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
Libya
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
894 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

CI095

Incident date

August 24, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.36275, 43.13983 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A young man named as Muhannad Tariq was reported killed in a Coalition strike near the al Jandool restaurant in Mohandeseen neighbourhood. The Coalition later reported that one civilian was killed and three others were wounded in this incident.

According to a comment posted on a tribute page, Muhannad died from shrapnel wounds to his body.

On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition deemed this incident credible and assessed that “Coalition aircraft conducted a strike on ISIS terrorists in a vehicle. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed and three others unintentionally wounded due to their proximity to the strike.”

In what may be a related or separate incident, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq later noted: “Around midnight on 24 August, an airstrike targeted a vehicle carrying ISIL elements in the Majmoua Thaqafiya area of northern Mosul. The attack reportedly killed nine civilians, including one woman and a child, and wounded three other civilians.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhannad Tariq
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Muhannad Tariq, reported killed in a Coalition strike in Mosul August 24th 2015 (via Mosul Ateka)

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to 36.34585235, 43.098576921383 to the nearest city.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Open incident
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    3
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3311025790
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 10, 2022

  • Aug. 24, 2015, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted a strike on ISIS terrorists in a vehicle. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed and three others unintentionally wounded due to their proximity to the strike. 605/I072 38SLF3311025790

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 23rd-24th 2015, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL heavy machine gun and an ISIL vehicle.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI096

Incident date

August 24, 2015

Location

سنجار, Sinjar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3206914, 41.8641115 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The monitoring site Iraq Body Count reported seven civilians killed at Sinjar. While these were described as Daesh fighters in reports, IBC classifies all those aged under 18 as children. At least one of those killed in the alleged airstrike was described as aged 15.

In its July 2017 casualty report, the Coalition classed the even as non credible on grounds of a current lack of available evidence: “Aug. 24, 2015, near Sinjar, Iraq, via Airwars report: The report contained insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 7
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ 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:24:"insufficient_information";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Sinjar, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • The report contained insufficient information on the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Coalition strikes were reported in the vicinity for August 24th-25th 2015: “Near Sinjar, four airstrikes struck three ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL armored vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 7
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI094

Incident date

August 21, 2015

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

A single source, NINA, reported that a Coalition strike on a house at Hamam al-Alil, near Mosul “led to the martyrdom of all the family that inhabited consisted of nine members, including three children and a woman.“

As NINA noted: “Local residents told the National Iraqi News Agency that the international coalition aircraft bombed a rocket on a house in Hamam al-Alil, which led to the martyrdom of all the family that inhabited consisted of nine members, including three children and a woman. They added that the bodies were handed over to the forensic medicine department in Mosul.”

In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event to be ‘non credible’, noting: “August 21, 2015, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 2812/CI094 38SLF294240”.

The Coalition also provided coordinates showing the area it had assessed, accurate to within 100 metres.

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition again 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

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (3) [ 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area, Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF435034
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • August 21, 2015, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 2812/CI094 38SLF294240

  • Aug. 21, 2015, in Hamam al-Alil, 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. 2812/CI094 38SLF435034

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

A number of strikes were reported by the Coalition for August 20th-21st 2015: “Near Mosul, six airstrikes struck three ISIL tactical units and an ISIL mortar firing position and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL excavators, two ISIL heavy machine guns and an ISIL mortar firing position.“

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI093

Incident date

August 19, 2015

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

Local sources claimed that a Coalition airstrike aimed at an ISIL vehicle instead hit nearby celebrations, killing 18 people including three medics. One was later named as dentist Dr. Samir Ibrahim while the UN noted that a father and child died in the reported event.

According to NINA, the deaths occurred when a missile accidentally struck celebrants at a festival in a square in north Mosul.

The monitoring site Jihadology later published a comment from a pro-ISIL website: “This man was one of the noble ones of Mosul who refused to leave the city, unlike others who abandoned their people in their time of need, fearing death, hunger or anything else…God willing on the Day of Judgment we will dispute with every doctor, engineer or even student who left Mosul in the time when solidarity and standing together in the path of turning the wheel of life were needed. But praise and thanks be to God we do not need those who abandoned us as they need us.”

In a January 2016 study, the United Nations Mission in Iraq noted that an alleged targeted killing of a Daesh official had also reportedly slain a father and daughter. According to UNAMI, “On the afternoon of 18 August, a man and his 12 year-old daughter were reportedly killed when an airstrike hit al-Minassa street, northern Mosul. The airstrike allegedly targeted a vehicle carrying three assistants to ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and a judge of an ISIL self-appointed court, who were all killed.“

In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event to be ‘non credible’, noting: “August 19, 2015, 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. 2811/CI093 38SLF294240”.

The Coalition also provided coordinates showing the area it had assessed, accurate to within 100 metres.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dr. Samir Ibrahim
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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
    ISIS

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Image of Dr. Samir Ibrahim (via Al Mustaqbal News)

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
    in Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF294240
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • August 19, 2015, 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. 2811/CI093 38SLF294240

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 18th-19th 2015, the Coalition noted that “Near Mosul, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.“

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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
    ISIS

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI092

Incident date

August 18, 2015

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.3957715, 40.9943684 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed and five injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike at the border town of al Qaim.

Citing a ‘medical source in the city, al-Gharbiya eported that “a young man was killed as a result of the bombing was carried out by one of the [Coalition] warplanes on the neighborhoods of the city of Qaim,” indicating that “this led to the wounding five other civilians, including two children under ten were injured, as well as extensive material damage to homes and property. “

In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event to be ‘non credible’, noting: “August 18, 2015, in Al Qaim, 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. 2810/CI092 37SFU833078”.

The Coalition also provided coordinates showing the area it had assessed, accurate to within 100 metres.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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
    ISIS

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of one of the supposed victims (via Yaqen)

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
    in Al Qaim, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU833078
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition

  • August 18, 2015, in Al Qaim, 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. 2810/CI092 37SFU833078

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

No Coalition strikes were publicly reported for Al Qaim for August 17th-19th 2015. However one strike was reported elsewhere in Anbar province on August 17th-18th “near Ramadi.” And on August 18th-19th there were additional strikes in Anbar “near Habbiniyah” and “near Ramadi.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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
    ISIS

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI091

Incident date

August 8, 2015

Location

الرطبة, Ar Rutbah, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.036997, 40.284076 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Coalition aircraft were alleged to have struck civilians some 15 km from Ar Rutbah, at the Haj Saleh Mraid Kubaisi glassworks factory. According to a number of sources, some families had fled the town for fear of airstrikes, only for members to be killed in an alleged Coalition attack on a civilian vehicle.

It was claimed by one source that four women from two displaced families were killed at the Mraid plant, with 10 children injured. The deceased women were said to come from the Haj Hammoud and Hajj Abtan al-Shami families.

An alternative source said that a small child, the son of Adib Tariq al-Shami had died along with two daughters of Nuri Faisal Abtan al-Shami.

Two more people were listed as injured.

The US led Coalition declared no strikes in  the vicinity at the time. In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – CJTFOIR assessed this event to be ‘non credible’, noting: “August 8, 2015, in Ar Rutbah, 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. 2789/CI091 37SFS199561”.

The Coalition also provided coordinates showing the area it had assessed, accurate to within 100 metres.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nuri al-Faisal al-Shami Abtan
Age unknown male Had a foot amputated injured
Asaad Mahmoud Abu Shami
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (2–3 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Two of six or more victim of an alleged Coalition strike near Ar Rutbah, Iraq on August 8 2015 (via Fayad Fayad)
  • Aftermath of the strike (via Fayad Fayad)
  • Aftermath of the strike (via Fayad Fayad)
  • Aftermath of the strike (via Fayad Fayad)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the alleged victims of the strike (via Fayad Fayad)
  • One of the alleged victims of the strike (via Fayad Fayad)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the alleged victims of the strike (via Fayad Fayad)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the alleged victims of the strike (via Fayad Fayad)

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
    in Ar Rutbah, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFS199561
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • August 8, 2015, in Ar Rutbah, 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. 2789/CI091 37SFS199561

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No Coalition strikes were publicly reported in the vicinity of Ar Rutbah for August 7th-9th 2015.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (2–3 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI090

Incident date

August 6, 2015

Location

الرطبة, Ar Rutbah, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.036997, 40.284076 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

There were claims that a Coalition strike at ar Rutbah destroyed a family home in the Askari neighbourhood owned by Yaseen Al-Hiti and Jamal Raheem Uda Al-Kubeisi – who were both reported killed along with Mr al-Hiti’s wife Zia and one or two of their children – one a daughter also named Zia.

A further 8 to 10 civilians were reported injured in the event.

Iraqi Revolution also published several photographs of the aftermath of the event, including survivors receiving medical treatment.

In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event to be ‘non credible’, noting: “August 6, 2015, in Ar Rutbah, 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. 2788/CI090 37SFS199561”.

The Coalition also provided coordinates showing the area it had assessed, accurate to within 100 metres.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Yaseen Al-Hiti
Adult male killed
Jamal Raheem Uda Al-Kubeisi
Age unknown male killed
Zia
Adult female Wife of Yaseen Al-Hiti killed
Zia
Child female Daughter of Yaseen Al-Hiti killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1–2 children1 woman1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • 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
    ISIS

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An infant reportedly injured in an alleged Coalition strike at Ar Rutbah, August 6 2015 (via Iraqi Revolution)
  • Jamal Raheem Uda Al-Kubeisi, killed in an alleged Coalition strike at ar Rutbah, August 6 2015 (via eulogy page)
  • Scene of alleged Coalition strike at Ar Rutbah, Iraq (August 6 2015 (via Iraqi Spring)
  • Aftermath of the attack (via Iraqi Revolution)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the alleged victims (via Iraqi Revolution)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the alleged victims (via Iraqi Revolution)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the alleged victims (via Iraqi Revolution)

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
    in Ar Rutbah, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFS199561
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • August 6, 2015, in Ar Rutbah, 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. 2788/CI090 37SFS199561

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No Coalition strikes publicly reported at Ar Rutbah for August 5th-7th 2015.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1–2 children1 woman1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • 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
    ISIS

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI089

Incident date

July 31, 2015

Location

الرطبة, Ar Rutbah, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.036997, 40.284076 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a major incident, up to 46 civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike (according to the Iraqi Revolution site) on the town of Ar Rutbah. The UN Mission to Iraq expressed “serious concern” about the event.

The attack, which occurred shortly after dawn, reportedly killed a significant number of children, with graphic photographs widely posted on Arabic social media. According to Al Gharbiya, most of the dead came from five families. One family was named as that of Mohammed Hassan Akaul al-Jumaili.

However the source of the attack was disputed, with NINA and Shafaaq News reporting that “unidentified aircraft” had attacked. Iraqi Spring and Al Araby instead blamed the strike on Iraqi aircraft: “According to one source, Iraqi warplanes bombed houses inhabited by displaced people, killing about 45 of them including women and children, and injuring about 70 others.”

Vice News cited a spokesperson as saying that the Coalition was “not aware of Iraqi Government airstrikes in that area [Rutba] on July 31.” It also noted that “The US-led coalition did not report launching airstrikes in the vicinity of Rutba on July 31, but the report of civilian casualties was also not immediately refuted — something the coalition has done in the past when VICE News inquired about similar allegations.”

Suhaib al-Rawi, the governor of Anbar province, ordered an investigation into the attack, demanding that those found responsible eventually be put on trial for their actions.

In a January 2016 report, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq noted: “On 31 July, up to 40 civilians may have been killed and over 30 wounded when three houses allegedly sheltering IDPs was hit by an airstrike in Rutba, west of Ramadi, Anbar. Official sources confirmed the incident and the number of casualties, which included 18 women and 11 children (under 14 years old). The houses were targeted by military jets after receiving information that ISIL elements were allegedly inside the houses. The governor of Anbar called for an immediate investigation of the incident. On 3 August, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) in Iraq and Head of UNAMI issued a press release expressing serious concern at the reported airstrike, and called on the Government of Iraq to investigate the incident.“

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Hassan Akaul al-Jumaili
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    27 – 46
  • (3–11 children5–18 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    70
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Rescuers search for survivors in the wake of a major alleged Coalition incident, July 31 2015 (via Iraqi Revolution)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Scene of devastation at Ar Rutbah, July 31 2015 (via Al Araby)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Picture of one of the alleged victims (via Iraqi revolution)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Picture of one of the alleged victims (via Iraqi revolution)
  • Aftermath of the attack (via Alaraby)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Picture of one of the alleged victims (via Iraqi revolution)
  • Aftermath of the attack (via Iraqi Revolution)
  • Aftermath of the attack (via Iraqi Revolution)

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

No Coalition strikes have publicly been reported at Ar Rutbah for the July 30th-August 1st period.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    27 – 46
  • (3–11 children5–18 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    70
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (14) [ collapse]