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
8,264 – 13,360
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 3,009 separate alleged incidents.
1,729 – 2,373
children likely killed
1,132 – 1,473
women likely killed
5,936 – 9,160
likely injured
3,811
named victims
U.S.-led Coalition estimate of civilian deaths
1,475
Confirmed civilian deaths, from U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria, originating from 368 separate incidents of civilian harm.
426
civilians confirmed injured
Alleged deaths
19,233 – 29,841
Locally reported civilian deaths from U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria.
3,009 separate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
8,264 – 13,360
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by U.S.-led Coalition.
1,561 separate alleged incidents
Weak
2,397 – 2,821
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
435 separate alleged incidents
Contested
7,879 – 12,584
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
784 separate alleged incidents
Discounted
693 – 1,076
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
229 separate alleged incidents
3,011 incidents
Incident Date
23 December 2025
Incident Code
CS2021
Location
Jadidt Kahit village, Raqqa, Syria
جديدة كحيط
70-year-old Fatima al-Batal was killed with her son, 38-year-old Jassem Mohammed al-Hasan al-Luji during a joint airdrop-ground operation allegedly conducted by US-led Coalition forces in conjunction with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on 23 December, 2025. The operation reportedly occurred during the early morning in Jadida Kahit, Syria. Reports diverge on whether Fatima’s younger son, …
Summary
Published
23 December 2025
Strike Type
Ground operation, Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1 – 3
Military actors reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
21 December 2025
Incident Code
CS2020
Location
Ziban, Deir Ezzor, Syria
ذيبان
Three people were killed in the al-Latwa neighborhood of the town of Ziban in Syria’s Deir Ezzor at 1:00 a.m. on 21 December, 2025 when “International Coalition forces” and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) allegedly “conducted a surprise airdrop operation” on the area, reportedly working in conjunction with the Syrian Democratic Forces. Father and son …
Summary
Published
20 January 2026
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
18 December 2025
Incident Code
CS2019
Location
Ma'adan subdistrict, Raqqa, Syria
ناحية معدان
A boy was killed by an alleged International Coalition and Syrian government operation in the village of Al-Mastaha in the Ma’adan subdistrict of Syria at dawn on December 18, 2025. Euphrates Post reported that 14-year-old Sami al-Fayez al-Yassin al-Fayyad was killed during a raid by the International Coalition and the Syrian government in the village …
Summary
Published
20 January 2026
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
1
Military actors reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
18 December 2025
Incident Code
CS2018
Location
Al-Namat, Raqqa, Syria
النعمات
A woman was killed, in addition to the death and injury of ISIS members, by an International Coalition/US forces operation in the Al-Namat area on the outskirts of Ma’adan in Raqqa, Syria during the night between December 17th and 18th, 2025. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that during an airborne operation by …
Summary
Published
20 January 2026
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
1
Military actors reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
17 December 2025
Incident Code
CS2017
Location
Abu Hamda area, Al-Hassakah, Syria
أبو حامضة
One young man was killed and his two brothers were arrested during an International (US-led) Coalition and/or Syrian Democratic Forces operation involving gunfire in the village of al-Bajari in the Abu Hamda area of Al-Hassakah, Syria on December 17, 2025. A post from @DeirEzzore on Twitter/X reported that a young man named Mahmoud Salem al-Nazzal …
Summary
Published
20 January 2026
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
19 November 2025
Incident Code
CS2016
Location
Al-Sukhna desert, Al-Hassakah, Syria
بادية السخنة
A young shepherd was killed during an alleged US-led Coalition airdrop operation in the Satih area of Jabal Al-Amour, Syria during the night of November 19, 2025. A Facebook post from Sokhna Event reported that a helicopter had landed in the Satih area of Jabal Al-Amour and “targeted” the homes of local shepherds, including Ali …
Summary
Published
20 January 2026
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
30 Apr, 2026
Policy
The UK Ministry of Defence admits it lacks tools to track and investigate civilian harm
A Ministry of Defence (MoD) review of the UK’s civilian harm framework has recommended new procedures to track and investigate harm to civilians in UK operations, strengthened use of open-source intelligence and re-instating mechanisms for making amends where civilians suffer death, injury or damage to property. The review reveals that adequate systems to track, investigate …
10 Mar, 2026
Investigations
Iraq, Syria
The first civilian confirmed killed in an AI-assisted strike?
U.S. military told Airwars/Independent investigation it has 'no way of knowing' whether deadly strike relied on AI, causing alarm amid AI-assisted Iran attacks
19 Jan, 2026
Investigations, Policy
Iraq, Syria
How does the UK determine if it killed a civilian? Five takeaways from Airwars’ tribunal against the MoD
Landmark tribunal found UK's lack of published civilian harm policies may "undermine public confidence" in the system
ceasefire.org ↗
11 Nov, 2025
Policy, Report
Civilian harm mitigation in large-scale combat operations: lessons for UK defence
Writing for Ceasefire, Airwars' Policy Specialist lays out noticeable gaps in the UK approach to tracking, mitigating, and responding to civilian harm
civilianprotectionmonitor.org ↗
24 Oct, 2025
Policy
Iraq, Syria
Civilian harm in the campaign against ISIS: An updated transparency audit
Airwars' policy volunteer Jessica Garlasco reviews current transparency mechanisms in major militaries
justsecurity.org ↗
14 Aug, 2025
Policy
In preparing for large-scale conflicts, states neglect lessons on civilian protection at their peril
Airwars' Policy Specialist and colleagues at the Civilian Protection Monitor set out the continued need for civilian protection in large-scale wars