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

September 24, 2014

Incident Code

CS009

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

A number of sources including the Syrian Martyrs website reported that a woman was killed in a Coalition airstrike on Ar Raqqah. She was reported as being a resident of the city. The3 Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies also reported her death fropm Coalition actions – though said this occured on September 24th: ” Fawzia

Summary

First published
September 29, 2014
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 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
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

November 19, 2014

Incident Code

CI018

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

The FBI informed CENTCOM internally on November 21st 2014 that a source had alleged the deaths of “41 Yezidi captive females killed in a strike on a named OBJ IVO [objective in the vicinity of] Mosul.” The closest strike, number 999, was identified by CENTCOM as having taken place some 3.2km from the site of

Summary

First published
November 19, 2014
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
41
(41 women)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

June 30, 2020

Incident Code

CI881

LOCATION

بين أبو زوير وحدود حي الحديثة, Between Abu Zuwair and the Al Haditha district border, Salah Al Din, Iraq

Up to four civilians were reported killed in Abu Zuwair, Baiji in Iraq on June 30th, 2020 when a US-led coalition drone bombed them after they carried wreckage of a US-led coalition drone that had crashed earlier on that day. Local reports said that the raid resulted in killing up to four shepherds and the

Summary

First published
June 30, 2020
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 4
(2–4 men)
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
Unknown
View Incident

Incident date

January 26, 2015

Incident Code

CI034

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, South, Nineveh, Iraq

Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad reported two alleged Coalition airstrikes, killing five and injuring two civilians called Mohammed Mohammed Ahmed and Ebtehalf Mohammed Yosef. The first attack took place at 7.40 AM local time on the highway close to the town of Umm al-Dheban at that time. The second airstrike was at 8.40 AM local time

Summary

First published
January 26, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
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
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

December 20, 2022

Incident Code

CS1989

LOCATION

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

At least two civilians, including a woman and a child, were reportedly injured in declared British drone strikes on the city of al-Bab on December 20, 2022. An alleged member of ISIS was also injured in the operation. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that a Yemeni person was severely injured by a drone

Summary

First published
December 20, 2022
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
2–3
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.
Known belligerent
UK Military
Known target
ISIS
Geolocation
Exact location (other)
Belligerents reported injured
1
View Incident

Incident date

June 8, 2015

Incident Code

CI072

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Zuhour and other neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

In January 2016, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq reported that it had learned of a major civilian casualty incident in Mosul on June 8th 2015, though had been unable either to verify the claim or attribute responsibility to any party: “On 8 June, local sources reported that an airstrike in Mosul, Ninewa, caused

Summary

First published
June 8, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
20 – 23
(7–8 children9–10 women)
Civilians reported injured
13–21
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
View Incident

Incident date

July 9, 2015

Incident Code

CS096

LOCATION

تدمر‎, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

A badly wounded Syrian refugee told Buzzfeed that he believed his injuries had been caused by a Coalition airstrike at Palmyra, although no strikes at that location had been reported at the time (the first publicly reported Coalition strikes on Palmyra were on September 9th 2015.) Mohamed Raja, aged 23, lost his right arm and

Summary

First published
July 9, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
Civilians reported injured
1
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 belligerent
US-led Coalition
Suspected target
ISIS
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

August 21, 2015

Incident Code

CI094

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

A single source, NINA, reported that a Coalition strike on a house at Hamam al-Alil, near Mosul “led to the martyrdom of all the family that inhabited consisted of nine members, including three children and a woman.“ As NINA noted: “Local residents told the National Iraqi News Agency that the international coalition aircraft bombed a

Summary

First published
August 21, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9
(3 children1 woman)
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

September 27, 2015

Incident Code

CS130

LOCATION

السلخة, Jala'a (Al-Salakha), Deir Ezzor, Syria

France’s first air strike in Syria was alleged to have killed at least 30 child soldiers of Islamic State, according to reports. The attack – which France later declared was a five-hour raid by multiple aircraft on a ‘Daesh training camp’ – targeted among other sites a palm grove at Al Shalkha, near the town

Summary

First published
September 27, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
12 – 50
(12–30 children)
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.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Known target
ISIS
View Incident

Incident date

November 8, 2015

Incident Code

CI136

LOCATION

القيارة, Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq

Locals claimed that up to 13 civilians were killed – including six children – and another five injured after the Coalition allegedly bombed a residential neighborhood in Qayyarah in Mosul. DPA also said four Daesh fighters were killed in the attack, which “destroyed about 18 tankers loaded with oil in an attack on an ISIL-occupied

Summary

First published
November 8, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
11 – 13
(6 children)
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 16, 2015

Incident Code

CS157

LOCATION

عيساوي, `Isawi, Raqqa, Syria

One person named as Ahmad Al A’bd was reported killed and his cousin Wa’el Al A’bd injured after unexploded ordnance detonated – allegedly the result of a Coalition airstrike on the village in June. In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this

Summary

First published
December 16, 2015
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
1
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
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 27, 2016

Incident Code

CS168

LOCATION

الشدادي, Shadadi, Al Hassakah, Syria

Four civilian men – three from the same family – were named as killed by ‘Coalition air force shelling’ near Shadadi, after earlier reports of aircraft from the western alliance circling over the town. The death toll was later raised to 10 by some sources. According to Qasioun the deaths occured after Coalition aircraft struck

Summary

First published
January 27, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 10
(4 men)
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 12, 2016

Incident Code

CS189

LOCATION

Al Mashlab, Raqqa, Syria

According to Al A’amaq Media – linked to Daesh – “A child and his father were killed in a raid by an unmanned American plane on the outskirts of Raqqa city.” No other sources in the city reported civilian casualties. However Raqqa is Being Slaughtered did note that “An unmanned plane targets a Daesh pickup

Summary

First published
March 12, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(1 child)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

April 10, 2016

Incident Code

CS200

LOCATION

تل حسين, Tall Hussein, Aleppo, Syria

Multiple sources named five civilian victims of an alleged Coalition airstrike on Tal Hussain. Almost all sources blamed the Coalition for the civilian deaths, although Halab News and the Syrian Human Rights Committee said Russia was responsible. The village was the scene of a major battle for control between rebels and Daesh fighters.  

Summary

First published
April 10, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5 – 7
(1 child1 woman4 men)
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
5 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

May 23, 2016

Incident Code

CS216

LOCATION

ميادين, Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Shaam News reported that an ‘entire family‘ was injured in an alleged Coalition evening airstrike on Al Mayadeen. No additional details are presently known. Responding to a request for clarification about possible involvement given declared UK strikes in Deir Ezzor that day, the MoD told Airwars that “after extensive research, we can confirm that there

Summary

First published
May 23, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
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

June 21, 2016

Incident Code

CS236

LOCATION

‏الجعابات‬, Al Ja'abat, Aleppo, Syria

One male civilian was killed and a number of others wounded, in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the village of al Jaabat, according to multiple sources. Both Halab News and SHRC Daily reported that he was hit by shrapnel during an air raid. However the Coalition has publicly reported no strikes in the vicinity. In the

Summary

First published
June 21, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
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 12, 2016

Incident Code

CS260

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Four children from one family were killed in an alleged Coalition strike on Raqqa. According to Shaam News, the dawn strike totally destroyed the home of Ahmed Salem al Amin, killing his four young children. Nine other civilians were also reported wounded. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered named the children as Salem, Fatima, Rimas and Mais.

Summary

First published
July 12, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 9
(4 children)
Civilians reported injured
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
Named victims
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 31, 2016

Incident Code

CI270

LOCATION

كلية العلوم الاسلامية, Mosul, Faculty of Islamic Sciences at the University of Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

According to multiple reports, alleged night time or dawn Coalition strikes on homes in the vicinity of the Technical Institute and the Faculty of Islamic Sciences at the University of Mosul resulted in nearly 20 civilian fatalities. NRN said many civilian casualties from the brutal strikes came when fragments of the destroyed buildings struck nearby bystanders

Summary

First published
July 31, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
10 – 19
Civilians reported injured
10–20
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

September 8, 2016

Incident Code

CI284

LOCATION

تل عفر, Tall Afar, Nineveh, Iraq

Between two and seven civilians including women and children died – and five were injured – in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the Tel Al Shaeer and Aski Mosul areas in Tal Afar, west of Mosul, according to local sources. Yaqein reported that the Coalition carried out a strike that “targeted the villages of Tel

Summary

First published
September 8, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 7
(2 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
5
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 8, 2016

Incident Code

CS365

LOCATION

الهيشةة, Al Hīshah, Raqqa, Syria

As many as 24 civilians were killed in attacks – possibly carried out by both SDF and Coalition – according to local sources. Raqqa is Being Silently Slaughtered initially reported 7 victims killed “in the international coalition raids and Kurdish militia artillery.” It later released an updated casualty assessment, counting 23 victims as victims of

Summary

First published
November 8, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
17 – 24
(2–6 children5–9 women)
Civilians reported injured
30
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
Named victims
16 named, 3 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

November 19, 2016

Incident Code

CS381

LOCATION

بعاص, Bia'as, Raqqa, Syria

Between 8 and 11 civilians died in what both the Syrian Network and Syrian Observatory called a ‘massacre’ – following alleged Coalition strikes on Bia’as. According to Shaam News Network, “clashes [between ISIL and SDF] have moved into the centre of Tal Al Samin where international coalition aircraft, has launched dozens of air raids on

Summary

First published
November 19, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8 – 11
(2 children)
Civilians reported injured
12–24
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
Named victims
8 named
View Incident

Incident date

December 20, 2016

Incident Code

CS418

LOCATION

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, al Thani, Raqqa, Syria

Four to five civilians were reported killed and ten injured in a Coalition airstrike on al Tabaqa. According to most sources a possible civilian woman, two men and two children died in the attack. According to ISIL’s media wing “a child and a woman and man [were] killed and 10 people injured as a result

Summary

First published
December 20, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 5
(1 child1 woman1 man)
Civilians reported injured
10
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

January 7, 2017

Incident Code

CI398

LOCATION

حي سومر, Mosul, Sumer, Nineveh, Iraq

Local sources said civilians were killed and injured after Coalition Apache helicopters targeted a market in Sumer neighborhood, southeast of Mosul, with machine guns. On the same day, a young man named as Mostafa al Lahibi was reported killed by unspecified shells in the same neighbourhood.

Summary

First published
January 7, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
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

January 12, 2017

Incident Code

CS442 RS1829

LOCATION

شارع تل أبيض, Tal abyad Street, Ar Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria

Two civilians were killed – including a girl and a man – and others were wounded, following an airstrike on a bakery and a falafel restaurant in Raqqa, according to local sources. Sources were conflicted regarding who was to blame, some blaming the US led Coalition, and others blaming Russian warplanes. The Coalition later denied

Summary

First published
January 12, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(1 child1 man)
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
US-led Coalition, Russian Military
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 25, 2017

Incident Code

CS459 TS062

LOCATION

تادف, Tadif, Aleppo, Syria

Two named children died in either Turkish or Coalition airstrikes on Tadef. According to the Syrian Network “The children So’ad and Jonaid Fares Al Ali died after International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on Tadef town in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs.” However according to al Bab News, “Turkish planes launched three raids at dawn today killing two from the family

Summary

First published
January 25, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 3
(2 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
1
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, Turkish Military
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

February 9, 2017

Incident Code

CS478

LOCATION

الغدفة, Al Ghadafeh, Idlib, Syria

A 15-year old boy named as Mohammad Haj Ahmad was reported by VDC as having been killed by the Coalition. The boy came from Al-Ghadefeh – though it is unclear whether this is where he died. No additional details are presently known.  

Summary

First published
February 9, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
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 22, 2017

Incident Code

CS526

LOCATION

جليب خليل, Jleib Khalil, Deir Ezzor, Syria

A single source, the Smart news agency, reported that three civilians died and five were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the villages of Khuytar and Jleib Khalil, north west of Raqqa. According to Smart, “the sources said that the warplanes targeted the villages of Khuytar and the mosque in the village of Jleib

Summary

First published
February 22, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
5
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 27, 2017

Incident Code

CS540

LOCATION

المنصورة, Al Mansoura, Raqqa, Syria

A reported Coalition strike on an ISIL HQ which killed and injured up to a dozen militants also led to the injuring of three civilians, according to a single source. According to Smart News Coalition planes launched an attack at al Mansoura “on an ISIL headquarters, killing five elements and wounding six others, including a

Summary

First published
February 27, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
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

March 6, 2017

Incident Code

CI513

LOCATION

محطة القطارٌ, Mosul, Central railway station, Nineveh, Iraq

Local residents and security sources reported that up to 33 civilians (mostly former Iraqi and police officers) died after Coalition airstrikes targeted the railway station at the right side of Mosul. The sources reported that the Coalition had ‘mistakenly’ targeted the train station, which killed up to 33 people (25 -33 civilians and eight ISIL

Summary

First published
March 6, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
18 – 33
Civilians reported injured
8–24
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

March 10, 2017

Incident Code

CI533

LOCATION

Mosul, al Uamal, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on September 29th 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment of civilian harm “near Mosul, Iraq” via an NGO report. According to the Coalition report, “March 10, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report:After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed

Summary

First published
March 10, 2017
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