US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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Incident Code

CI045

Incident date

February 26, 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

According to Reuters, a coalition airstrike which killed 17 Islamic State militants also caused the deaths of 9 non-combatants: “The hospital source in al-Qaim, a town on the Euphrates River, said nine civilians were killed and 29 militants were wounded in the strike by the U.S.-led coalition which is bombing Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria. Some of the wounded were taken across the border to Syria for treatment.”

In what may be the same or a separate incident, Reuters also reported that Islamic State radio had claimed that three people were killed and women and children were injured, in a strike near al-Qaim.

Al Arabiya confirmed a heavy airstrike on al Qaim, though made no mention of civilian casualties: “The raids, which were carried out following detailed intelligence, targeted five locations for Daesh, and the extremists fired extensively their anti aircraft weapons. The raids resulted in the deaths of dozens of members and leaders of the organization, including senior leaders, namely: Abu Muslim al-Turkmeni, Abu Muslim Al Shishani (Chechen), and Abu Ubaidah al-Azzawi and Thamer Mohammed.”

Internally CENTCOM dismissed the claims of civilian deaths, noting that “reflections were that a major ISIL leader was killed in the strike.”

However military intelligence sources also appeared to have confused the source of civilian casualty allegations (hospital personnel) with the location of the strike itself: “The target was clearly identified as an insurgent meeting house/ staging house, and was not a hospital,” J2 personnel insisted.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 12
  • 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
    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
    al-Qaim, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015

  • Open source media report that the hospital source in al-Qaim, a town on the Euphrates River, hospital said nine civilians were killed and 29 militants were wounded in the strike by the U.S.-led coalition. Some of the wounded were taken across the border to Syria for treatment. / OSINT RPT record via CHOPS. Target identified as an insurgent meeting house/staging house, and was not a hospital.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 12
  • 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

CI077

Incident date

June 25, 2015

Location

‎القيارة, Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.7977836, 43.2935143 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 17 civilians were allegedly killed during a coalition air raid at Qayyarah near Mosul, two sources claimed.

NINA reported that six women and four children were among the dead. And German news agency DPA gave identical casualty figures, citing a source as saying that “the bodies of the civilians have now reached the forensic medicine department in Mosul.“

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17
  • (4 children6 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

  • NINA
    • Arabic
    • Arabic
  • DPA
    • English
    • English

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention unnamed residential neighbourhoods in the city of Qayyarah (القيارة), South of Mosul, for which the coordinates of its midpoint are: 35.7977836, 43.2935143

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 Qayyarah, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 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
Official source

Three coalition airstrikes were reported in the vicinity for June 25th-26th 2015: “Near Mosul, three airstrikes struck an ISIL checkpoint, an ISIL staging area and an ISIL mortar firing position.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17
  • (4 children6 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

  • NINA
    • Arabic
    • Arabic
  • DPA
    • English
    • English

Incident Code

CI110

Incident date

September 20, 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 reported coalition airstrike on an ISIL IED factory [see CI109] injured ‘dozens’ of civilians, it was claimed, after a chemical cloud spread across local areas. Waradana cited Ghias Surja of the Nineveh Union of Kurdistan National Center as saying: “The lab was used by the criminal organization for terrorist activities against the innocent and defenseless, making improvised explosive devices and rockets that contain toxic materials. After the attack a cloud spread in the sky of Mosul, wounding dozens of civilians who were transferred later to hospitals in Mosul to receive first aid.“

Al Araby Al Jadeed said the chemical cloud was chlorine, which had injured 70 civilians: “A senior official in the Kurdistan Alliance, Ribawar Hassan, told al-Araby al-Jadeed: “The coalition airstrike on a chlorine gas factory in the industrial area of Mosul, has led to the gas spreading in the air, which caused 70 civilians to suffer from impaired breathing and shortness of breath in adjacent areas.”The injured were taken to hospitals,” Hassan added, stressing that “the airstrike also killed and wounded many IS members who were stationed inside these factories and workshops.”

In their June 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 local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    70
  • 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
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF379237
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 24, 2020

  • Sept. 20, 2015, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars 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. 2833/CI110 38SLF379237

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Heavy Coalition strikes in the vicinity were reported for September 20th-21st 2015: “Near Mosul, nine airstrikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit, three ISIL tactical units and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL VBIED facility, an ISIL bunker, an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL building, an ISIL C2 node and wounded an ISIL fighter.” See video above.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    70
  • 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

CI142

Incident date

November 17, 2015

Location

حمام العليل, Hamam al Alil, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.157604, 43.257238 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A doctor was reported killed and three of his colleagues injured after an alleged Coalition strike near Mosul.

According to the Iraqi state news agency NINA, “a doctor was martyred and three other doctors were wounded in bombing which targeted health centers in the Hamam al-Alil area, and also hit uninhabited residential buildings close to the center, causing heavy damage.”

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
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF432028
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • November 17, 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. 2859/CI142 38SLF432028

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition has confirmed one strike in the vicinity for November 16th-17th 2015: “Near Mosul, one strike struck an ISIL weapons cache.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI174

Incident date

January 8, 2016

Location

الرمادي, Ramadi, Sofiya, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.437441, 43.286666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Some local media reported that two families consisting of 14 civilians were killed in an unattributed airstrike on Sofiya in Ramadi. While Yaqen also reported that 14 civilians had died, it blamed the deaths on Iraq Army artillery.

In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition denied responsibility for the event, saying that it conducted no strikes nearby that day: “Jan. 8, 2016, near Ramadi, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.”

Given that the Coalition has confirmed strikes on Ramadi that day, we have requested additional information.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • 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 (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 Ramadi, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition noted significant activity in the vicinity for January 8th-9th 2016: “Near Ramadi, six strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 21 ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL sniper positions, two ISIL recoilless rifles, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) facility, two ISIL weapon caches, and denied ISIL access to terrain.”

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
    14
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI238

Incident date

May 19, 2016

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

According to local sources, up to six civilians including four children were killed and 13 people injured in an alleged Coalition or Iraqi government strike on Fallujah.

According to Yaqein, “four civilians including a child were killed and 12 others wounded mostly children and women. Most of them were seriously injured as a result of the retaliatory shelling and indiscriminate government and international airstrikes.”

The casualties occurred in the Abu Alwan area of the city, during an intense campaign before a major assault to liberate Fallujah from so-called Islamic State.

later named some of the casualties: “The child Hammam Jassim Mohammad Mohammadi has been killed along with his mother and young brother, while his father is in a serious condition between life and death.“

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, 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 (4)

Hammam Jassim Mohammad Mohammadi
Child male killed
the mother of Hammam Jassim Mohammad Mohammadi
Adult female killed
the brother of Hammam Jassim Mohammad Mohammadi
Child male killed
Jassim Mohammad Mohammadi
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (2–4 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of the child victim which reportedly killed by Coalition or Iraq government airstrike on Fallujah, May 19th 2016 (via Fallujah Now)

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
    38SLB871911
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • May 19, 2016, 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. 2953/CI238 38SLB871911

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For May 18th-19th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Fallujah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.”

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
    4 – 6
  • (2–4 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI270

Incident date

July 31, 2016

Location

كلية العلوم الاسلامية, Mosul, Faculty of Islamic Sciences at the University of Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.384272, 43.130694 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to multiple reports, alleged night time or dawn Coalition strikes on homes in the vicinity of the Technical Institute and the Faculty of Islamic Sciences at the University of Mosul resulted in nearly 20 civilian fatalities.

NRN said many civilian casualties from the brutal strikes came when fragments of the destroyed buildings struck nearby bystanders and cars.

In the second of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, 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 incident occured around dusk.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 19
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–20
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • An image reveals the destruction that followed an alleged coalition airstrike which intended to target an ISIS leader, but the strike led to the killing of civilians (via Ara news)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that homes were targeted in the vicinity of the Faculty of Islamic Sciences (كلية العلوم الاسلامية) at the University of Mosul, for which the coordinates are: 36.384272, 43.130694.

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
    38SLF323281
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • July 31, 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. 2987/CI270 38SLF323281

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 31st-August 1st 2016, the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, two strikes struck an ISIL headquarters and suppressed an ISIL mortar system.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 19
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–20
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI302

Incident date

October 21, 2016

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, South, girls' school, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.332845, 43.199477 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Russian Military General Staff claimed that a Coalition airstrike on a girls’ school south of Mosul killed a number of civilians.

According to Sputnik News, The Russian General Staff said that more than 60 civilians were killed and 200 others were injured during air strikes launched by the international coalition led by the United States on the neighbourhoods of Mosul and surrounding areas during a three day period. The Commission emphasised that Russia is closely monitoring the situation in Mosul, referring to the lack of notable successes in the liberation of the Iraqi city from the grip of the “Daesh” terrorist operation.

There are no known additional reports for this alleged event.

The chief Coalition spokesman responded by saying that Russia’s allegations “smells like a fire hose of falsehood.”

Given reported British actions in the area that day, Airwars flagged the incident to the UK’s MoD which said ” we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ 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

See above.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]