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

18 September 2017

Incident Code

CI850

Location

Huwaija, Kirkuk, Iraq
Local source Yaqin alleged civilians killed and wounded, following Coalition airstrikes on Hawija. According to a well-informed source quoted in the report, “aircraft of the International Coalition bombed three sites in the industrial area of the province of Hawija”, the source added, the bombing resulted in the deaths of a number of dead and wounded…

Summary

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

Incident Date

18 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1505

Location

المرشدة, Al Mrashda, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Four to six civilians including one woman, displaced from Iraq, and three to five children were reported killed in an airstrike on al Mrashda village near al Boukamal. The Coalition admitted responsibility for six deaths in the event in February 2020, with the US military conceding its role three months later. JFL at the time…

Summary

Published
18 September 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

17 September 2017

Incident Code

CI848

Location

الحصيبة, Husaybah, Al Anbar, Iraq
Local media reported on the death of six civilians, and dozens wounded following alleged US-led Coalition airstrikes on Husaybah, west of Anbar. An initial report was released by Yaqin, which suspected the Coalition had targeted “villages on the border between Syria and Iraq”. A’maq [ISIS propaganda] then reported: US shelling killed six and wounded ten…

Summary

Published
17 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
6
Civilians reported injured
10–24
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

17 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1500

Location

Abu Kamal, Sena'a neighbourhood, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Eight civilians including an entire family died in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Abu Kamal, local media reported. According to Euphrates Post, “warplanes believed to belong to the international coalition carried out a number of air strikes targeting the town of Abu Kamal and its countryside. The attack targeted the crude oil burners in Al Bagouz…

Summary

Published
17 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
8
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

17 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1501

Location

Abu Kamal, Al Sukkariya, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Nine houses were allegedly targeted in airstrikes on al Sukkariya village, according to multiple local sources, @albokalnews suspected this indicated “dozens of civilian martyrs”. However reporting was confused with another alleged incident at al Baghouz (S1329) with no breakdown of casualties. Fresh Syria named the US-led Coalition as the culprit, and asserted that an unknown…

Summary

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

Incident Date

17 September 2017

Incident Code

CS1502

Location

الباغوز, Al Baghouz, Deir Ezzor, Syria
‘Dozens’ of civilians died in airstrikes on al Baghouz, according to local sources. However reporting was confused with another alleged incident at Al Sukkariya (S1328/CS1501) with no breakdown of casualties. According to @albokmalnews and @DeirEzzor24, more than nine civilian homes were “completely destroyed in the area of Sukkariyah and in the Baghouz”. The sources said…

Summary

Published
17 September 2017
Civilians reported killed
2–24
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident