US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

Belligerent
US-led Coalition
Country
Iraq
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

CI755

Incident date

June 10, 2017

Location

البورصة, Mosul, Borsa, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.345515, 43.116425 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that 18 civilians from four named families – mostly children and women – died under the rubble. An airstrike reportedly hit their homes in the Borsa area in the centre of Mosul. It is presently unclear who was responsible for the airstrikes.

Sawlf Ateka, a local Facebook page, launched an appeal to save the families from under the rubble. It said that those affected were the families of Khalis Ahmad Hamed Abaji and his brother Dr. Banyan Ahmad Hamed Abaji. They used to be the owners of Al Hadba analytical laboratories. The destroyed homes were located near the Bursa area, close to the Central Preparatory School and Fawaz Library. Sawlf Ateka said that as many as twenty civilians were under the rubble.

Other sources also said that the house near Borsa Street, opposite the school, was bombed. Iraqyoon Agency said that 18 members of four families were killed – the families of Dr. Banyan Abaji, the family of his brother (as mentioned above), as well as the families of his sister-in-law and his neighbour. And the local Syndicate of Pharmacists reported the deaths of “Dr. Anfal Karim Ismael Al-Hamdani and her family.” All of the bodies were later recovered.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Khalis Ahmad Hamed Abaji
Adult male Owners of Al Hadba analytical laboratories killed
Dr. Banyan Ahmad Hamed Abaji
Child male Owners of Al Hadba analytical laboratories killed

The victims were named as:

Dr. Anfal Karim Ismael Al-Hamdani
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21 – 23
  • (5 children5 women2 men)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Images of the aftermath of the attack
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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3049624335
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 1, 2017
  • The report contained insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 9th-10th the Coalition publicly reported: “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven fighting positions, three ISIS-held buildings, a command and control node, a VBIED, and a VBIED staging area; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit and a mortar system.”

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21 – 23
  • (5 children5 women2 men)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI789

Incident date

June 27, 2017

Location

الموصل: غرب, Mosul, West, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.336843, 43.117979 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several local sources reported that a family of five was killed and one of the sons – a 4-year-old boy – severely injured after alleged Coalition airstrikes on their house in West Mosul (exact location presently unknown).

Iraqi Spring Media Center quoted MP Riabar Taha of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), who reported the same information.

Both sources said that the international Coalition was responsible. A senior Coalition official informed Airwars on July 5th that “It is primarily Coalition aircraft conducting AIR strikes in Mosul. It has been a number of weeks since the Iraqis flew there.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (2) [ 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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 22, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 26th-27th the Coalition publicly reported: “On June 26, near Mosul, Iraq, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position, a medium machine gun, a rocket-propelled grenade system and an ISIS headquarters.” It additionally reported that “On June 26, near Mosul, Iraq, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position, a medium machine gun, a rocket-propelled grenade system and an ISIS headquarters.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

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)

Child female Via Qaim city killed
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

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

CI853

Incident date

September 24, 2017

Location

بطمة, Al Butma near Huwaija, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.503101, 43.888521 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported airstrikes in Huwaija south of Kirkuk province, during an Iraqi assault to capture the city from ISIS.

Yagein alleged the US-led Coalition was responsible and cited dead and wounded following the raids. Alzab made a plea to ISF: We hope the security forces ascertain the proper coordinates of their goals in order to protect the safety of innocents after a bomb reportedly struck the family home of Hussain Ali al-Jawamir in the village of Al-Butma in the areas of al-Jabr district Hawija. Alzab did not provide additional information on civilian casualties.

Moreover, in Hawija, 48 terrorists were alleged killed according to a Shafaaq news report, with the US-led Coalition again considered responsible. The air raids reportedly destroyed a Daesh headquarter in Huwaija and warehouses.

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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Butma (بطمة), near Hawija (الحویجه) in the south of Kirkuk governorate. The coordinates for this village are: 35.5031010, 43.8885210.

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 Batmah, Hawijah, Iraq
    Nearest population center

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

For September 23rd-24th the Coalition reported: “Near Huwijah, 10 strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and destroyed 18 VBIEDs, 12 vehicles, five fighting positions, six weapons caches, three heavy machine guns, three VBIED factories, two tunnel entrances, an IED storage facility, a command and control node, an ISIS trailer, and an ISIS oil storage tank, a mortar system, a tactical vehicle, a recoilless rifle; and suppressed two ISIS tactical units and two mortar teams.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI877a

Incident date

March 10, 2019

Location

near Qayyarah-West Airfield, Iraq, Qayyarah, Iraq

Geolocation

35.74559, 43.1553 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an event previously not tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the injury of one civilian in an event near Qayyarah-West Airfield, Iraq. The Pentagon later confirmed this as a US action.

In its May 2019 civilian casualty report, the Coalition noted: “Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally injured by Coalition small arms fire.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box. Airwars researchers could not find any reported claims of civilian harm in the area on this day.

In May 2020, in its annual civilian harm report to Congress, the Department of Defense declared this to be a US action.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • 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
  • Known target
    ISIS

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Table of US-only civilian harm events in Iraq and Syria for 2019, declared by the Pentagon to Congress in May 2020.

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
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Qayyarah-West Airfield, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLE332573
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2019
  • Mar. 10, 2019, near Qayyarah-West Airfield, Iraq, via media-report. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally injured by Coalition small arms fire.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Between March 10 - 23, 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted 250 strikes consisting of 398 engagements against Daesh
targets in Syria and Iraq.
In Iraq, CJTF-OIR conducted 57 strikes consisting of 60 engagements, engaged 44 Daesh tactical units, and
destroyed 14 supply routes, three buildings, two fighting position, one weapons cache, and one cave.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • 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
  • Known target
    ISIS

Incident Code

CI031

Incident date

January 22, 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

An internal CENTCOM report cited a Tweet by an Iraqi “self proclaimed freelance journalist” (identified as Mr Zyad al-Senjary) who had posted a photograph of “a partially-destroyed house and claimed 2 children were killed and several Iraqis injured in a UAV [drone] strike.”

An initial CENTCOM inquiry identified 32 total Coalition engagements in Nineveh for January 21st-22nd: “Initial assessment is that only 2 strikes possible for this allegation (one was engaged by UAV; both had UAV coverage.” These were listed as airstrike numbers 1980 and 1990.

Despite this apparent link to Mr al-Senjary’s allegations, the Coalition swiftly deemed his report “Not credible. No further inquiry required.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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
    a:1:{i:0;s:5:"other";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    Ninawa ProviNe, Iraq.
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015
  • Not credible. No matching strikes.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

COALITION-ASSESSED CASUALTY INCIDENT

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI063

Incident date

April 21, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, East, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3672543, 43.1793594 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A claimed coalition airstrike on the centre of Mosul killed up to 23 militants and five or more non-combatants according to reports, after four homes were destroyed.

NINA cited a medical source as saying that 23 civilians died when aircraft struck the Mdaana neighbourhood – though this appears to be a mis-cite of other casualties (see below).

NRT-TV was more conservative, reporting that “The forensic medicine department in Mosul received the bodies of the martyrs of nine civilians, including four women and a child following [coalition] aerial bombardment on the areas of Al Sukkar, Al Sadiq and Al Muthanna east of Mosul. At the same time Mosul’s hospitals received 12 wounded, including an elderly woman and six children.”

Iraqi News placed the death toll at 5 non-combatants, adding that 23 “Daesh militants” had also died: “A medical source told the Iraqi News Agency, that the forensic medical department received 23 bodies of killed members of IS killed in a coalition raid targeting the power station in Adan neighborhood east of Mosul, explaining that the station was used by IS as a headquarters.

 

The incident was first reported on April 21, 2015 at 10:50 am by Iraqi News Agency.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (1 child4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhoods of Sukkar ( حي السكر ), Saddiq ( حي الصديق ) and Muthana ( حي المثنى ) in East Mosul. One report alleged the airstrike targeted the “power station in Aden neighborhood ( حي عدن ),” also located in East Mosul. The coordinates for the midpoint of East Mosul are: 36.3672543, 43.1793594

  • East Mosul, showing Sukkar ( حي السكر ), Saddiq ( حي الصديق ), Muthana ( حي المثنى ) and Aden ( عدن )

    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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, 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

Actions were reported in the vicinity for April 20th-21st: “Near Mosul, four airstrikes struck an ISIL staging area, an ISIL IED factory and multiple ISIL fighting positions.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (1 child4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI128

Incident date

October 18, 2015

Location

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that members of a family were killed or injured, after Coalition aircraft reportedly struck three civilian cars near the city of Hawijah. The victims were said to be travelling to Hawijah to pick up their state pensions.

According to NRN, “the international coalition may have believed that those cars were linked to Daesh based on intelligence. It turns out they were incorrect.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

    • Facebook
    • English
    • Facebook
    • English

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

No Coalition strikes were publicly reported in the vicinity of Hawijah for October 17th-19th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

    • Facebook
    • English
    • Facebook
    • English