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

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

Incident date

March 15, 2017

Incident Code

CI545

LOCATION

Mosul, Hermat, Iraq

Local eyewitnesses reported the deaths of 25 civilians following an air or artillery strike on the hermit area of West Mosul. An unpublished Amnesty International field investigation was shared with Airwars: ““On the street we were staying, in my uncle’s house, three houses were levelled by one attack, around 12pm on 15 March. I don’t

Summary

First published
March 15, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
25
(2 children2 women)
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
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 23, 2017

Incident Code

CI574

LOCATION

الشفاء, Mosul, Al-Shafaa, Nineveh, Iraq

Local medical sources reportedly claimed that three employees at a Mosul hospital in Shifa neighbourhood were killed when a missile hit the hospital. Shafaaq reported that “A medical source told Ashqaf News that a mortar landed near the first aid hall in the hospital, killing three medical personnel and damaging the hospital.” Another local blog

Summary

First published
March 23, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
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

March 28, 2017

Incident Code

CS632

LOCATION

الخاتونية, Khatouniya, Raqqa, Syria

A single source, the Smart News Agency, reported that six civilians died and 10 were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the villages of Al Khatuniya and Al Qahtaniya. According to the Smart News Agency, “A medical source from the hospital of the city of Raqqa said that six people were killed, including three

Summary

First published
March 28, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
(1 child3 women)
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

April 1, 2017

Incident Code

CS655

LOCATION

رطلة, Ratlah, Raqqa, Syria

According to the Smart News Agency, “a local source said that warplanes likely belonging to the Coalition targeted an oil transport vehicle belonging to the Islamic State organization in the village of Ratla (12 km south of Raqqa), which resulted in the burning of the driver and his assistant.” Alaraby also produced a similar report,

Summary

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

Incident date

April 9, 2017

Incident Code

CI623

LOCATION

اليرموك, Mosul, Yarmouk, Nineveh, Iraq

A single source – the local Facebook group of the Jarjria tribe – said that a son of the family of Muhammad Daham Murad al-Jarjari from the village of Jasa was killed in an airstrike on Yarmouk neighbourhood in West Mosul. It was unclear from the report who carried out the strike. In its June

Summary

First published
April 9, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
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

April 14, 2017

Incident Code

CI638

LOCATION

رأس الجادة, Mosul, Ras Al Jadda, Nineveh, Iraq

Two local sources reported that seven civilians from one family died when an airstrike or bombardment hit their house in Ras Al Jadda neighbourhood in the old part of Mosul. The victims were named by MNN and Sawlf Ateka (local Facebook group) as: Wa’ed Ali Saleh al-Sharifi, his wife, sons Ali and Nashwan, his daughter

Summary

First published
April 14, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7
(3 women3–4 men)
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
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

April 19, 2017

Incident Code

CS709

LOCATION

حي الاسكندرية, Al Iskanderia, Al Tabaqa, Raqqa, Syria

Between two and five civilians died and up to seven more were wounded in alleged Coalition airstrike on Tabaqa, local media reported. According to Syria Mirror, “field activists said that the Coalition aircraft launched several air raids on the residential communities in the city of Al Tabaqa, killing seven people, including two members of IS

Summary

First published
April 19, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 5
Civilians reported injured
7
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 26, 2017

Incident Code

CI665

LOCATION

حاوي الكنيسة, Mosul, Hawi al Kanassa, Nineveh, Iraq

Seven family members – including five children – died in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Hawi Al Kanissa neighbourhood early on Wednesday, locals said. Sources furthermore reported to Yaqein Agency that “the military bombardment of the neighborhood has caused considerable material damage to the houses of citizens near the targeted house.” All sources said the Coalition

Summary

First published
April 26, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7
(5 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

April 29, 2017

Incident Code

CS753

LOCATION

حي الوهب, Tabaqah, Al Wahab (First Neighbourhood), Raqqa, Syria

Seven civilians including a family of five died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the Al Wahab neighbourhood of Al Tabaqa, according to local sources – though there is currently some uncertainty about the date of the event. According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, “the family of Ali al Mabrouk made up of five

Summary

First published
April 29, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7
(5 women)
Civilians reported injured
12
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
9 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

May 5, 2017

Incident Code

CS770

LOCATION

رقة السمرة, Raqqa al Samra, Raqqa, Syria

According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, one child “died after he was hit with shrapnel when Coalition planes targeted Daesh trucks while they were setting up barriers on the edges of al Ballikh river near the village of Raqqa al Samra east of the city”. Al Raqqa Truth, SHRC and the Shaam News Network

Summary

First published
May 5, 2017
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

May 11, 2017

Incident Code

CI706

LOCATION

17 تموز, Mosul, Tammuz / July 17th, Nineveh, Iraq

A local report said that a family was killed in shelling in the Tammuz neighborhood of western Mosul. Ninawa Media Center reported that a father, son and the son’s daughter were all killed by shelling in Tammuz. As the report noted, “My dear brother, a random bombardment of July near the Mufti Mosque claimed the

Summary

First published
May 11, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(1 child)
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

May 13, 2017

Incident Code

CI710

LOCATION

راوة, Rawah, Al Anbar, Iraq

In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition denied responsibility for an incident it said was reported by an NGO, but which Airwars was unaware of. The Coalition reported: “May 13, 2017, near Rawa, Iraq, via NGO report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in

Summary

First published
May 13, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
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