Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS298

Incident date

August 20, 2016

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2368, 37.97617 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, CENTCOM later confirmed the death of a civilian in an attack on Manbij.

Their November 2016 civilian casualty report noted: “during a strike against an ISIL artillery firing position, it is assessed that one civilian was killed after entering the target area after the aircraft released its weapon”.

In July 2019 the Coalition provided Airwars with the location for this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 36.5269242, 37.9559288

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Manbij, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA080107
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 9, 2016
  • August 20, 2016, near Manbij, Syria, during a strike against an ISIL artillery firing position, it is assessed that one civilian was killed after entering the target area after the aircraft released its weapon.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 20th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Manbij, nine strikes struck eight separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions, a vehicle, an artillery system, a supply cache, and a rocket launcher.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]