The Dangerous Rise of “Dual-Use” Objects in War
The Yale Law Journal cited Airwars’ years-long documentation of civilian harm from US-led Coalition strikes in Iraq and Syria as part of their research into the dangers posed by strikes on “dual-use” targets in conflict zones.
The journal references Airwars’ methodology, as well as nearly two dozen incidents of civilian harm recorded by Airwars staff during the campaign against so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
References 23 incidents
Incident Date
2 November 2017
Incident Codes
CS1662 RS2673
Location
Al Mrashda river crossing, Syria
Up to five civilians died in an airstrike on the al Mrashda river crossing in Deir Ezzor, local media said – though sources were conflicted as to whether the US-led Coalition, Syrian regime or Russia were responsible. According to Al Hall, the Coalition “targeted the water crossing in the town of Al Mrashda in rural …
Summary
Published
2 November 2017
Civilians reported killed
4 – 5
Civilians reported injured
2
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime
Incident Date
6 October 2017
Incident Code
CS1595
Location
Ar Raqqah: Between Hadika Al Mororia (Traffic Park) and Jumaili neighbourhood, Syria
Four to five civilians were reported killed following alleged US-led Coalition airstrikes on the area between Al Hadika Al Mororia and Al Jumaili, Raqqah city. According to Syrian Press Center, the “the International Coalition targeted more than 10 air strikes in the northern neighbourhoods of Raqqah” during this time. Later reports from Raqqa is Being …
Summary
Published
6 October 2017
Civilians reported killed
4 – 5
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
1 October 2017
Incident Code
CS1562a
Location
Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, one civilian was reportedly killed in alleged Coalition artillery strikes in Raqqa. Although Airwars assesses single sourced incidents as “weak”, researchers have assessed this incident “fair” due to the depth of material provided by Amnesty. The report stated that “Mahmud …
Summary
Published
1 October 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1 – 35
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
28 September 2017
Incident Code
CS1537
Location
Al Badou area, Syria
Local media reported that an unspecififed number of civilians were wounded in a strike near the water company or water foundation in Raqqah’s al Badou neighbourhood. The Step News Agency blamed the Coalition, while other sources also reported a raid on the area but did not apportion blame. No further details are currently available .
Summary
Published
28 September 2017
Civilians reported injured
2
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, Unknown
Incident Date
13 August 2017
Incident Code
CS1429b
Location
Ar Raqqah, Syria
Some of the names in this incident were initially reported by several sources under incident number CS1429a (Amjad Ahmed Taha Al-Suwairi, Mohammed Ayman Sweiri and Ahmad Taha Al-Omar Al Suweiri). During investigations of this event for the April 2019 joint Airwars and Amnesty report War in Raqqa: Rethoric versus Reality (www.raqqa.amnesty.org), Amnesty field researchers were …
Summary
Published
13 August 2017
Civilians reported killed
18
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
26 June 2017
Incident Code
CS1091
Location
Euphrates river, Syria
At least five civilian males and as many as seven were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes near the Euphrates River in Raqqa. Local sources reported that the men were killed in airstrikes targeting their cars as they tried to retrieve water from the river. Raqqa has been suffering from intermittent and recurring water outages. …
Summary
Published
26 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
5 – 7
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, UK Military, French Military
Incident Date
26 June 2017
Incident Code
CS1094
Location
Al Mayadin, Syria
Between 42 and 100 civilians who were being detained in an ISIL prison were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes on an ISIL base in Al Mayadeen, local sources reported. The Coalition later conceded having killed eight civilians. According to a number of reports, the strikes also allegedly killed between 15 to 20 ISIL members, …
Summary
Published
26 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
42 – 70
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
25 June 2017
Incident Code
CS1077
Location
Euphrates river, Syria
Three civilian males were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes near the Euphrates River in Raqqa. A number of local sources identified the victims. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that the men were killed in an airstrike on their cars as they tried to retrieve water from the river. Raqqa had been suffering from …
Summary
Published
25 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, UK Military
Incident Date
24 June 2017
Incident Code
CS1072
Location
Ar Raqqah (Adnan al Maliki School, unknown location), Syria
Eight civilians, including between five and seven children, were killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike near Adnan al Maliki School in Raqqa, local sources reported. Al Hasaka Arabea and Step News Agency alleged that the Coalition was responsible. Raqqa Ahluna blamed the US-led Coalition for the death of five children. It reported that their names …
Summary
Published
24 June 2017
Civilians reported killed
8
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, UK Military, French Military
Incident Date
23 June 2017
Incident Code
CS1068
Location
Tawatha, Syria
One man was reportedly wounded after a water tanker in Al Tawatha village near Abu Kamal in the east of Deir Ezzor was allegedly struck by a Coalition airstrike. The man was said to be injured in the leg due to shrapnel exploding off the tanker. According to Baladi News, “Coalition aircraft targeted a pipeline …
Summary
Published
23 June 2017
Civilians reported injured
1
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
28 May 2017
Incident Code
CS880
Location
Al Badou, Syria
An unspecified number of civilians died and one named civilian was injured in airstrikes and/or an artillery bombardment on Raqqa’s Bado neighbourhood, according to local sources. Mohammed Amiro was named as injured when an artillery shell fell behind the Directorate of Water in the Bado neighbourhood – though sources didn’t identify the culprit. RFS reported …
Summary
Published
28 May 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
1
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
9 May 2017
Incident Code
CS789
Location
Al Mansoura, Syria
A child died and up to eight others were killed or wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Mansoura village, according to local media. The alliance later accepted responsibility for one death. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently said an air raid “targeted the house of Mahmoud al Yatim” killing a child. The source didn’t …
Summary
Published
9 May 2017
Civilians reported killed
1 – 7
Civilians reported injured
2 – 8
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
27 March 2017
Incident Code
CS627
Location
Euphrates Dam, Syria
The Director of the Euphrates Dam and two other staff members died in declared Coalition airstrikes a mile away from the dam on March 27, 2017, according to local sources. Baladi reported that “the director of the Euphrates Dam and his technical assistant were killed and a number of other technicians were injured as a …
Summary
Published
27 March 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
14 March 2017
Incident Code
CI541
Location
Mosul, Bab Sinjar, Iraq
There was a single claim that ‘dozens’ of civilians were killed or injured after Coalition airstrikes allegedly struck the emergency building at the general hospital in Bab Sinjar, in West Mosul.
Summary
Published
14 March 2017
Civilians reported killed
12 – 24
Civilians reported injured
12 – 24
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
9 March 2017
Incident Code
CS561
Location
Al Karama, Syria
Between seven and 23 civilians including six children died and 18 to 30 more, including women and children, were injured in Coalition airstrikes on Al Karama town and nearby villages in Raqqa governorate, according to local sources. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported the death of Jum’a Mahmood Hamad Al-Hito “who was killed today due …
Summary
Published
9 March 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
7 – 23
Civilians reported injured
18 – 30
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, U.S. Forces
Incident Date
3 January 2017
Incident Code
CS425
Location
Sarmada, Syria
A major US airstrike on an al Nusra Front headquarters – a unilateral action – killed a significant number of militants. However, up to 26 Free Syrian Army prisoners held in the building were also reported killed, along with three children. The US admitted responsibility for just one civilian death three years later. Fatah al …
Summary
Published
3 January 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
12 – 24
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, U.S. Forces
Incident Date
6 December 2016
Incident Code
CI362
Location
Mosul, near al Salem hospital, Iraq
The Coalition mistakenly hit Iraqi forces during an airstrike near al Salem hospital in Mosul, according to some local sources. Iraqi Spring Media Center reported that the Coalition mistakenly targeted” government forces near Salam Hospital in the southeast of Mosul. And Sputnik News claimed that US Air Force bombs left 90 Iraqi military members dead …
Summary
Published
6 December 2016
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
5 December 2016
Incident Code
CS403
Location
Al Jarnia, Syria
A reported Coalition airstrike on the local water company killed at least five workers, according to sources. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered reported that “three people working at the water company in al Jarnia – one of them the water manager – were killed in international coalition raids targeting the company today.” Baladi News placed the …
Summary
Published
5 December 2016
Civilians reported killed
8 – 10
Civilians reported injured
10 – 12
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
13 June 2016
Incident Code
CS228
Location
Manbij, 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 …
Summary
Published
13 June 2016
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
8 – 20
Civilians reported injured
50
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
5 January 2016
Incident Code
CS162
Location
Ar Raqqah, Syria
Airstrikes targeted the Water Foundation building on the outskirts of Raqqah around midnight, killing an employee of the organization and two building guards according to the Syrian Observatory (which did not attribute the strike to any particular party.) Other sources made no mention of casualties, although a propaganda video released by Daesh appeared to show …
Summary
Published
5 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
3
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
27 July 2015
Incident Code
CI087
Location
Shirqat, Iraq
A US airstrike on a convoy of Islamic State vehicles also injured at least one civilian, CENTCOM conceded some months later. According to a press statement issued on January 29th 2016, “On July 27, 2015, near Ash Sharqat, Iraq, during strikes against ISIL vehicles, it was assessed one civilian was injured.” Local media said that …
Summary
Published
27 July 2015
Civilians reported injured
1
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
13 May 2015
Incident Code
CI067
Location
Masahag, Iraq
Six members of one family were reported killed when a Coalition drone allegedly struck a vehicle distributing oil products to local people. Responding to questions from Airwars, an MoD spokesman said that no British Reaper drone strike took place in the vicinity of al Masahag on that date. Bayji’s Mayor, Mohamed Mahmoud said in an …
Summary
Published
13 May 2015
Civilians reported killed
6
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
Incident Date
20 April 2015
Incident Code
CI060
Location
Mosul, Aden, Iraq
A reported Coalition airstrike on an electricity generating facility reportedly killed up tp 35 civilians and injured 22 more when nearby apartments were caught in the blast, according to reports. The US led Coalition later conceded 18 deaths in this event. At the time of the incident, NINA cited a medical source at the hospital …
Summary
Published
20 April 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
18 – 35
Civilians reported injured
22 – 50
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
U.S.-led Coalition