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

November 7, 2014

Incident Code

CS021

LOCATION

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

Five civilian men were reported by a single source to have been killed in a coalition strike on the city of Dayr az Zawr. They were named by the VDC.  

Summary

First published
November 7, 2014
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(5 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
5 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 12, 2015

Incident Code

CS042

LOCATION

near al-Bo Omar, Syria, Deir Ezzor, Syria

In the January 25th 2018 civilian casualty report, the Coalition reported that a civilian casualties allegation near al-Bo Omar had been assessed as non credible: “#1 Jan. 12, 2015, near al-Bo Omar, Syria via regional human rights group report. After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in

Summary

First published
January 12, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
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 3, 2022

Incident Code

CS1977

LOCATION

طمة, دير بلوط, Deir Balout, Atma, Idlib, Syria

Up to thirteen civilians, including six children and four women, were reported killed and at least one child was injured after US forces targeted and subsequently killed the leader of the Islamic State (ISIS), Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, in Atma, northwest Syria on February 3rd 2022. Local reporting was conflicted as to whether the casualties

Summary

First published
February 3, 2022
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9 – 13
(6 children4 women1 man)
Civilians reported injured
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.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
ISIS
Named victims
1 named
Geolocation
Exact location (via Airwars)
Belligerents reported killed
4–5
View Incident

Incident date

February 25, 2015

Incident Code

CI044

LOCATION

الرطبة, Ar Rutbah, Al Anbar, Iraq

According to Reuters, a Coalition airstrike caused significant casualties in Ar Rutbah: “Coalition planes bombed al-Rutba district, 385 km west of Baghdad, killing six Islamic State militants and 11 civilians, according to a source in the local hospital.” ARA News placed the civilian death toll from coalition strikes at Rutba at 10. In July 2017,

Summary

First published
February 25, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
10 – 11
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

May 19, 2015

Incident Code

CS068

LOCATION

تل مجدل, Tal Majdal, Al Hassakah, Syria

An alleged 10am Coalition targeted strike on a vehicle carrying ISIL militants (including prominent Egyptian Abu Abdul Rahman) also killed three nearby civilians, according to SN4HR. However another source described the attack as being carried out by a booby-trapped motorbike. One victim was identified as the owner of a generator repair shop in the marketplace where

Summary

First published
May 19, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(2–3 men)
Civilians reported injured
15
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, Unknown
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 1, 2015

Incident Code

CI081

LOCATION

الحويجة, Safra, Kirkuk, Iraq

An alleged strike by Coalition aircraft reportedly killed 18 civilians and injured a further 10, according to a single source. Al Gharbiya claimed that a number of villages south west of Hawija were hit. “About 30 civilians were killed and wounded on Wednesday in a bombardment by an international warplane in several areas of the

Summary

First published
July 1, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
18
Civilians reported injured
10
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Suspected target
ISIS
View Incident

Incident date

August 3, 2015

Incident Code

CS110

LOCATION

الحسكة, Al-Hasakah, Al Hassakah, Syria

A number of sources named a 17-year old civilian, Ibrahim Al Hamdo Al Shabo Al Khateib, as having been killed in a Coalition strike. There were no further details.  

Summary

First published
August 3, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
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

September 19, 2015

Incident Code

CI107

LOCATION

كبيسة, Kabaisa, Al Anbar, Iraq

A family home was reported destroyed in an airstrike at Kubais in Anbar province. Photographs showed a number of injured children, although there were no confirmed overall casualty figures. One of the images used, however, had already been posted by a source in incident CI103. In its July 2017 monthly report, the Coalition said it

Summary

First published
September 19, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 children)
Civilians reported injured
7
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

October 18, 2015

Incident Code

CS139

LOCATION

السخنة, As Sukhnah, Homs, Syria

An adult male was killed in a reported Coalition strike at Sukhna. While he was described as a civilian by one source, all others reported that he was in fact a combatant. The VDC has named Sabri Abd al Wahab al Ozbaki as a civilian victim of what it says was “coalition air force’s shelling.”

Summary

First published
October 18, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
(0–1 men)
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

December 7, 2015

Incident Code

CI151

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

There were claims that eleven civilians were killed including two children – with three doctors injured – after Coalition aircraft allegedly bombed two health centers in Aski Mosul and Baduish villages in Mosul. In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in these strikes

Summary

First published
December 7, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
11
(2 children)
Civilians reported injured
3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 11, 2016

Incident Code

CS165

LOCATION

سلوك, Suluk, Raqqa, Syria

A civilian man named as Hmaid al Agha was reported by VDC as having been killed at Slouk in a Coalition airstrike. The website Al Sharq al Arabi also listed Mr al Agha as killed, though did not attribute responsibility. In their February 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were

Summary

First published
January 11, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

February 20, 2016

Incident Code

CI194

LOCATION

عامرية الفلوجة, Ameriat al Fallujah, Al Anbar, Iraq

Ameriat Al Fallujah council complained that a mistaken strike by undefined aircraft had hit a civilian house in the village 17km south of Fallujah, which resulted in the death of one civilian and the injuring of 7 others. According to Shaker Mahmoud, head of the council, the strike hit a house in the Heramat Amiriyah

Summary

First published
February 20, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
7
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

April 5, 2016

Incident Code

CI215

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

A likely targeted operation in Mosul killed ISIL’s media chief in the city when his car was struck – but also reportedly slew his wife and five children. The nighttime attack reportedly killed Daesh ‘Media Minister’ Abdel Qader in his car in the vicinity of the city’s Saddam Hospital. However, according to NRN News, “his

Summary

First published
April 5, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
(5 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

May 6, 2016

Incident Code

CS209

LOCATION

دابق‎, Dabiq, Aleppo, Syria

A 6-year old girl was reported killed in an alleged Coalition raid on the town of Dabiq, though the alliance has denied responsibility. VDC has named the victim as Sara al Naser. In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition denied responsibility for the event, saying that it conducted no strikes nearby that day:

Summary

First published
May 6, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
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 13, 2016

Incident Code

CS228

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

A reported Coalition airstrike on the agricultural secondary school in Manbij – being used as a temporary prison by so called Islamic State – led to the deaths of between 8 and 20 civilian captives according to local reports. Smart News reported: “Our reporter explained that raids carried out by international coalition aircraft targeted a

Summary

First published
June 13, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Infrastructure
Education
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8 – 20
Civilians reported injured
50
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 7, 2016

Incident Code

CS251

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

In what may be the same or a separate incident to the one above, a family of seven was reported killed after their house was destroyed in an alleged Coalition strike on Manbij on ‘the third day of Eid.’ Details of the deaths emerged in a letter received by Manbij Direct: “A humanitarian call regarding

Summary

First published
July 7, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7
(3 children3 women1 man)
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
7 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 21, 2016

Incident Code

CS277

LOCATION

الحمر الشرقية, Hamr ar Shaqiya, Aleppo, Syria

A number of sources reported the deaths of three civilians in an alleged Coalition event, with two alleged victims named as Abu Shaman and his father. However a local Facebook site insisted the claims were “totally untrue… Everything is normal and nothing is happening.” According to Shaam News, “In the eastern countryside, battles are at

Summary

First published
July 21, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(2 men)
Civilians reported injured
3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

August 22, 2016

Incident Code

CI280

LOCATION

القيارة, Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq

According to various reports, 10 people were killed and 20 injured following an alleged Coalition strike at Qayyarah targeting by mistake civilians houses. Al Qayyarah Now – which described the strike as accidental – said children were among the dead. The Arabi Asad blog said two families died. Other local reports described heavy shelling of

Summary

First published
August 22, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
10
(2 children2 women)
Civilians reported injured
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

November 5, 2016

Incident Code

CI322

LOCATION

حي الزهراء, Mosul, al-Zahra, Nineveh, Iraq

Nine civilians were killed in alleged coalition strikes in eastern Mosul, according to local reports. Orient News cited an Iraqi security source and reported the killing of nine civilians in an air strike that hit two houses in the east of Mosul, and wrote that it was likely carried out by the Coalition. Al Manar and News

Summary

First published
November 5, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9
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

November 15, 2016

Incident Code

CI340

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Airport and Gizlani camp, Nineveh, Iraq

In January 2017 the Coalition issued a statement denying responsibility for alleged civilian casualties in Mosul six weeks earlier. Nov. 15, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in this strike, the Coalition noted. A senior official later informed Airwars that the

Summary

First published
November 15, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
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

December 11, 2016

Incident Code

CS412

LOCATION

الكور, Al Kour, Raqqa, Syria

Reports emerged on December 15th of an alleged Coalition airstrike on the village of al Kour which killed three civilians. However the original source for the claim suggested that the event took place two days earlier. According to Abd al Basset Ahmad al Khalaf, head of the political committee for local Syrian tribes, Habib al

Summary

First published
December 11, 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
Named victims
1 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 4, 2017

Incident Code

CI390

LOCATION

حي المزارع, Mosul, Mazari / Farms, Nineveh, Iraq

A local source said that a named civilian, Imad Ahmed, was killed in the bombing of Farms district, north of Mosul. No other details were known at the time. On March 4th the Coalition confirmed that it had killed civilians that day in Mosul in two incidents. An official later confirmed to Airwars that the

Summary

First published
January 4, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 10, 2017

Incident Code

CI411

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

In a previously unknown incident or incidents, the Coalition concluded after self-reporting by personnel that no civilians had been killed or injured in Coalition strikes on Mosul on January 10th. According to a March 4th statement, two separate incidents of concern occurred. In the first it was assessed that “no civilians were harmed in this

Summary

First published
January 10, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
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

January 19, 2017

Incident Code

CS450

LOCATION

سويدية كبيرة, Sowaiydiya Kabira, Raqqa, Syria

Between one and five civilians died in an airstrike on Al Sweidiya Kabira according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether the Coalition or “PKK militants” were responsible. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered reported: “The international coalition launched three air raids on the village of al Sweidiya kabira in the northern Tabaqa

Summary

First published
January 19, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 5
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 belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

February 3, 2017

Incident Code

CS472

LOCATION

سرمين, Sarmin, Idlib, Syria

A confirmed US airstrike on a militant group reportedly linked to Al Qaeda also possibly killed or injured a number of civilians. According to Step News, 12 or more members of new group Hai’at Tahrir al Sham were killed in a raid targeting a meeting on the edges of Sarmin. As Step News explained, “Hai’at

Summary

First published
February 3, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 10
Civilians reported injured
12
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 belligerent
US-led Coalition
Known target
Al Qaeda/HTS
View Incident

Incident date

February 14, 2017

Incident Code

CS493

LOCATION

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

In an alleged civilian casualty event not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition announced in June 2017 that it had assessed a reported event near Raqqa as Non Credible, based on an assessment of video evidence. According to the June report “Feb. 14, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via social media report: After a review of

Summary

First published
February 14, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
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 21, 2017

Incident Code

CI473

LOCATION

الازري, Uzri, Baghdad, Iraq

Local and press sources said that up to three civilians were killed, including one women and at least one child, and up to two others were injured after an unknown warplane struck a family working in their fields in Uzri village, close to the Tigris river, on the “road to the coast” in Tarmiyah district,

Summary

First published
February 21, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(1–2 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
2
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
Named victims
3 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

February 25, 2017

Incident Code

CS534

LOCATION

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Raqqa, Syria

Five civilians died and ten others were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike near the maternity hospital in al Tabaqa, according to a single source. The Smart news agency reported: “A local source said that warplanes likely to be the Coalition launched a raid with three missiles targeting a street and a building near the

Summary

First published
February 25, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
10
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

March 3, 2017

Incident Code

CS547

LOCATION

الرصافة, Al Rasafa, Raqqa, Syria

Up to four civilians were killed and a similar number injured after a reported Coalition strike targeted an oil well near al Rasafa. According to the Syrian Mirror “Coalition warplanes targeted Miksar oil well which is north of Rasafa, and killed four people.” Micro Syria reported similar. Smart News reported that “aircraft likely from the

Summary

First published
March 3, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 4
Civilians reported injured
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 9, 2017

Incident Code

CI525 CS562

LOCATION

السنجك, Sanjak, Al Anbar, Iraq

Local sources said that an airstrike targeted ISIL members on the Iraq-Syria border, which also resulted in the death of a civilian woman. Unusually, the incident was attributed to both sides of the border. Geolocation by Airwars volunteer Christiaan Triebert (see map below) has concluded that they are almost certainly the same incident. On the

Summary

First published
March 9, 2017
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
View Incident