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 Code

CS1712

Incident date

January 10, 2018

Location

الحمدان, Al Hamdan, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.484628, 40.896606 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Free Deir Ezzor, there were “a number of wounded in the village of Hamdan” following Coalition airstrikes.

Both Al Bukamal Mutassil al Aan and Souriyati reported that seven civilians were wounded in al Hamdan and also pointed towards the Coalition.

No additional details are presently known for this event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–5
  • 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]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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 al-Hamdan, Albu Kamal, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU741175
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 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

On January 10th, the Coalition reported: “Near Abu Kamal, 19 strikes [3 British] engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed an ISIS supply route, four ISIS vehicles, three control and command centers, a recoilless rifle, two logistics centers, an indirect fire weapon and a VBIED.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Wednesday 10 January – a Reaper hit three terrorist targets in eastern Syria, whilst Tornados destroyed an armed truck…The following day [January 10th], another Reaper worked closely with coalition surveillance aircraft and fast jets in a series of strikes in support of the SDF advance. Our aircraft supported coalition air attacks on a Daesh-held building and a mortar position, and conducted three attacks with its own Hellfire missiles, destroying an armed truck parked under cover of a vehicle shelter, and hitting two groups of terrorists on foot. A flight of Tornado GR4s also took part in this operation, and targeted an armed truck positioned within a compound; the use of a Brimstone missile allowed the vehicle to be destroyed without posing a risk to nearby buildings.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–5
  • 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

CS1771a

Incident date

June 13, 2018

Location

البوكمال, near Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.47537, 40.95456 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a previously unreported incident, in the US-led Coalition’s August 2018 report, it conceded it had injured one civilian during a raid on an ISIS “supply route” near Abu Kamal.

The coordinates provided by the Coalition locate the incident East of the Euphrates river, in an area labelled Ash Shājilah (ناحية سوسة) on open source maps.

The Coalition’s assessment might relate to incident CS1771, which occurred in nearby (السوسة) Al Soussa on the same day. However, without further information, Airwars cannot determine a positive match.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

  • Military Grid Reference (100 x 100 m) given by the US-led Coalition

    Date taken:
    June 21, 2011

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected 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
    Previously unknown
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU795166
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 30, 2018
  • June 13, 2018, near Abu Kamal, Syria, via self-report. During a strike on Daesh supply route, one civilian was unintentionally injured.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

On June 13 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted seven strikes consisting of seven engagements against Daesh targets.
Near Abu Kamal, four strikes destroyed two Daesh vehicles, one Daesh supply route and damaged one Daesh vehicle.
Near Al Shadaddi, three strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, and destroyed one Daesh tactical vehicle, one Daesh line of communication and one Daesh headquarters.

Dutch Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Weekly overview of Defense operations News item 13-06-2018 | 12:00 In the fight against terrorist organization ISIS, Dutch F-16s supported ground troops during 11 missions. This happened over the provinces of Deir Ezzor and Al Hasakah in eastern Syria. No weapons were deployed on any of the missions.

Weekoverzicht Defensieoperaties Nieuwsbericht | 13-06-2018 | 12:00 In de strijd tegen terreurorganisatie ISIS ondersteunden Nederlandse F-16’s grondtroepen tijdens 11 missies. Dat gebeurde boven de provincies Deir al Zour en Al Hasakah in Oost-Syrië. Bij geen van de missies zijn wapens ingezet. Een overzicht van Defensieoperaties in de week van 6 juni tot en met 12 juni 2018. Analisten van het 306 Squadron (in oprichting) analyseerden deze week voor het eerst live beelden uit het Midden-Oosten. Op Vliegbasis Leeuwarden werden beelden van een operationele vlucht met een onbemand vliegtuig verwerkt. Van de verzamelde informatie maakt de eenheid inlichtingenrapporten. Militaire instructeurs in Irak leren Koerdische strijders gebieden te beveiligen. Daarbij staan onder meer wapenhandelingen, medische verzorging, leiderschapstrainingen, oorlogsrecht en civiel-militaire samenwerking op het programma. De door de coalitie opgeleide instructeurs verzorgen een deel van de opleiding. Een Nederlands chirurgisch team opereert in een Amerikaans role 2-hospitaal in westelijk Irak. Het team werkt nauw samen met Noorse medici.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1937

Incident date

November 22, 2019

Location

حي اللطوة, Latwa neighbourhood, Dhiban, Deir Ezzor , Syria

Geolocation

35.0162094, 40.5101418 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian male was killed and one woman and five children from the same family injured after an alleged Coalition airstrike targeted their home in Al Latwa neighbourhood of the town of Dhiban, Deir Ezzor governorate, on November 22nd, 2019, according to local sources. Two members of the SDF were also reported killed and another five wounded.

Euphrates Post reported that the house of civilian Khalid Al Hamoud Al Hammadi was hit by the alleged International Coalition airstrike, which killed him and injured his wife. The Euphrates correspondent added that two SDF soldiers were also killed in the incident.

According to Halab Today, “The SDF arrested at least 20 people in the town, including civilians and former ISIS operatives, during a series of raids in the town’s al-Latwa neighbourhood.” The source added that Khalid Al Hamoud Al Hammadi “had tried to prevent SDF members from raiding his house, which led to his death”.

Jesr Press also said that “there was a verbal altercation with members of the patrol which developed into a  shooting. Khalid opened a bomb and threw it on the elements [of the SDF], injuring five of them”.

Xeber24 said: “Activists added that the landing operation, which took place on Friday morning (November 22nd), involved three US Apache helicopters, a war fighter and two reconnaissance planes, during which clashes took place between the gunmen in Al-Lattwa neighborhood in Theban town and SDF fighters.”

Jesr Press added that the victim was killed the day after his wedding: “Khaled Mahmoud al-Hussein, a native of Theban, was working in Qatar before the Syrian revolution. He returned to his home town two months ago to get married, and then intended to return to Qatar to continue his work. He celebrated his wedding on Thursday. he was killed today [Nov 22nd0 although he did not participate in any armed activity.”

Additionally, Step said that  Khalid Al Hamoud Al Hammadi’s “wife and five of his children were wounded” in the operation.

AA reported: “A coalition statement said on Saturday that ground and air operations continued in Deir ez-Zor on Friday, including airdrops, which resulted in the neutralization of many ISIS elements and the injury of others (without giving a specific number).

“The statement said that ‘special forces from several countries in the coalition participated in the clearance of ISIS positions’ in the province, and the arrest of many of its fighters, as well as the confiscation of ‘a significant amount’ of light weapons, hand explosives and ammunition”.

In their May 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 after a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Adult female first name unknown injured
Child of Khaled Al Hamoud al-Hammadi Hussein
injured
Child of Khaled Al Hamoud al-Hammadi Hussein
Child injured
Child of Khaled Al Hamoud al-Hammadi Hussein
Child injured
Child of Khaled Al Hamoud al-Hammadi Hussein
Child injured
Child of Khaled Al Hamoud al-Hammadi Hussein
Child injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–6
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    5

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Photo of the aftermath of an alleged Coalition airstrike on the house of Khalid Al Hamoud Al Hammadi in Al Latwa neighbourhood of Dhiban town, Deir Ezzor, on November 22nd, 2019 (via Euphrates Post on Facebook).
  • Photo of the aftermath of an alleged Coalition airstrike on the house of Khalid Al Hamoud Al Hammadi in Al Latwa neighbourhood of Dhiban town, Deir Ezzor, on November 22nd, 2019 (via Euphrates Post on Facebook).
  • Photo of the aftermath of an alleged Coalition airstrike on the house of Khalid Al Hamoud Al Hammadi in Al Latwa neighbourhood of Dhiban town, Deir Ezzor, on November 22nd, 2019 (via Euphrates Post on Facebook).
  • Photo of the aftermath of an alleged Coalition airstrike on the house of Khalid Al Hamoud Al Hammadi in Al Latwa neighbourhood of Dhiban town, Deir Ezzor, on November 22nd, 2019 (via Euphrates Post on Facebook).
  • Photo of the aftermath of an alleged Coalition airstrike on the house of Khalid Al Hamoud Al Hammadi in Al Latwa neighbourhood of Dhiban town, Deir Ezzor, on November 22nd, 2019 (via Euphrates Post on Facebook).
  • Khaled Al Hamoud al-Hammadi Husse (via Jesr Press)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a strike within the Latwa neighbourhood (حي اللطوة) in the village of Diban (ذيبان) for which the generic coordinates are: 35.0162094, 40.5101418. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU388738
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2020
  • Nov. 22, 2019, in Diban, Syria via Syrian Observatory for Human Rights report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, the alleged civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action. 2888 37SFU388738

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–6
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    5

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1954

Incident date

December 30, 2020

Location

الطريق الواصل بين سلقين و بلدة اسقاط, The road between Salqin and Isqat, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.142999, 36.464729 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two local sources reported that a civilian was wounded in an alleged US-led Coalition drone strike on a vehicle on the road between the city of Salqin and the town of Isqat in Idlib countryside on December 30th. Two other sources stated that there had been no reports of casualties.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported: “A person was wounded, this afternoon, Wednesday, December 30th, as a result of unidentified aircraft targeting a car on the road between the city of Salqin and the town of Isqat in the northwestern countryside of Idlib.” Shaam News wrote: “A man was wounded when an unidentified aircraft targeted a vehicle on the road between Salqin city and the town of Isqat.”

@IdlibPlus tweeted that the drone belonged to the US-led Coalition, but wrote that there were no casualties. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported that there had been no casualties reported thus far in an alleged US-led Coalition drone strike.

On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition reported this incident to be “non-credible”, stating that “After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Vehicle reportedly targeted by alleged US-led Coalition drones on the road between Salqin and Isqat, Idlib, on December 30th, 2020 (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers at the site after alleged US-led Coalition drones on a vehicle on the road between Salqin and Isqat, Idlib, on December 30th, 2020 (via Syrian Civil Defence).

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck on the road connecting the city of Salqin (سلقين) to the town of Isqat (إسقاط). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for a middle point on this road are: 36.142999, 36.464729. Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 36.143, 36.46472.

  • Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck on the road connecting the city of Salqin (سلقين) to the town of Isqat (إسقاط).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1987

Incident date

November 14, 2022

Location

جديد بكارة, Jedid Bakara, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.242426, 40.364853 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One young man was killed when he was run over by a vehicle allegedly belonging to the Coalition in the village of Jedid Bakara on November 14, 2022.

Euphrates Post reported that a young man named Salam Hussein Al-Arif was killed when he was run over by a vehicle belonging to the Coalition. Multiple other local sources provided similar information, adding that he died instantly and that it was a “mistake” or “accident”.

According to El Dorar News, the young man that was killed was riding his motorcycle on the village’s main road when he was run over by a vehicle belonging to the Coalition, which was driving at high speed. Baladi News added that the military vehicle was crossing the town after coming from one of the American bases.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Salam Hussein Al-Arif سلام حسين العارف
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Salam Hussein Al-Aref, killed when a Coalition vehicle ran him over on November 14, 2022. (Image posted by Orient News via Twitter)
  • Damage caused by a Coalition vehicle that killed a young man on November 14, 2022. (Image posted by @thevoicesyria1)
  • Young man killed by a Coalition vehicle on November 14, 2022. (Image posted by El Dorar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Jedid Bakara (جديد بكارة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.242426, 40.364853. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI438

Incident date

January 25, 2017

Location

Wadi Hajjar, Nineveh, Iraq

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reportedly injured by ISF (or possibly Coalition) mortars according to eyewitness interviews by Amnesty International.

A previously unpublished assessment which Amnesty shared with Airwars reads as follows: “On 25 January an ISF mortar [Airwars note: presumed – but possibly US, see below] landed on their house in Wadi Hajjar and caused it to collapse. XX believes it was an ISF mortar as he saw a drone in the skies above the house five minutes before the explosion. The house was completely destroyed. The target was likely to have been the neighbouring house, which had been taken over by ISIS. ISIS had also taken over their house 20 days previously. They had had no choice in the matter and had mainly hidden in the basement since then.

XX’s mother – “I have a five year old son whose legs were broken (when the house collapsed due to the mortar strike).” It also opened a wound on her 17 year old daughter’s head. XX’s 17 year old wife suffered a shrapnel wound to her back.”

US forces used heavy mortars in support of ISF during the battle for West Mosul. However it is unclear on which date these began. A senior Coalition official told Airwars that “Mortar fire is not recorded as a strike so we do not have data to provide on specifically where and when they have been used. I spoke to the unit on the ground though, and due the positioning of Coalition forces to support the liberation of East Mosul and the limited range of the mortars, it is very doubtful they were fired prior to the initiation of the liberation of West Mosul.”

While it appears most likely this reported event was a result of ISF actions, it remains possible that it was a Coalition event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For January 24th-25th 2017, the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged four ISIL tactical units; destroyed four mortar systems, two vehicles, two weapons caches, an ISIL headquarters, an anti-air artillery system, a fighting position, a supply cache, a tunnel entrance, a VBIED, a VBIED facility, an ISIL guard post, an ISIL-held building, and an IED factory; damaged a supply route; and suppressed an ISIL mortar team.”

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
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI529

Incident date

March 10, 2017

Location

اليرموك, Mosul, Yarmouk, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.336804, 43.083396 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local press and residents, as well as al-Amaq (ISIL) press sources, said that Coalition shelling had targeted several neighborhoods at the right side of Mosul, especially near apartments in Al-Yarmouk neighbourhood, with munitions equipped with controversial White Phosphorus. No civilian casualties were reported.

Iraqi Spring posted a video on Facebook of al-Amaq agency [ISIL], showing “the effects of the US phosphorus bombing, which targeted residential neighborhoods near the Yarmouk Apartments in the right side of # Mosul city.”

Urgent Mosul News also reported heavy shelling by warplanes in the neighbourhood, but unlike all other sources, did not identify them as being Coalition aircraft.

A Bellingcat investigation later concluded: “The international US-led Coalition appears to have used white phosphorous (WP) munitions in their battle against the so-called Islamic State (IS) in Mosul, Iraq, based on a video posted online by an IS-linked propaganda outlet. It is known that the US has used WP in Iraq, and while aware of the video, the Coalition neither confirmed or denied the specific use of WP in Mosul. It has not been possible to establish whether civilians were present at the targeted site, but when WP is used in residential neighbourhood the tactical military advantage may well be outweighed the stigma of using WP in civilian areas, as a Human Rights Watch employee stated earlier. While the statement was made in the context of attacks, it also holds for other usages of WP. No multimedia or textual information could be found hinting towards civilian injuries or casualties due to the alleged use of WP.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Bellingcat geolocated the March 10th 2017 use of white phosphorous against ISIL in urban Mosul
  • Video reposted by Airwars researcher Christiaan Triebert to Twitter
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 9th-10th the Coalition publicly reported: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and an ISIS staging area; destroyed 11 vehicles, nine mortar systems, eight fighting positions, five VBIEDs, two medium machine guns, two roadblocks, two watercraft, an anti-air artillery system, a supply cache, an ammunition cache, and a recoilless rifle; damaged 15 supply routes; and suppressed 10 mortar teams.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS635

Incident date

March 28, 2017

Location

Tabaqah, al Nabablah, Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.826646, 38.54559

Airwars assessment

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.