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
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Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
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Civilian deaths alleged
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Incident Code

CI162

Incident date

December 21, 2015

Location

حي الوحدة, Mosul, Wahida, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3290942, 43.1870842 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the second of three claimed incidents in Mosul on this date, it was reported that 17 civilians – including four women and five children – were killed in an alleged Coalition strike in the Wehda and Methak neighbourhoods east of Mosul.

However, there was some doubt regarding the incident, with NRN News reportedly denying that civilians had died.

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
    17
  • (5 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF373220
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • December 21, 2015, in Wahida, 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. 2873/CI162 38SLF373220

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reports that on December 21st-22nd 2015, “Near Mosul, seven strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL building, 12 ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL heavy machine gun, two ISIL vehicles, five ISIL bunkers, and destroyed seven ISIL assembly areas.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17
  • (5 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI194

Incident date

February 20, 2016

Location

عامرية الفلوجة, Ameriat al Fallujah, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.1706776, 43.8636875 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Ameriat Al Fallujah council complained that a mistaken strike by undefined aircraft had hit a civilian house in the village 17km south of Fallujah, which resulted in the death of one civilian and the injuring of 7 others.

According to Shaker Mahmoud, head of the council, the strike hit a house in the Heramat Amiriyah district. He also complained that “the region is controlled by Iraqi security forces and tribesmen.”

Responding to a request for clarification about possible involvement given declared UK strikes in the vicinity of Ramadi that day, the MoD told Airwars that “after extensive research, we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the alleged event at Ameriat al Fallujah.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A picture of a destroyed site by unidentified aircraft which led to killing one civilian and seven injured on February 20 strike near Fallujah (via Iraq News)
  • An image reveals the destruction that followed an unknown airstrike targeted a civilian house by mistake in Ameriat al Fallujah area south of Fallujah, which led the killing of one and caused an injury of seven people (via alsumaria.tv/news)

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

On February 19th-20th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Fallujah, one strike destroyed an ISIL anti-air artillery piece.”

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
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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

CI226

Incident date

April 16, 2016

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

Several local sources reported that a man was killed along with his wife and child in an airstrike on a vehicle in the Hadbah or officers’ neighbourhood of eastern Mosul.

A local tweet reported: “Martyrdom of Engineer Mustafa and his family by aerial bombing which targeted his car in the Hadbah neighbourhood in Mosul. Nothing was found of their bodies. They have never been connected with Daesh.”

In the third of their September 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 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.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Engineer Mustafa‘
Adult male (via @sonawa1) killed
The wife of Engineer Mustafa‘
Adult female (via @sonawa1) killed
The child of Engineer Mustafa
Age unknown (via @sonawa1) killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • 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
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF343230
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 14, 2020

  • Apr. 16, 2016, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. 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. 2941/CI226 38SLF343230

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reports that for April 16th-17th 2016: “Near Mosul, six strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, four ISIL assembly areas, and three ISIL vehicles.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • 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

CI258

Incident date

June 26, 2016

Location

الموصل‎, Near Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.32439, 43.10276 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 later admitted that it had injured one civilian near Mosul five months earlier.

Their November 2016 civilian casualty report noted: “June 26, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, during a strike against an ISIL target, it is assessed that one individual was injured after entering the target area after the aircraft released its weapon.”

The local news outlet, Rudaw, reported US-led Coalition strikes on Mosul on the same day though made no mention of civilian harm.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

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 (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 36.34585235, 43.09857692

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
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Previously unknown
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF297216
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 9, 2018

  • June 26, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, during a strike against an ISIL target, it is assessed that one individual was injured after entering the target area after the aircraft released its weapon.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Near Mosul, six strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL vehicles.

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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI290

Incident date

September 20, 2016

Location

الدواسة والحدباء والنبي شيت والجوسق وكراج الشمال, Mosul, Hadba and other neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3951712, 43.1503487 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to seven civilians were reported killed and 47 injured after the Coalition allegedly carried out dawn airstrikes on Mosul.

According to Yaqein, areas targeted included Ghazlani and Nabi Sheet. Citing a local source it said locals were quick to evacuate the injured to nearby hospitals and the dead bodies to the morgue. Mosul Eye gave the same casualty figures.

According to NRN News, the major raid targeted multiple sites across the city: International coalition aircraft bombed a headquarters of Daesh in the Nabi Sheet area in eastern Mosul, and bombed a house belonging to members of the organization in the Hadba neighbourhood to the north of Mosul. They also struck the traffic circle Directorate at the Faisaliah in the west of the city. Other strikes were reported in Al Muthanna, in the Baath and Arab neighbourhoods, and near the city’s Great Mosque. As well as killing at least 30 Daesh fighters, NRN said seven civilians “including women and children died.

An eyewitness in a video published by NRN (probably originating with Al A’Amaq) noted: When you see this bombing no one can blame Islamic State when they kill a spy with a bullet to his head. Innocent family members were killed by this bombing.

In their May 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
    3 – 7
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    47
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A video captures bloody aftermath of the alleged Coalition airstrikes on Mosul - at least seven civilians were reported killed and 47 injured (via NRN)

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
    38SLF341293
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2020

  • Sept. 20, 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. 3049/CI290 38SLF341293

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For September 20th-21st the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    47
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI322

Incident date

November 5, 2016

Location

حي الزهراء, Mosul, al-Zahra, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3834943, 43.2109451 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Nine civilians were killed in alleged coalition strikes in eastern Mosul, according to local reports.

Orient News cited an Iraqi security source and reported the killing of nine civilians in an air strike that hit two houses in the east of Mosul, and wrote that it was likely carried out by the Coalition.

Al Manar and News of Iraq also cited the same casualty figures, though Al Manar seemed to use the same source as Orient News. Nineveh MC did not assign blame and only referred to indiscriminate bombing.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • An image shows smoke rising from the scene of a reported Coalition strike (via orient news)

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 November 4th-5th, the Coalition reported “Near Mosul, nine strikes engaged five ISIL tactical units and four staging areas; destroyed five vehicles, three weapons caches, three mortar systems, a storage facility, a VBIED, and an ISIL-held building; and damaged an ISIL supply route, a bridge, and a tunnel.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • 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

CI355

Incident date

November 29, 2016

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, South, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.32504, 43.155519 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Sixteen civilians, including women and children, were killed in the alleged Coalition raid in the south of Mosul, according to a single source – Iraqi Spring Media Center.

Amsiraq published pictures of damaged buildings in south Iraq which it said had been caused by Coalition and government shelling. There was no mention of civilian casualties.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Images posted by the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (AMS) that shows the destructions caused by Coalition and government shelling (via AMS)

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
  • Aug 4, 2017

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For November 28th-29th, the Coalition reported ” Near Mosul, six strikes engaged four ISIL tactical units; destroyed five mortar systems, three ISILheld buildings, three vehicles, three VBIEDs, two front-end loaders, a VBIED factory, and a command and control node; suppressed three tactical units; and damaged five supply routes and two pieces of road construction equipment.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI389

Incident date

January 4, 2017

Location

17 تموز, Mosul, Talmuz/ July 17th, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3667014, 43.0854607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Press and local sources said that 16 displaced civilians were killed or injured, mostly children and women, after Coalition warplanes targeted their houses in 17 July neighbourhood, at the right side of Mosul. The Correspondences team spoke of 9 killed and several wounded in the alleged Coalition strikes. Other sources also reported coalition strikes in the neighbourhood. Almousel Now posted a video showing intensive bombing “by the international coalition of Daesh sites in Mosul”.

On March 4th the Coalition confirmed that it had killed civilians that day in Mosul in two incidents. An official later confirmed to Airwars that the following event referred to Tammuz/ July 17th neighbourhood: “Jan. 4, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: During a strike on ISIS fighters in a house it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally injured in the house.” However this report was subsequently withdrawn: “Jan. 4, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq: Number 4 on the March 4, 2017, CJTF-OIR press release reported that one civilian was unintentionally injured in a house. That was incorrect, it was assessed that the report of civilian casualties was non-credible.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Video showing intensive bombing, reportedly by the Coalition

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 January 3rd-4th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units; destroyed two mortars, a tactical vehicle, and two command and control nodes; damaged two supply routes, and suppressed nine mortar teams and an ISIL tactical unit.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]