Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS220 RS824

Incident date

May 31, 2016

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.52691, 37.95561 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 15 civilians including at least three children reportedly died in Coalition airstrikes in support of a major Kurdish ground offensive against Daesh near Manbij.

Citing the Syrian Observatory, Reuters noted that “U.S.-led air strikes in support of the ground operation [reportedly] killed 15 civilians including three children near Manbij in the past 24 hours.” SOHR said the dead came from two families.

According to the Local Civil Defence of Syria, “International Coalition warplanes targeted and destroyed the bridge of Aon Dadat village that connects between the cities of Jarablus and Manbej. The planes also targeted Hawatma village in Manbej city and 6 people from the same family were martyred.”

The Syrian Network also said that al-Hawatmah was hit, reporting that “Fixed-wing international coalition forces warplanes fired a missile that targeted residential houses in Al Hwatma neighborhood, which resulted in the killing of three individuals including a female child. Additionally, three others were wounded. Manbej city was under the control of ISIS on the day of the incident and it is now held by the Kurdish-majority Syrian Democratic Forces.

The Coalition claimed to be unaware of civilian casualty allegations when approached by the Independent. A spokesperson told the paper: “We will review any information we have about the incident, including information provided by third parties, such as the proximity of the location to CJTF air strikes, and any other relevant information presented,” a spokesperson for Operation Inherent Resolve said. If the information supporting the allegation is determined to be credible, we will then determine the next appropriate step.”

In a later report, the Syrian Network noted: “International coalition forces launched a number of airstrikes on Manbij city and its suburbs to assist Syrian Democratic Forces as it advanced against ISIS. Some of these strikes didn’t distinguish between civilians and fighters, while other airstrike didn’t respect the principle of proportionality.The international coalition airstrikes resulted in the killing [in total] of 38 civilians including 16 children and six women.”

On July 7th, 2017 the Coalition admitted responsibility for the incident, reporting: “May 31, 2016, near Manbij, Syria, via Airwars report: During a strike on an ISIS headquarters, it was assessed that eight civilians, who were not observed near the target during the engagement, were unintentionally killed.”

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Hussein Al Houran
Age unknown male killed
AbdulHai Al Houran
Age unknown male killed
Daughter of AbdulHai Houran
Child female killed

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest town at 36.5269242, 37.9559288

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 15
  • (1–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    Unseen at time of engagement
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    8
  • Stated location
    near Manbij, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA065429
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017
  • May 31, 2016, near Manbij, Syria, via Airwars report: During a strike on an ISIS headquarters, it was assessed that eight civilians, who were not observed near the target during the engagement, were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition reports for May 31st-June 1st 2016 that “Near Manbij, 18 strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units, two ISIL headquarters, two ISIL logistics facilities, an ISIL assembly area, an ISIL weapons cache, and an ISIL training base and destroyed eight ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL headquarters, two ISIL vehicles, two ISIL mortar systems, an ISIL cave entrance, two ISIL communication towers, an ISIL artillery system, an ISIL ammunition storage facility, and six ISIL-used bridges and denied ISIL access to terrain.”

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 15
  • (1–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]