Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS017

Incident date

October 28, 2014

Location

سلوك, Suluk, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.59539, 39.128559 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An internal Coalition report, citing web sources, noted claims that civilian casualties had been alleged at Slouk “on a strike on some grain silos.” The aircraft was likely to have been a US armed drone, due to the Hellfire missile used.

An initial investigation concluded that there had been no civilians injured: “The only strike that corresponded with the report was a strike on a tank about 70km N of Raqaa. Review of the aircrew’s video showed that the strike conducted with [] AGM-114, struck the target. No civilians were present on the video, either pre- or post-strike… No further inquiry required.”

A search of public records by Airwars found that the location of the Coalition’s strike did appear to be Slouk. As Raialyoum reported at the time: “The strikes [which were attributed instead to October 29th]continued in the northern countryside, targeting granaries [silos] around Slouk 80km north of Raqqa city. These are believed to be used by IS as stores for heavy weapons that were captured from Brigade 80. The raid resulted in the destruction of part of the silos, and an IS tank parked nearby.”

An Islamic State propaganda video released on November 2nd 2014 alleged that civilians had died in the attack, showing the corpses of what it said were two petrol sellers. However no reference was made to grain silos.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    NE of Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015

  • The only strike that corresponded was on a tank about 70 km N of Raqqah. Review of the aircrew’s video showed that the strike, conducted with AGM 114, struck the target. No civilians were present either pre- or post-strike. An internal review of a strike during the initial deliberate strikes in Syria prior to 29 September on the area IVO grain silos in Idlib had already been conducted, determined not to have been CIVCAS.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

COALITION-ASSESSED CASUALTY INCIDENT

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

CENTCOM for October 27, 2014 – October 28, 2014
Original
Annotated

Report Date

October 28, 2014

October 28th: U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Monday and today using attack and fighter aircraft to conduct four airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted nine airstrikes in Iraq Monday and today using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists.

In Syria, four airstrikes near Kobani destroyed four ISIL fighting positions and a small ISIL unit.

In Iraq, two airstrikes in the vicinity of Fallujah destroyed a small ISIL unit and an ISIL tank.

Four airstrikes in the vicinity of Mosul Dam destroyed a small ISIL unit, an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL logistics base.

One airstrike west of Baghdad destroyed an ISIL-occupied building and a small ISIL unit.

One airstrike in the vicinity of Sinjar struck an ISIL fighting emplacement and destroyed six vehicles.

One airstrike northwest of Haditha destroyed an ISIL-occupied building used as a staging area.

Report Date

October 28, 2014

Report Summary

  • 13 total strikes
  • 9 in Iraq (401 – 409)
  • 4 in Syria (302 – 305)

Confirmed Actions

US

October 28th: U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Monday and today using attack and fighter aircraft to conduct four airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted nine airstrikes in Iraq Monday and today using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists.

In Syria, four airstrikes near Kobani destroyed four ISIL fighting positions and a small ISIL unit.

In Iraq, two airstrikes in the vicinity of Fallujah destroyed a small ISIL unit and an ISIL tank.

Four airstrikes in the vicinity of Mosul Dam destroyed a small ISIL unit, an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL logistics base.

One airstrike west of Baghdad destroyed an ISIL-occupied building and a small ISIL unit.

One airstrike in the vicinity of Sinjar struck an ISIL fighting emplacement and destroyed six vehicles.

One airstrike northwest of Haditha destroyed an ISIL-occupied building used as a staging area.

CENTCOM for October 26, 2014 – October 27, 2014
Original
Annotated

Report Date

October 27, 2014

October 27th: U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Sunday and today using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct four airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted seven airstrikes Sunday and today using fighters, attack and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists in Iraq.

In Syria, four airstrikes near Kobani destroyed five ISIL vehicles and an ISIL occupied building.

In Iraq, three airstrikes west of the Mosul Dam area struck a small ISIL fighting unit.

One airstrike southeast of Fallujah struck a large ISIL unit, destroyed an ISIL building and damaged an ISIL vehicle.

One airstrike south of the Bayji Oil refinery struck ISIL fighters.

One airstrike south of Bayji struck a small ISIL unit and destroyed an improved explosive device.

Finally, an airstrike east of Zumar struck a small ISIL unit and destroyed two ISIL occupied buildings.

Report Date

October 27, 2014

Report Summary

  • 11 total strikes
  • 7 in Iraq (394 – 400)
  • 4 in Syria (298 – 301)

Confirmed Actions

US

October 27th: U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Sunday and today using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct four airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted seven airstrikes Sunday and today using fighters, attack and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists in Iraq.

In Syria, four airstrikes near Kobani destroyed five ISIL vehicles and an ISIL occupied building.

In Iraq, three airstrikes west of the Mosul Dam area struck a small ISIL fighting unit.

One airstrike southeast of Fallujah struck a large ISIL unit, destroyed an ISIL building and damaged an ISIL vehicle.

One airstrike south of the Bayji Oil refinery struck ISIL fighters.

One airstrike south of Bayji struck a small ISIL unit and destroyed an improved explosive device.

Finally, an airstrike east of Zumar struck a small ISIL unit and destroyed two ISIL occupied buildings.

Netherlands MoD for October 26, 2014 – October 27, 2014
Original
Annotated

Report Date

October 27, 2014

Nederlandse F-16’s gooiden in Irak tientallen bommen op doelen van terreurorganisatie ISIS. Ook gebruikten ze het boordwapen. De toestellen vielen in meer dan 40 vluchten ruim 30 keer succesvol aan. Een overzicht van Defensie-operaties in de week van 20 tot en met 26 oktober.
De doelen bestonden uit opslagplaatsen voor munitie, wapens en bermbommen, hoofdkwartieren en strijders. Een onbekend aantal terroristen kwam om.

Report Date

October 27, 2014

Nederlandse F-16

  • Dutch F-16 heads for Iraq, October 2014 (Dutch MoD)
    Afghanistan, Masar e Sharif, 13 januari 2014 F16's maken zich klaar voor de take-off, hieraan voorafgaand worden de beveiligings pennen van de wapens afgehaald door militairen van wapentechniek.

Incident Code

CI013

Incident date

October 26, 2014

Location

عوينات, Uwaynat, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.683056, 42.400556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

There were claims that coalition air raids resulted in the deaths of between 10 and 20 civilians in a village 110km northwest of Mosul called Aouinat.

Al Rafidain reported: “Press sources in Mosul confirmed that the bombing, which targeted the village of Aouinat killed ten civilians and destroyed at least two houses.

The forensic medicine department in the province confirmed that they had received the ten bodies; while local sources said that the outcome of the bombing exceeded twenty dead as well as a large number of injured, pointing out that the raids by international occupation forces has been going on for several days.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Local reports of the incident mention (عوينات) Aouinat, North West of Mosul. The coordinates for (عوينات) Aouinat are: 36.683056, 42.400556. The strike destroyed two houses. Due to the limited satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • (عوينات) Aouinat

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    a:1:{i:0;s:20:"no_coalition_strikes";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Awinat, Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 25th-26th 2014, the coalition noted: “Six airstrikes west of the Mosul Dam area struck two small ISIL units, damaged an ISIL building and destroyed four ISIL vehicles and an ISIL artillery piece. Three airstrikes southwest of the Mosul Dam area struck a large ISIL unit and a small ISIL unit, and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and two ISIL buildings.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

CENTCOM for October 25, 2014 – October 26, 2014
Original
Annotated

Report Date

October 26, 2014

October 26th 2014: U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Saturday and today using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct five airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted twelve airstrikes Saturday and today using fighters, attack and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists in Iraq.

In Syria, five airstrikes near Kobani destroyed seven ISIL vehicles and an ISIL building.

In Iraq, six airstrikes west of the Mosul Dam area struck two small ISIL units, damaged an ISIL building and destroyed four ISIL vehicles and an ISIL artillery piece.

Three airstrikes southwest of the Mosul Dam area struck a large ISIL unit and a small ISIL unit, and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and two ISIL buildings.

Three airstrikes southeast of Fallujah struck two large ISIL units, a small ISIL unit and destroyed one ISIL building.

Report Date

October 26, 2014

Report Summary

  • 17 total strikes
  • 12 in Iraq (382 – 393)
  • 5 in Syria (292 – 297)

Confirmed Actions

US, UK, Belgium

October 26th 2014: U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Saturday and today using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct five airstrikes. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted twelve airstrikes Saturday and today using fighters, attack and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists in Iraq.

In Syria, five airstrikes near Kobani destroyed seven ISIL vehicles and an ISIL building.

In Iraq, six airstrikes west of the Mosul Dam area struck two small ISIL units, damaged an ISIL building and destroyed four ISIL vehicles and an ISIL artillery piece.

Three airstrikes southwest of the Mosul Dam area struck a large ISIL unit and a small ISIL unit, and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and two ISIL buildings.

Three airstrikes southeast of Fallujah struck two large ISIL units, a small ISIL unit and destroyed one ISIL building.

Belgian MoD for October 25, 2014 – October 26, 2014
Original
Annotated

Report Date

October 26, 2014

Notes

Significant events 23 – 29 Oct: (1) 24, 25, 27 and 29 Oct: operational exploratory flights without the use of the weapon systems. (2) 23/24 and 26 Oct: operational flights with the use of the weapon systems. (3) 28 Oct: maintenance

Significante gebeurtenissen 23 – 29 Okt:
(1) 24, 25, 27 en 29 Okt: operationele verkenningsvluchten zonder inzet van de
wapensystemen.
(2) 23/24 en 26 Okt: operationele vluchten met inzet van de wapensystemen.
(3) 28 Okt: onderhoud
Significant events 23 – 29 Oct:
(1) 24, 25, 27 and 29 Oct: operational exploratory flights without the use of the weapon systems.
(2) 23/24 and 26 Oct: operational flights with the use of the weapon systems.
(3) 28 Oct: maintenance

Report Date

October 26, 2014

Notes

Significant events 23 – 29 Oct: (1) 24, 25, 27 and 29 Oct: operational exploratory flights without the use of the weapon systems. (2) 23/24 and 26 Oct: operational flights with the use of the weapon systems. (3) 28 Oct: maintenance

Significante gebeurtenissen 23 – 29 Okt: (1) 24, 25, 27 en 29 Okt: operationele verkenningsvluchten zonder inzet van de wapensystemen. (2) 23/24 en 26 Okt: operationele vluchten met inzet van de wapensystemen. (3) 28 Okt: onderhoud

Incident Code

CI012

Incident date

October 25, 2014

Location

حاج علي, Hajj Ali, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.734251, 43.3181477 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported by medical sources in the city to have been “accidentally killed” in an airstrike on a “Daesh stronghold in Qayyarah, Mosul“. However the Wameedh Sabah blog reported a security source as saying that the casualties were inflicted by an Iraq Army airstrike.

Up to 81 alleged militants were also reported killed in coalition strikes in Al Hajj Ali.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Haj Ali in the Qayyarah district, South of Mosul. The location for ( حاج علي ) Hajj Ali village is: 35.734251,43.3181477

  • Hajj Ali (حاج علي)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Haj Ali, Qayyarah, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Twenty coalition airstrikes were confirmed in the vicinity of Mosul between October 24th-26th 2014, including by the US and France.

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]