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

1 October 2017

Incident Code

CS1562

Location

التوسعية, Al Tawassoy’ia neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria
On January 30th several sources reported the exhumation of a whole family from under the ruins of their own house in Al Tawassoy’ia neighbourhood of Raqqah city. According to all reports, Mohammed Anwar al-Jabeen, his wife and four children, “Bashar, Abboud, Bushra, Ibrahim” died as a result of bombing by the US-led Coalition. The date…

Summary

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

Incident Date

1 October 2017

Incident Codes

CS1561 RS2580

Location

حي النختب بقرص فوقاني, Al Nakhtab, Bokros Foqani, Deir Ezzor, Syria
As many as 12 civilians were killed - including an entire family - and up to 30 were injured, following airstrikes on Al Nakhtab, Bokros Foqani. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, some attributing blame to the Coalition, others to Russia and SOHR to the Syrian regime. A handful of sources blamed "unknown…

Summary

Published
1 October 2017
Civilians reported killed
8–12
Civilians reported injured
12–30
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

1 October 2017

Incident Code

CS1562a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", one civilian was reportedly killed in alleged Coalition artillery strikes in Raqqa. Although Airwars assesses single sourced incidents as "weak", researchers have assessed this incident "fair" due to the depth of material provided by Amnesty. The report stated that "Mahmud…

Summary

Published
1 October 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–35
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

1–5 October, 2017

Incident Code

CS1590a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", between 11 and 23 civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrike in Raqqa. Although Airwars assesses single sourced incidents as "weak", researchers have assessed this incident "fair" due to the depth of material provided by Amnesty. The report summarised…

Summary

Published
5 October 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
11–23
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

1 October 2017

Incident Code

CS1556

Location

طابية جزيرة, Tabiyyah Jazeera, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Local leader Thalj Ragheb Al-Humaidi Al-Salman was killed in airstrikes on Tabiyyah Jazeera village, according to multiple local sources. He was Mukhtar of the village and Sheikh of the Burmah clan. It is not presently clear who was responsible as no source apportioned blame – all but one referred to “shelling”. Airwars will amend the…

Summary

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

Incident Date

1 October 2017

Incident Codes

CS1557 RS2577

Location

Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Between nine and 15 civilians died, including an entire family, following alleged airstrikes in a second reported ‘massacre’ at Abu Kamal in 24 hours. Reports were contested: some sources blamed the Coalition, while others believed Russia were the likely culprit. Many of the known sources did not apportion blame. The strikes were conducted after midnight,…

Summary

Published
1 October 2017
Civilians reported killed
9–15
Civilians reported injured
15–24
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident