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 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1513

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Three civilian males died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, according to local media. Multiple sources named the victims. The deaths of Mr Al Khatib and his son were reported by Page of Palymyra’s Dead, reflecting where the IDPs had originally come from.

Summary

Published
21 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

20 September 2017

Incident Code

CI852

Location

Karabla, Al Anbar, Iraq
Local press said a number of civilians were killed following airstrikes on Karabla in Qaem district, west of Anbar province. It was alleged by sources that the strikes killed a number of owners of car maintenance shops after they targeted the industrial district. The US-led Coalition was not blamed for the attack, however, nor were…

Summary

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

Incident Date

20 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1512

Location

الرقة, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Local media named four civilians as killed in Raqqa by “aerial bombardment and artillery”. The culprit was not identified, though Airwars understands that only the Coalition has access to artillery at Raqqa, and was conducting airstrikes on the city at the time. The date of the incident is yet to be confirmed. Sources reported the…

Summary

Published
20 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
4
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

19 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1511

Location

Al Nahda neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria
Two women died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqah’s Al Nahda neighbourhood, according to local media. The victims were named by multiple sources. Palmyra Media Centre reported the rest of the family were presently unaccounted for. In June 2019 the Coalition announced that it had assessed this allegation of civilian harm to be non-credible,…

Summary

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

Incident Date

19 September 2017

Incident Code

CI851

Location

Huwaija, Sina'iya area, Kirkuk, Iraq
According to two local sources, some civilians killed following an alleged Coalition airstrike targeted the residential neighbourhoods in Huwaija. Al Rafdain said that a number of civilians were killed and others wounded in an aerial bombardment, with a press source reportedly adding that aircraft bombed three sites in the Sina’iya area in Hawija, resulting in deaths…

Summary

Published
19 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

19 September–10 October, 2017

Incident Code

CS1636

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Up to five civilians, including one child and three women, were reportedly killed by an alleged Coalition strike at some point during the Raqqa Campaign, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS) and Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality" reported. The first report was made by RBSS who reported…

Summary

Published
19 September 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident