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

CI872

Incident date

October 26, 2017

Location

Al Qaim (Romana area), Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.39381, 41.07954 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Sources reported the deaths of 22 civilians and dozens of wounded as a result of an airstrike on the Romana area in Al Qaim. Local media outlets Yaqein and Dhiqar also reported the bombing. Both quoted a military source confirming the airstrike.

However, Yaqein, as well as Dhiqar, mentioned both the Coalition and the Iraqi air force as the culprit.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    22
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • An image shows the shelling of the Al Qaim, Romana area, Anbar (via Yaqein)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Romana (منطقة الرمانة), Qaim, west of the province of Anbar. The generic coordinates for the town of Romana (منطقة الرمانة) are: 34.39381, 41.07954. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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 Qaeim, 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 October 25th-26th the Coalition reported: “Near Al Qaim, six strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and an ISIS staging area and destroyed 10 supply routes, a VBIED facility, an ISIS vehicle and a command and control node.”

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
    22
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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]