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

CI818

Incident date

July 30, 2017

Location

الحويجة, Hawija, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.3240179, 43.77335 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local press sources said that 10 civilians from the same family were killed by an alleged Coalition airstrike which hit their house in the Hawija district on Sunday 30th July.

Kawsar Agency and Team of Correspondents said that the family died as a result of US shelling on their home.

According to Team of Correspondents, the ten victims were mostly children, while Iraqi Spring Media Centre said most of the dead were women and children.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • (2–6 children2 women)
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the alleged Coalition airstrike targeted a residential building in the city of Hawija (الحويجه). Due to limited information and satellite imagery available, Airwars was unable to verify the location of this building. The generic coordinates of the city of Hawija (الحويجه) are: 35.325244, 43.767258.

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 Hawija, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLE8832609514
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017

  • 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

For July 29th-30th, the Coalition reported: “Near Al Huwayjah, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS-held building.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • (2–6 children2 women)
  • 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

CI819

Incident date

August 1, 2017

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, market, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.396667, 40.989444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local press sources said that civilians were killed or injured by airstrikes on the market in Al Qaim district west of Anbar.

According to Iraq Akhbar, A number of civilians were killed and wounded by a bombing by international coalition aircraft of the market district of Qaim, west of Anbar.

Local sources said that the bombing targeted the market of the city of Qaim, which resulted in the deaths of a number of civilians and material damage in the shops. It is noteworthy that the city market is under the repeated bombardment of the aircraft of the International Alliance”.

However other sources did not say who was responsible for the bombing.

 

The incident was first reported on August 1, 2017 at 12:02 pm by Yaqein Agency (وكالة يقين للأنباء).

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Qaim, Al Anbar Governorate (الانبار). Some sources mention a vegetable market in Al Qaim (سوق الخضره في القائم). Satellite imagery available to Airwars from October 2017 shows structural damage a vegetable market, for which the coordinates are: 34.396667, 40.989444

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

For July 31st – August 1st , the Coalition reported: “Near Al Qaim, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two staging areas.“

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI820

Incident date

August 1, 2017

Location

تل عفر, Tal Afar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.375659, 42.451536 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources said that civilians were killed or injured in alleged Coalition and Iraqi force airstrikes on Tal Afar city, west of Mosul.

Tal Afar news agency reported that the aerial bombardment has continued in Tal Afar for the third day in a row. Civilians were confirmed dead, and the source said that Coalition aircraft bombed IS sites and the streets of the city intensively. Madar Al Arab reported that the commander of Nineveh operations confirmed the continued bombing of Tal Afar by the government and international Coalition aircraft.

Ali Alazawi added that the bombing led to the killing of the so-called training camp officials of IS.

The incident was first reported on August 1, 2017 at 12:13 am by وكالة انباء تلعفر Tal afar.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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]

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a number of locations within the city of Al-Tal Afar (تلعفر): Al-Sadiq al-Ameen Preparatory (إعدادية الصادق الأمين), which Airwars was unable to locate, however the location for Al-Tal Afar Preparatory School (إعدادية تلعفر) can be seen below; Al-Nada neighbourhood (حي النداء); the Al-Adli mill (طاحونة العدلي), which Airwars was unable to locate, for a possible location see below, and the village of Al-Alu (قرية العلو). Satellite imagery available to Airwars of July 27, 2017 and August 4, 2017 (a 13 day window) shows structural damage at the location of the Al-Tal Afar Preparatory school (إعدادية تلعفر), for which the coordinates are: 36.378889, 42.462778

  • Possible location for the Al-Adli mill (طاحونة العدلي), the Al-Tal Afar Preparatory School (إعدادية تلعفر) and the Tal Afar Middle School for Boys and Secondary Dhi Qar Evening (متوسطة تلعفر للبنين وثانوية ذي قار المسائية)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

  • Locations of structural damage seen on satellite imagery available to Airwars of August 4, 2017

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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 Tel Afar, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SKF711280
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 31st – August 1st , the Coalition reported: “Near Tal Afar, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed four fighting positions and two supply caches.”

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
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

CI820a

Incident date

August 1, 2017

Location

near Qadiya, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.43144, 42.63615 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the US-led Coalition admitted on Sep. 27, 2018 that it had killed two civilians and injured two others.

The monthly civilian casualty report read: “August 1, 2017, near Qadiya, Iraq, via self-report. During a strike two civilians were injured and two civilians were unintentionally killed.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

  • Marker showing the MGRS coordinate, accurate to 100 m, provided by CJTF–OIR

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Bing

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
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Previously unknown
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    2
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near Qadiya, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SKF881344
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 27, 2018

  • August 1, 2017, near Qadiya, Iraq, via self-report. During a strike two civilians were injured and two civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

On Aug. 1, Coalition military forces conducted 12 strikes consisting of 16 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted three strikes consisting of six engagements against ISIS targets.
Near Al Huwayjah, one strike destroyed a piece of ISIS engineering equipment and a front-end loader.
Near Rawah, one strike destroyed a VBIED.
Near Tal Afar, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed four front-end loaders, a supply cache and a command and control node.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Incident Code

CI821

Incident date

August 2, 2017

Location

الكرابلة, Karabla, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.37695, 41.05442 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Dozens of civilians were allegedly killed in airstrikes in Karabla, Qaem, local media reported – It was unclear who was responsible.

According to Yaqein, A number of civilians, including children, were killed and wounded after warplanes targeted al-Qa’im west of Anbar in light of continued attacks by joint forces supported by the international coalition. The warplanes targeted civilian houses in the Karbala district of al-Qaim district in western Anbar, Yaqein’s correspondent said, adding that The air strikes killed and injured a number of civilians, including children from one family. It is noteworthy that the joint forces and their militias supported by the international coalition aircraft are carrying out a suffocating siege against the areas they are trying to storm and indiscriminate bombing, which kills dozens of civilians, mostly women and children.

Anbar Voice reported that dozens of civilians died in a bombing by warplanes in the areas of Karbala and Alsnjk and Al-Amin district of the province of Qaim. It didn’t identify the planes.

Qaem City Today named the two victims, one young girl killed and the wounding brother.

In their monthly civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition has indicated that the credibility of this civilian harm allegation is in the process of being assessed.

The incident was first reported on August 2, 2017 at 9:05 pm by Sajnjl (السجنجل).

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hanaa Amer Saleh Tlaa al-Rawi
Child female Via Qaim city killed
Zaid Amer Saleh Tlaa al-Rawi
Child male Via Qaim city injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A picture of Zaid Amer al-Rawi, injured after alleged Coalition airstrikes on Karabla, Qaem on August 2, 2017 (via @NewsofIraq4)
  • A picture of Hanaa Amer Saleh Tlaa al-Rawi, killed following alleged Coalition airstrikes on Karabla, Qaem on August 2, 2017 (via @NewsofIraq4)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Karabla (الكرابلة), Qaem district (مدينة القائم), Anbar Governorate, for which the coordinates are: 34.37695, 41.05442. 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
    Open incident
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No strikes were reported in the vicinity for August 1st-2nd.

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI822

Incident date

August 4, 2017

Location

العباسية, Al Abbasiyah, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

34.27702, 43.80145 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to a local report, civilians were killed followed airstrikes on Salah ad Din Province.

Yaqein reported that a number of civilians were killed as a result of ongoing attacks by government forces and international coalition aircraft. The report also cited militias fighting in the area and said that indiscriminate and heavy shelling had killed dozens of civilians.

No additional details are presently known.

 

The incident occured around midnight.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Abbasiyah (العباسية), southwest Kirkuk governorate, for which the coordinates are: 34.27702, 43.80145

  • The village of Al-Abbasiyah (العباسية)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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 Abbasiyah, Salah al-Din, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 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

For August 3rd – 4th, the Coalition reported: “Near Kirkuk, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.” For August 4th – 5th, the Coalition reported: “Near Al Huwayjah, two strikes destroyed an ISIS-held building and an ISIS headquarters.”

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
    2
  • 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

CI823

Incident date

August 5, 2017

Location

الكرابلة, Al Karabila, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.36876, 41.07712 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the injury of one civilian in an event near Karabilah, Iraq.

Their December 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a Coalition strike which destroyed an ISIS vehicle, it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally injured.”

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

Airwars researchers could not find any locally reported claims of civilian harm in the area on this day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest town at 34.37695, 41.05442.      

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
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Karabilah, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU910050
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 2017

  • Aug. 5, 2017 near Karabilah, Iraq via self-report. During a Coalition strike which destroyed an ISIS vehicle it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally injured.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 4th-5th, the Coalition reported no strikes near the Al Qaim district.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI824

Incident date

August 6, 2017

Location

الشرقاط, Al Shirkat, Salah al-Din, Iraq

Geolocation

35.5045616, 43.2404709 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Yaqein report, 170 people including both ISIS fighters and civilians were killed as a result of airstrikes carried out by the Iraqi Air Force and possibly the Coalition. Al Yaqein also reported that a large number of civilian houses had been hit in strikes on al-Shirkat.

Alsumaria, citing a security source said that an Air Force raid killed 170 terrorists. Faceiraq.net also referred to all 170 as militants.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 170
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incidents mention the town of Al Shirqat (الشرقاط), Salah al-Din province, north of Tikrit province. The generic coordinates for this town are: 35.4779884, 43.2424879.   

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 Shirqat, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLE405274
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 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

For August 5th-6th, the Coalition reported: no strikes in the area.

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 – 170
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]