US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Civilians in the ruins of Mosul city. (Maranie R. Staab)

Belligerent
US-led Coalition
Country
Iraq
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Incident Code

CI022

Incident date

December 16, 2014

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an event previously unreported by Airwars, an internal Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) reported “4 unknown persons potentially injured while moving into the engagement area,” during a Coalition airstrike on Objective Nebula, a targeted vehicle.

France later confirmed that it had carried out a targeted strike in Mosul on that date, though it is not presently clear whether this was the incident in question.

A subsequent review of full motion video from the event showed that “the 4 individuals in question eventually fled the scene of the strike.” It was also noted that there were no subsequent media reports of casualties.

However, given the potential risk to civilians during the event, CENTCOM also reported that “TF [Task Force] is still conducting an investigation into decisions made relating to the strike.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • (4 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ 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
    a:1:{i:0;s:5:"other";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015

  • BDA on strike on named objective (Nebula). FMV received; storyboard received. Initial BDA was 4 unknown persons potentially injured while moving into engagement area. TF assessed the allegation not to be credible based on a review of all source intel. Review of FMV showed that the 4 individuals in question eventually fled the scene of the strike. XXX indicated that the only persons killed or injured were those in the targeted vehicle. No reflections of ClVCAS received through XXX and media reports. However, TF is still conducting an investigation into decisions made related to the strike.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • (4 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI054

Incident date

March 28, 2015

Location

تل عفر, Tall Afar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.375659, 42.451536 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to an internal CENTCOM document, according to a self-reported night time incident involving an American aircraft may have caused civilian casualties: “US F-16 may have unintentionally struck the nearest collateral object (NCO) and unintentionally struck a car that moved into the FOV [field of view.]“

The outcome of any investigation at the time the document was collated (most likely early May 2015) was not known.

Local media did describe a car as being among the objects destroyed in Coalition raids on the day.

As of December 2017, the outcome of any assessment remained unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ 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
    a:1:{i:0;s:5:"other";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    Tal Afar Storage facility, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015

  • US F-16 may have unintentionally struck the nearest collateral object (NO) and may have unintentionally struck a car that moved into the FOV.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI087

Incident date

July 27, 2015

Location

الشرقاط, Shirqat, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.55987, 43.27651 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

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 seven Daesh militants were killed in the attack and others wounded. However no civilian casualties were publicly reported at the time, suggesting the casualty was determined as a result of post-strike footage analysis.

At the time, the Coalition reported no strikes in the immediate vicinity of Ash Sharqat. A CENTCOM spokesman later clarified that “The strike location originally appeared as Makhmur on the 28 July CJTF strike release. However, subsequent review determined the strike was closer to Ash Sharqat, which is approx. 37 miles from Makhmur.”

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest town at 35.282674, 43.163426

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
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Ash Sharqat, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLE438365
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 29, 2016

  • On July 27, 2015, near Ash Sharqat, Iraq, during strikes against ISIL vehicles, it was assessed one civilian was injured.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reported for July 27th-28th 2015. that “Near Makhmur, three airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed 19 ISIL fighting positions, 10 ISIL tunnels and three ISIL vehicles.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI120

Incident date

October 8, 2015

Location

الفلوجة‎, Fallujah, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.3532137, 43.7875674 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that either government shelling or a warplane from the international Coalition struck civilians betwen noon and 1pm as they were using the Albu Shajal crossing point north of Fallujah, allegedly killing up to 14 non-combatants and injuring 12 more. According to Al Fallujah News there were two strikes at the crossing point, separated by several hours.

Al Alamy, claiming to cite medical officials at Fallujah Hospital, reported that “Our hospital emergency department for Thursday, October 8th 2015 has so far [midnight] received twelve injured (including five women and five children) and fourteen martyrs (including four women and six children).“

One local news service carried pictures of locals giving blood in response to an emergency request.

In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 14
  • (6 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • People donating blood in Fallujah because of the alleged incident

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLB872911
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • October 8, 2015, in Fallujah, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2841/CI120 38SLB872911

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 7th-9th 2015, no publicly-reported Coalition strikes appeared to match the event.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 14
  • (6 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI152

Incident date

December 7, 2015

Location

الفلوجة‎, Fallujah, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.3532137, 43.7875674 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged Coalition airstrike on the Thubat district of Fallujah reportedly killed a young girl named as Ayesha Wadhah, and also wounded two other children named as Tabarek Wadhah (who lost a hand) and her brother Osama Wadhah.

In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Tabarek Wadhah
Child female Lost a hand injured
Osama Wadhah
Child male Brother of Tabarek Wadhah injured

The victims were named as:

Ayesha Wadhah
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Images of the alleged strikes

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLB872911
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • December 7, 2015, in Fallujah, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2869/CI152 38SLB872911

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 6th-7th 2015 and for December 7th-8th the Coalition publicly declared no strikes at Fallujah.

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI184

Incident date

February 4, 2016

Location

يت, Hit, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

36.1984343, 40.7096672 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several sources reported that an alleged Coalition air strike had hit the Qalqah area of Hit City, resulting in the deaths of up to six civilians and the wounding of 11 others, most of them women and children.

Photographs obtained by the Iraqi Spring Media Center appeared to show significant damage, with a number of collapsed homes. One of the civilians killed was later named

Responding to a request for clarification about possible involvement given declared UK strikes ‘around Ramadi and Fallujah’ that day, the MoD told Airwars that “after extensive research, we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the alleged event at Hit.

In their February 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Othman Nasser Al Khairi Abdul Rahman
Age unknown male (via Heat city of Peace FB account) killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • A photo shows a destroyed site by an alleged Coalition airstrike February 4th 2016, which reportedly killed six civilians (via Iraqi Spring Media Center)
  • The picture of the victim Othman Nasser Al Khairi Abdul Rahman who was killed in the alleged coalition airstrike (via Heat city of Peace FB account)
  • The picture shows the destroyed site of an alleged Coalition airstrike February 4th 2016, which reportedly killed 6 civilians (via Iraqi Spring Media Center)
  • A picture shows the destroyed site of an alleged Coalition airstrike February 4th 2016, which reportedly killed 6 civilians (via Iraqi Spring Media Center)
  • A picture shows the destroyed site of an alleged Coalition airstrike February 4th 2016, which reportedly killed 6 civilians (via Iraqi Spring Media Center)

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SKC987237
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020

  • Feb. 4, 2016, in Hit, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2894/CI184 38SKC987237

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No Coalition strikes were publicly reported at Hit between February 3rd-5th 2015, although a total of seven airstrikes were reported at nearby Ramadi.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI216

Incident date

April 5, 2016

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the third reported civilian casualty event of the day, seven civilians from the same family including children and women were reported killed after Coalition jets allegedly targeted an ISIL-occupied house but missed, instead striking the next door house.

The attack reportedly took place in the Engineers neighbourhood of west Mosul, and the Daesh militants targeted were said to be Chinese in origin.

Ara News cited local journalist Raafat Alzerara: “The missile landed on the house next door, killing a whole family of seven people… the shelling did not cause any damage to the Chinese ISIL fighters who survived the incident and evacuated the immediate area for fear of being targeted again.”

Responding to a request for clarification about possible RAF involvement given declared strikes at Mosul that day, the UK MoD told Airwars: “There is no credible indication of potential UK involvement” in the alleged events of April 5th.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • 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 attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reports that for April 5th-6th 2016: “Near Mosul, seven strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units, an ISIL financial storage center, and an ISIL headquarters and destroyed two ISIL supply caches, two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL command and control node, and three ISIL assembly areas.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • 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 attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI248

Incident date

June 7, 2016

Location

سومر و العربي والزهور ودنه دان, Mosul, East neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.2981099, 43.2000446 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A local source said 20 civilians were killed or injured along with three Daesh fighters after Coalition jets allegedly targeted four neighbourhoods in central Mosul.

A single source, Yaqein, said the strikes took place in the evening. Among those targeted was a Daesh ’emir’ from Morocco, whose white Hyundai was destroyed. But civilian casualties were also said to be high. According to local sources, “corpses littered the streets and remained for more than an hour for fear of further bombing until an ambulance finally came.“

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in these strikes as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 20
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention multiple neighbourhoods in the east of Mosul: Sumer (سومر), for which the coordinates are: 36.2981099, 43.2000446; Arabi (العربي), for which the coordinates are: 36.411958, 43.1138706; and Zuhour (الزهور), for which the coordinates are: 36.3789337, 43.1850243. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. 

  • The neighbourhoods of Sumer (سومر), Arabi (العربي) and Zuhour (الزهور) in the city of Mosul

    Imagery:
    © 2019 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
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF383185/38SLF308312/38SLF371275
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • June 7, 2016, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2958/CI248 38SLF383185

  • June 7, 2016, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2963/CI248 38SLF308312

  • June 7, 2016, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2964/CI248 38SLF371275

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 7th-8th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL command and control node.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 20
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]