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

10 October 2017

Incident Code

CI867

Location

Rawah, Al Anbar, Iraq
A number of sources reported that civilians were killed or injured following a coalition or Iraqi forces strike which targeted several areas in Rawa, west of Anbar province. Yaqein reported heavy bombardments on Rawa by the alleged Coalition aircraft, resulting in civilian casualties and injured as well as substantial damage to homes and vehicles, along with…

Summary

Published
10 October 2017
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 October 2017

Incident Code

CS1618

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Two named civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike at a water well in Raqqah, according to local media – though the date of the incident is currently unclear. According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (reporting on October 13th), one young man, Bebars Ismail al-Habash, died “a few days ago” in a bombing targeting…

Summary

Published
10 October 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

10 October 2017

Incident Code

CI868

Location

Al Qaim, Al Anbar, Iraq
In December 2017, the Coalition reported having unintentionally killed a civilian in an event previously unreported by Airwars. It stated: "Oct. 10, 2017 near Al Qaim, Iraq via self-report. During a Coalition strike which destroyed a building being used as an ISIS headquarters it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally injured when they inadvertently…

Summary

Published
10 October 2017
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

9 October 2017

Incident Code

CS1612

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
A civilian male died in Raqqah following an “aerial bombardment” of the city, local media said. There is very limited information at present for this event, with both RBSS and Raqqa Maydan saying on October 11th that the incident had taken place “several days ago.” Airwars understands that only the US-led Coalition were bombing in…

Summary

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

Incident Date

9 October 2017

Incident Code

CS1613

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Two men died as a result of US-led Coalition artillery strike on Raqqah city, local sources alleged. The Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality" reported that "Ala’Eddin Haj Ibrahim, and his neighbour Mohammed AbdelHadi al-Zein, both aged 51, were killed by an artillery strike outside Ala’eddine home." The…

Summary

Published
9 October 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

9 October 2017

Incident Code

CS1614

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
On January 30th 2018, RBSS reported that "The bodies of Abdul Hakim al-A’bka and Abdulkhaliq al-A’bka were taken out of the rubble after they had been shelled about four months ago by the international coalition aircraft on the town of Raqqa." The men were reportedly from one family. In Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019…

Summary

Published
9 October 2017
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident