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

8 November 2021

Incident Code

CS1970

Location

الصبحة, Al Sabha, Deir Ezzor, Syria
At least one man was killed in an alleged Coalition and Syrian Defense Forces airdrop operation in the town of Al-Sabha on November 8th, 2021. Sources were conflicted as to whether the man killed was a civilians or a militant. According to Euphrates Post, the Coalition and the Syrian Defense Forces carried out an airdrop…

Summary

Published
8 November 2021
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Military actors reported killed
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
YPG, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

7 November 2021

Incident Code

CS1969

Location

جرابلس, Jarablus, Aleppo, Syria
Up to three people were killed and up to three others were injured in alleged Coalition drone strikes in the city of Jarablus on November 7, 2021. Among the victims killed by the strikes, two of them were identified as being militants. Shaam News reported that according to the "Media Office in the city of…

Summary

Published
7 November 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Military actors reported killed
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

27 October 2021

Incident Code

CS1968

Location

الصبحة, Al Sabha, Deir Ezzor, Syria
A male civilian, co-chair of the Deir Ezzor Civil Council, was shot and killed by alleged Coalition forces and/or Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in on October 27, 2021. According to a tweet from @Sada_AlSharqieh, a media organization covering Eastern Syria, Samer Al-Abdullah, the co-chair of the Deir Ezzor Civil Council, in charge of running the…

Summary

Published
27 October 2021
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, YPG
View Incident

Incident Date

25 October 2021

Incident Codes

TS477 CS1967

Location

العدوانية, Al Adwania, Al Hassakah, Syria
Up to four men were killed in Coalition airstrikes or shootings with the alleged assistance of Turkish forces in the village of Al Adwania on October 25, 2021. One of the men, Abu Hamza Al-Shuhail, was identified as an arms dealer while sources were conflicted as to whether the other men were civilians or militants.…

Summary

Published
25 October 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike), Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Military actors reported killed
1–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
Turkish Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

16 October 2021

Incident Code

CS1966

Location

الزر, Al Zir, Deir Ezzor, Syria
At least one young man was killed in an alleged Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces operation in the village of Al Zir on October 16, 2021. According to Euphrates Post, five people were arrested in a security operation carried out by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) with the support of the Coalition: Muhammad Khader Al-Rathi, Ayman Khader…

Summary

Published
16 October 2021
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, YPG
View Incident

Incident Date

2 October 2021

Incident Code

CS1965

Location

مزرعة تشرين, Mazra'a Tishreen, Raqqa, Syria
One civilian, a "young" man, Abboud Al-Akeeb, was allegedly killed by US-led Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces' raid on Tishreen Farm, north of Raqqa in Syria on 2nd October 2021, according to multiple sources. The attack was reported to have happened at dawn. Athar Press reported that "American forces and "SDF" carried out raids in…

Summary

Published
2 October 2021
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, YPG
View Incident