a number. Al Qouriya Media Center provided some more detail. It reported that “artillery shelling targeted a family from al-Qouriya, the family of Hussein al-Ali al-Sayer al-Hamad.…

Summary

Published
18 November 2017
Civilians reported killed
1–4
Civilians reported injured
2–13
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

18 November 2017

Incident Code

CS1677

Location

الكشكية, Al Kashkiya, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Local media reported that several civilians were wounded in an artillery shelling by the SDF on al Kashkiya. The SDF is not known to have had access to its own artillery – indicating that this was most likely a Coalition action.  

Summary

Published
18 November 2017
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident