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

CI040

Incident date

February 17, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, multiple neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3789337, 43.1850243 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to a single source, local eyewitness claimed one unnamed civilian was killed and five others were severely injured after the coalition allegedly bombed several areas in Makhmoor, south of Mosul

 

The incident was first reported on February 18, 2015 at 9:03 pm by Fursan al Malham.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention several neighbourhoods located in Mosul: al-Zohour (حي الزهور), coordinates: 36.3789337, 43.1850243; al-Bunook/al-Massaref (المصارف), coordinates: 36.383915, 43.175855; al-Muthanna (حي المثنى), coordinates: 36.3738889, 43.1718063; al-Tahrir (تحرير), coordinates: 36.389470, 43.202222. Reports do not identify which strike occured in which neighbourhood. This is most likely because al-Zohour, al-Massaref and al-Muthanna, are adjacent, covering a area of only 4 square km

  • al-Zohour ( حي الزهور ), al-Massaref ( المصارف ), al-Muthanna ( حي المثنى ), al-Tahrir ( تحرير )

    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 multiple neighborhoods in 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
Official source

No publicly reported coalition strikes for February 16th-18th 2015 match this location.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI039

Incident date

February 17, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Cultural area, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.375, 43.141667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to NINA, citing a security source, nine members of a family – including women and children – died after coalition warplanes “bombed a house at dawn in the Althaqafiyah residential complex area in the north of Mosul, suspected of being taking a den or a hideout by Daash terrorists.”

 

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the residential “Al-thaqafiyah complex (Cultural)” ( ثقافي ) area, North of Mosul. The incident would have occurred around “dawn,” which would be at approximately 6:30 local time. The location of the midpoint of the Cultural ( ثقافي ) area is: 36.375, 43.141667

  • Cultural ( ثقافي ) area, North Mosul

    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
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF333271
    Military Grid Reference System

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

For February 16th-17th 2015 the coalition has confirmed that “Near Mosul, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL mortar position and an ISIL fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI038

Incident date

February 8, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, 100km South of Mosul on ‘Road 1’, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.462108, 43.067723 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged coalition airstrike struck a vehicle on the road between Mosul and Baghdad, which was carrying Jordanian mosque janitor Ahmed Abdul Aqi [sometimes Baqi], his wife and daughter. All three died in the incident. The driver of the car Ahmed al Azzawi (pictured below) also died according to his family.

In a detailed report on the deaths, Alghad Press said that Aqi was making the trip because he was critically ill, and could not receive treatment in Islamic State-controlled hospitals. He had spent days getting the necessary ISIL permits to travel: “He was so poor that he had to sell some of his wife’s jewellery to pay for the trip by taxi.” The alleged airstrike on the vehicle was reported as occurring about 100km south of Mosul, near Kanu: “This was the third such incident in a week which had turned that only route out of the town into a dangerous trap for innocent civilians.“

The cousin of the driver later confirmed to Airwars by email that Ahmed al Azzawi had died, along with Aqi’s family, in what he described as an airstrike.

 

The incident was first reported on February 8, 2015 at 11:39 pm by Facebook commemoration page by @Mosul.ateka.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ahmed Abdul Aqi
Adult male Father killed
Wife of Ahmed Abdul Aqi
Adult female killed
Daughter of Ahmed Abdul Aqi
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmed al Azzawi
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child2 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Ahmed Abdul Aqi (via Google+ page)
  • Ahmed Al Azzawi, the driver of a car alleged to have been struck by a coalition aircraft (family photos via Facebook)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle travelling from Mosul to Baghdad, at approximately “100 km South of Mosul.” Coordinates for 100 km South of Mosul on ‘Road 1’ (the main route between Mosul and Baghdad) are: 35.462108, 43.067723

  • Map showing ‘Road 1’ between Mosul and Baghdad, with a 100 km radius marked in red.

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

  • Point coordinates taken, West of Al Shirqat ( الشرقاط‎ )

    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
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLE246260
    Military Grid Reference System

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

No public report from CJTF-OIR for February 7th-9th appears to match this incident.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child2 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI036

Incident date

February 3, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Kisik Junction, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An internal post-strike review for CENTCOM of full-motion video revealed a “possible child entering a targeted bunker and then disappearing out of the field of view (FOV) approximately 19 minutes before Strike.”

The dynamic strike, conducted by a French Mirage 2000 using a Bu-49 bomb, killed an estimated five enemy fighters.

Claims that a child had died were deemed “not credible” by military intelligence officers, who decided “that individuals struck were fighters.“

Airwars researchers could find no reference to a child fatality for this date, although reports did note an intensification of Coalition strikes on the city.

In July 2017 the Coalition said that based on available evidence, it had classed the event as non credible. It has also referenced Airwars not having found any other reporting of civilian casualties other than the internal CENTCOM document: “Feb. 3, 2015, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ 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 evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

  • CFACC observed a possible child entering a targeted bunker and then disappearing out of the field of view approximately 19 min before the strike. CJTF-OIR conducted a dynamic strike on the targeted bunker by Rage 43 (M-2000 FRA) using BU-49 resulting in 5 EKIA. Not credible. INT reflections that individuals struck were fighters

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI035

Incident date

January 28, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Centre, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.339375, 43.130993

Airwars assessment

Citing a police source in the city, NINA claimed that nine civilians were killed and seven injured in an international coalition airstrike: “The source said that ‘the international coalition targeted the homes of civilians which resulted in the killing and injuring of dozens of civilians’… He pointed out that ‘the bodies of the martyrs arrived at the forensic medicine in Mosul and the injured were taken to hospital for treatment.‘”

In July 2017, the Coalition announced that it had classed the event as non credible as a result of a lack of available evidence of civilian harm: “Jan. 28, 2015, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (1 child3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    a:1:{i:0;s:21:"insufficient_evidence";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

According to the coalition, between January 27th-28th 2015: “Near Mosul, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL checkpoint, six ISIL shipping containers, and four ISIL fighting positions.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (1 child3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI034

Incident date

January 26, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, South, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.123785, 41.297725 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad reported two alleged Coalition airstrikes, killing five and injuring two civilians called Mohammed Mohammed Ahmed and Ebtehalf Mohammed Yosef.

The first attack took place at 7.40 AM local time on the highway close to the town of Umm al-Dheban at that time. The second airstrike was at 8.40 AM local time on the highway close to the town of Umm Jereis. Jannie Schipper, a Dutch journalist who first broke the story, provided Airwars with details of the location and photo imagery.

The people were moving in a row of taxis from Mosul to Baghdad to flee from ISIS on 26 January 2015. Mr. Ahmed was with his mother in the first taxi and Mrs Yosef was with her husband and another couple in the second taxi. Around 7.40 AM the first taxi of the row was hit during an airstrike. Mr. Ahmed was wounded as a result. His mother and the driver did not survive the attack. After the airstrike the persons present in the second taxi provided first aid to the victims of the first taxi and they have ensured that the victims were taken to a medical facility in ISIS-held area by cars coming towards them. After the row of taxis had continued its journey, it was again hit around 8.40 by an airstrike. This time the second taxi was hit. Mrs Yosef was severely wounded as a result of this bombing. Her husband and the other couple have not survived the airstrike.

Mr. Ahmed and Mrs Yosef are presently being represented by Dutch lawyer Liesbeth Zegveld, who specializes in human rights liability.

 

The incident occured between 7:40 am and 8:40 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Mohammed Ahmed
Adult male injured
Ebtehalf Mohammed Yosef
Adult female injured

Summary

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

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention that two alleged Coalition airstrikes hit a convoy of taxis traveling towards Baghdad, carrying civilians fleeing fighting in Mosul. The location of the first airstrike, at around 07:40 local time, was on the Al Dhiban – Al Qaim Road, “close to the town of Umm al-Dhiban”. Approximate location (provided by eyewitness): 36.123785, 41.297725 The second airstrike hit at around 08:40 local time on the Al Dhiban – Al Qaim Road, “close to the town of Umm Jereis” ( ام جريس ). Approximate location (provided by eyewitness): 35.862952, 41.383814

  • Location of the first strike near Umm al-Dhiban (قرية أم جريص)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Wikimapia

  • Location of the second strike near Umm Jereis (ام جريس)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Wikimapia

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-Dheban Road, Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SGA067001
    Military Grid Reference System

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

According to the Coalition, between January 25th-26th 2015: “Near Mosul, four airstrikes [1 Canadian] struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL bunkers, two ISIL vehicles, and an ISIL armored vehicle.”

Summary

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

Incident Code

CI033

Incident date

January 24, 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

The previously-secret CENTCOM file also noted reports by redacted “prominent anti-ISIL Twitter users” that “civilians are being killed in the bombardment.”

With so few details to go on, CENTCOM concluded that there was “insufficient evidence to determine date and time of any specific allegation.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • 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:24:"insufficient_information";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015

  • ISIL promoters claimed bombardment of Mosul was bringing about CIVCAS. Insufficient evidence to determine date and time of any specific allegation.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

COALITION-ASSESSED CASUALTY INCIDENT

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI032

Incident date

January 23, 2015

Location

الرمادي, Ramadi, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

An internal CENTCOM report cited a Tweet on January 23rd as claiming that 6 members of one family had been killed in a Coalition strike in Anbar province.

The identity of the tweeter was redacted in a publicly-released version of the file, though they were described as “Pro-ISIL… reported coalition airstrikes killed 6 family members in the area of At Tash in Ar Ramadi on an unspecified date.”

Two coalition airstrikes numbered 1917 and 1921 were identified as possible culprits.

However it was then noted that it was “Impossible to correlate two strikes above with allegation.” It was subsequently decided the claim was “Not credible. No further inquiry required.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • 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
    At Tash, Ar Ramadi, Iraq.
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015

  • Twitter. Not credible.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

COALITION-ASSESSED CASUALTY INCIDENT

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]