Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS008

Incident date

September 28, 2014

Location

جرابلس, Road between Manbij and Jarabulus (Road 216), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.6268445, 37.9348657 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a coalition airstrike “on Islamic State buildings” killed “several” civilians who were being held captive, as well as five Islamic State militants.

The full translated quote from SOHR reads as follows: “Also at least five members of the Islamic State were killed and others wounded following a raid carried out by the International/Arab coalition aircraft on an IS building on the road between Manbij and Jarabulus. There were also reports of deaths and injury of several civilians who were detained by the organization in that building.”

In its monthly civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year, the Coalition assessed the event as ‘non credible’, noting that “September 28, 2014, on the road between Manbij and Jarabulus, Syria, 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.”

Coalition officials also provided Airwars with a geolocation to within 100 metres of the area reviewed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention an “IS building” on the road between ( منبج ) Manbij and( جرابلس ) Jarablus. The road is number 216. There was no further information on the location on the building. The coordinates for the middle point of Road 216 between Mabij and Jarablus are: 36.6268445, 37.9348657 Location of ( منبج ) Manbij: 36.5269242, 37.9559288 Location of ( جرابلس ) Jarabulus: 36.818378, 38.010343

  • Road 216 Mabij-Jarablus

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5

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
    on the road between Manbij and Jarabulus
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA048539
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2020
  • September 28, 2014, on the road between Manbij and Jarabulus, Syria, 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.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The coalition has confirmed strikes in the vicinity, though has denied any civilian casualties. For September 28th-29th 2014 it reported: “U.S. and partner nations conducted two airstrikes on an ISIL compound and an ISIL-held airfield in northwest Syria near Aleppo.“

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5

Sources (4) [ collapse]