US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Civilians in the ruins of Mosul city. (Maranie R. Staab)

Belligerent
US-led Coalition
Country
Iraq
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident date

October 16, 2017

Incident Code

CI870

LOCATION

Al Qaim, Al Anbar, Iraq

According to a single source, different areas of Al Qaim were targeted, resulting in possible civilian harm. The vague report noted Victims of aerial bombing of the international coalition aircraft in various areas of Qaim, west of Anbar. At the moment there is limited information on the incident, Airwars will amend the entry when any

Summary

First published
October 16, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 2
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

November 1, 2017

Incident Code

CS1655

LOCATION

سويعية, Al Suwei'iya village, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Three civilians died in an airstrike on al Suwei’yia village, according to local media. A number of parties were blamed. Euphrates Post didn’t say who was responsible for the airstrike, though Al Araby and Syrian Press Center blamed shelling by Iraqi forces. According to Alaraby, “three civilians, including two women, were killed and three others

Summary

First published
November 1, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(2 women)
Civilians reported injured
12
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

November 26, 2017

Incident Code

CS1686

LOCATION

الشعفة, al Sha'afa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Up to 65 civilians including 20 or 21 children and nine women died in a major casualty event in al Sha’afa, local media reported. There was one allegation against the US-led Coalition, and also Egypt. The majority of sources blamed Russia, with @7UFCmSxd0IUBffH saying that a family of 10 were among those killed. Euphrates Post,

Summary

First published
November 26, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
42 – 65
(20–21 children9 women9–12 men)
Civilians reported injured
12–36
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Russian Military
Named victims
42 named, 7 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 26, 2018

Incident Code

CS1718

LOCATION

البحرة, Al Bahra village, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Thirty civilians allegedly died in Coalition airstrikes on Al Bahra village in the Deir Ezzor countryside, according to local sources. The original source for these claims appeared to be ISIS. @7UFCmSxd0IUBffH and other sources said that there were “more than 30 martyrs, most of them women and children, and injured civilians, in US air strikes

Summary

First published
January 26, 2018
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
30
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

May 10, 2018

Incident Code

CS1748

LOCATION

الباغوز, Baghouz, Deir Ezzor, Syria

According to local sources, 12 civilians including 3 women were killed and either ‘several’ or ‘dozens’ wounded by an airstrike on the town of Baghouz. All reports identified the Coalition as the culprit. A local source told Smart News that jets had targeted the village under the control of so-called Islamic State – but did

Summary

First published
May 10, 2018
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
12
(3 women)
Civilians reported injured
2–24
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

July 12, 2018

Incident Code

CS1779

LOCATION

السوسة و الباغوز, Ice factory, between Al Soussa and al Baghouz, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Local sources reported that between 28 and 58 civilians were killed and up to 45 injured as a result of alleged Coalition or associated Iraqi strikes on an “ice factory” in the Deir Ezzor countryside. According to a correspondent for Step News, Coalition aircraft “launched five successive air strikes”, hitting an ice processing plant called

Summary

First published
July 12, 2018
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
28 – 58
(6–12 children6–12 women2 men)
Civilians reported injured
25–45
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
3 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

September 30, 2018

Incident Code

CS1801

LOCATION

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

One civilian died after being hit by “SDF artillery” in al Soussa, according to local media. It is Airwars’ understanding however that only the Coalition had access to artillery in the near region at that time. On October 1st, Boukamlna reported that “Nuri Rifai Al Ali Al Dagher died in Damascus yesterday [Sept 30th] from

Summary

First published
September 30, 2018
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerents
Syrian Democratic Forces, US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

November 11, 2018

Incident Code

CS1832

LOCATION

الشعفة, Al Sha'afa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Between 20 and as many as 60 non-combatants died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Sha’afa, according to local media. A number of sources including Baladi News and the Syrian Unified Observatory, reported that the airstrikes hit both the towns of Al Sha’afa and Al Kashma, killing mostly civilians including women and children. According

Summary

First published
November 11, 2018
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
20 – 60
(9–13 children8–12 women)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

December 11, 2018

Incident Code

CS1871

LOCATION

الكشمة, Al Kashma, Deir Ezzor, Syria

An alleged Coalition airstrike on a house reportedly killed 15 civilians from one family on the night of December 11th, in Al-Kashma. All sources said that the airstrike was conducted in Al-Kashma, except for Al-Shaafa Facebook page which reported that the event was in the adjacent village of Al-Shaafa. Possibly explaining the confusion, Andolu News

Summary

First published
December 11, 2018
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
15
(2–4 children2–4 women)
Civilians reported injured
2–4
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

March 2, 2019

Incident Code

CS1901

LOCATION

مخيم الباغوز, Al Baghouz camp, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Local sources reported that three ISIS family members were killed when air and artillery strikes allegedly struck an IDP camp on the outskirts of Al Baghouz. The incident occurred on the evening of March 2nd. A number of sources said the victims were Russian. Khawlan ibn Al Sinia named the family as that of  ‘Mu’az

Summary

First published
March 2, 2019
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(2–3 children1 woman)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Suspected target
ISIS
Named victims
3 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

August 14, 2017

Incident Code

CS1372a

LOCATION

al-Badu , Raqqa, Syria

According to several local sources and field research by Amnesty International, a mother and her three children were killed in al-Badu, Raqqa, as an alleged Coalition airstrike hit their building. Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality found that  “a double air strike killed nine civilians from two families

Summary

First published
August 14, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
(3 children1 woman)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
4 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 30, 2016

Incident Code

RS746

LOCATION

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria

Shaam News Network reported that one civilian died and several others were wounded in a Russian strike in Douma: “Two civilians were martyred in Al Marj area in Russian raids and one was martyred and others wounded in Douma.” However, other sources report that this was a regime action. The Syrian Network for Human Rights

Summary

First published
March 30, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

January 17, 2017

Incident Code

CS447a

LOCATION

near Idlib, Idlib, Syria

In an incident previously not tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the injuries of three civilians near Idlib, Syria. In its May 2019 civilian casualty report, the Coalition noted “Coalition aircraft conducted a strike against a Daesh vehicle. Regrettably, three civilians were unintentionally wounded due to their proximity to the strike.” The report also

Summary

First published
January 17, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

October 17, 2014

Incident Code

CI010

LOCATION

عوينات, Awinat, Nineveh, Iraq

According to news agency NINA, a “US air strike on the village of Aouinat northwest of Mosul killed five civilians, according to a source in forensic medicine in Mosul.” The Al Rafidain website (in a report dated ten days after the event) placed the death toll higher at between 10 and 20, saying two houses

Summary

First published
October 17, 2014
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5 – 20
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

October 2, 2019

Incident Code

CS1934

LOCATION

الطيانة, Al Tayyana, Deir Ezzor, Syria

One or two people were killed in airstrikes on the town of Al Tayyana, Deir Ezzor governorate, in the night of October 2nd 2019. Nedaa and Deirezzor24 reported that international coalition forces launched raids and searches in cooperation with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). A reporter of Deir Ezzor 24 noted that an airdrop operation

Summary

First published
October 22, 2019
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 2
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces
View Incident

Incident date

December 16, 2014

Incident Code

CI022

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

In an event previously unreported by Airwars, an internal Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) reported “4 unknown persons potentially injured while moving into the engagement area,” during a Coalition airstrike on Objective Nebula, a targeted vehicle. France later confirmed that it had carried out a targeted strike in Mosul on that date, though it is not

Summary

First published
December 16, 2014
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
(4 children)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 6, 2015

Incident Code

CS052

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

A Jordanian airstrike against an “ISIL weapons compound” – in coordination with the US military – allegedly killed US aid worker and hostage Kayla Mueller, along with up to 30 militants from Islamic State. The US later said that “with the information that we have there’s no evidence of civilians in the target area prior

Summary

First published
February 6, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 woman)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

April 19, 2015

Incident Code

CS063

LOCATION

متراس, Mitras, Aleppo, Syria

A shepherd was reported by the Syrian Network as having been killed in a Coalition airstrike near Mitras. Five other people were injured by shrapnel. The victim’s son later described retrieving his father’s body: “The rocket caused a great hole in the ground, almost two metres deep. I buried my father’s body in the town.“

Summary

First published
April 19, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
5
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

June 18, 2015

Incident Code

CS081

LOCATION

Road between Suluk and Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Up to four civilians were reported killed by the coalition when the car they were traveling in was struck. According to SOHR, the vehicle was hit on the road between Ar Raqqah and Suluk. Sira Press reported: “Activists stressed that all those who were in the car were unarmed civilians and there were four of

Summary

First published
June 18, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 4
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 31, 2015

Incident Code

CI089

LOCATION

الرطبة, Ar Rutbah, Al Anbar, Iraq

In a major incident, up to 46 civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike (according to the Iraqi Revolution site) on the town of Ar Rutbah. The UN Mission to Iraq expressed “serious concern” about the event. The attack, which occurred shortly after dawn, reportedly killed a significant number of children, with graphic photographs widely

Summary

First published
July 31, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
27 – 46
(3–11 children5–18 women1 man)
Civilians reported injured
70
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

September 17, 2015

Incident Code

CI105

LOCATION

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq

A reported evening airstrike by a drone or other Coalition aircraft at Hawijah was said to have killed five civilians and injured a further seven or more people. Al Amaaq, the media wing of ISIS, reported the “Killing [of] five civilians and wounding of seven others in the bombing by a US aircraft in the

Summary

First published
September 17, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
7–12
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Suspected target
ISIS
View Incident

Incident date

October 18, 2015

Incident Code

CI127

LOCATION

القوسيات, Alqosjat, Nineveh, Iraq

In what may be a separate incident or confused reporting (see also the Kisik Junction report for this date) there were reports of a family of eight or nine killed at Alqosjat – an event said to have killed a woman and two children. In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed

Summary

First published
October 18, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8 – 9
(2 children1 woman)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

December 6, 2015

Incident Code

CS153

LOCATION

دير الزور‎, Deir ez-Zor city, Deir Ezzor, Syria

On Sunday, December 6, 2015, a woman and her two children were reportedly killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Deir Ezzor city, in northeastern Syria. Reuters cited the Syrian Observatory as reporting that “In Deir al-Zor city, another air strike overnight killed a woman and two of her children.” In comments relating to the

Summary

First published
December 6, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(2 children1 woman)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 8, 2016

Incident Code

CI174

LOCATION

الرمادي, Ramadi, Sofiya, Al Anbar, Iraq

Some local media reported that two families consisting of 14 civilians were killed in an unattributed airstrike on Sofiya in Ramadi. While Yaqen also reported that 14 civilians had died, it blamed the deaths on Iraq Army artillery. In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition denied responsibility for the event, saying that it

Summary

First published
January 8, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
14
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident

Incident date

February 18, 2016

Incident Code

CS180

LOCATION

جرير, Jareer, Al Hassakah, Syria

According to reports up to nine civilians died in the village of Al Jareer 4km east of Al Shadadi, after a Coalition aircraft allegedly struck a vehicle. According to the Union of Hassakah Youth Movement, most of those who died were women. Ara news cited a local man it named as Hamid Al Abdullah: “The

Summary

First published
February 18, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8 – 9
(5 women)
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

April 3, 2016

Incident Code

CI214

LOCATION

حي الجري, Hit, Jerri and Amina, Al Anbar, Iraq

Locals reported that eight civilians died after the Coalition or Iraq government aircraft struck the Jerri and Amina neighbourhoods of Hit. The Coalition has denied responsibility. Among those killed was a family of six: a Facebook tribute page noted: “This is a picture of the martyr Riad Ahmed Rzeyk, who was forced out of his

Summary

First published
April 3, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8
(4 children1 woman2–3 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
Named victims
8 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

May 5, 2016

Incident Code

CS208

LOCATION

ﺣﻠﺐ, Aleppo, Syria

In an incident previously unknown to Airwars, the Coalition announced on December 1st 2016 that it had assessed a claimed incident ‘near Aleppo’ on May 5th – but that no strikes had been conducted in the vicinity. According to the Coalition release, “May 5, 2016, near Aleppo, Syria: No Coalition strikes were conducted on that

Summary

First published
May 5, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
0–1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

June 11, 2016

Incident Code

CS226

LOCATION

‏الهدهد‬, Al Hadhad, Aleppo, Syria

Ten civilians from the same family were reported killed in an alleged Coalition strike on the village of Al Hadhad, as fierce fighting continued to evict so-called Islamic State forces from areas around Manbij. The Syrian Human Rights Committee also named some of the dead. “Based on the available information, Amnesty International is concerned that

Summary

First published
June 11, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
10 – 11
(2 children4 women)
Civilians reported injured
28
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
15 named, 3 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 7, 2016

Incident Code

CS249

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Three civilians were reported killed and others injured during a reported Coalition targeted strike on an ISIL vehicle in Manbij. According to Local Civil Defence, “International Coalition warplanes target an ISIL vehicle near Hal marketplace in Manbij city. Four were killed among them. But three martyrs among civilians were also reported, according to a local

Summary

First published
July 7, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

July 20, 2016

Incident Code

CS275

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

A report on August 5th 2016 by local blogger Hathifa al Yaman Abu al Majd claimed that approximately 15 civilians had died in a Coalition strike two weeks earlier, with their bodies still buried under rubble. “American Alliance planes – around 15 days ago –  committed a massacre against three families opposite al Fatah mosque near

Summary

First published
July 20, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
15
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident