Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

CS631

Incident date

March 28, 2017

Location

مضر, Mudar, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Airwars assessment

Almanar, Syrialive54 and Sy_reporter claimed that Coalition jets killed eight civilians and wounded “many more” in an airstrike on Mudar.

Other sources also put the death toll at eight, but didn’t identify the warplanes responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ 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 Mudar, Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 27, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 27th-28th, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqa, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; and destroyed eight barges, a vehicle, a front-end loader, and a truck and trailer.”
For March 28th-29th, the Coalition reported: "Near Ar Raqqah, one strike destroyed an ISIS pump jack.

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

"Monday 27 March – Typhoons supported operations in Mosul, while Tornados eliminated a mortar team in eastern Syria…Armed reconnaissance missions continued over the weekend, gathering intelligence on Daesh positions in Syria and Iraq. On Monday 27 March, Typhoons again patrolled over Mosul, and used one Paveway IV against a building from which Daesh fighters were continuing to engage Iraqi forces. Over eastern Syria, two Tornados attacked a building in a remote area south of Hasakah, from which a Daesh mortar team was operating against Syrian Democratic Forces."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS720

Incident date

April 23, 2017

Location

الحي الثاني, Tabaqa, Second Neighbourhood, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.846667, 38.543889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and eight civilians died including up to five children in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Tabaqa’s Al Thani neighbourhood, according to local media.

Smart News reported that a likely Coalition airstrike “targeted a house near the public park in the Second neighbourhood, killing a man, his wife and child. They also carried out raids on the roundabout of Al-Alam and the Third district, in addition to shelling the village of Ayed al-Saghir west of the city.”

Step News reported Coalition strikes in Tabaqa but made no initial mention of civilian casualties. It later reported that “a number” of people had died and were injured as the result of “Coalition aircraft and artillery”.

According to Syria Mirror, three civilians including one child died in a Coalition raid. Other sources also reported Coalition strikes in Tabaqa, though didn’t specify exact locations.

The incident was first reported on April 23, 2017 at 10:35 am by Alalam.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (1–5 children)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Smart News reported that a likely Coalition airstrike “targeted a house near the public park in the Second neighbourhood” The coordinates for Al Thani neighbourhood (الحي الثاني) are 35.846667, 38.543889. Satellite imagery shows visible structural damage to residential buildings on the perimeter of Wahdah Public Park, between 23 Mar – 17 June 2017 (marked with a black cross). This is a possible location for the civilian casualty incident, however, due to the limited satellite imagery available to Airwars the analysis is inconclusive. During the 86 day period between available images, widespread destruction is visible elsewhere in Al Thani, making it is impossible to isolate the event.

  • Before. The boundary of Al Thani neighbourhood ( الحي الثاني ) in red, with parkland marked in blue. The coordinates for the destroyed residential area are marked with a black cross.

    Date taken:
    March 23, 2019

  • After. The boundary of Al Thani neighbourhood ( الحي الثاني ) in red, with parkland marked in blue. The coordinates for the destroyed residential area are marked with a black cross.

    Date taken:
    June 17, 2017

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 Al Thani, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 22nd-23rd, the Coalition reported: “Near Tabqah, eight strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed five fighting positions and two IEDs.”

For April 23rd-24th, the Coalition reported: “Near Tabqah, 12 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 12 fighting positions, one tactical vehicle, one ISIS vehicle, one heavy machine gun, and a command and control node.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Sunday 23 April – Typhoons destroyed an armed truck south-west of Tabqah in Syria, while Tornados bombed a Daesh position in western Mosul…On Sunday 23 April, Typhoons assisted the SDF, destroying an armed truck near Tabqah, west of Raqqa. In western Mosul, a Daesh-held building was struck by a Paveway IV, released by a Tornado flight, after Iraqi troops came under fire from the building.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (1–5 children)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS102

Incident date

October 30, 2015

Location

مَعَرَّة النُّعْمَان, Maarat al Numan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.647038, 36.679174 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between seven and eight civilians including three children were killed in what were reported by most as four Russian airstrikes on the town of Maarat al Numan. However a local activist group and the Homs Meda Network attributed the attack to the Assad regime.

The dead were later named by Violations Documentation Center.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male teacher killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Child male killed
Child female killed
Child male killed
An eighth unnamed victim
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (3 children4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Abdulwahab Yousef Al-Bar (via VDC)
  • Riad Mohammed Bakeer (via VDC)
  • translation: the massacre of Ma’arat Al nu’man following 4 raids by Assad’s warplanes targeting the town this morning. (via Maarat_Alnoaman)
  • Translation: Just in: Number of victims rises to 8 following the targeting of regime warplanes yesterday of the town of Ma’arat al nu’man in Idlib countryside. (N_workMediaHoms)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

The Russian MoD issued no report for the period October 28th-30th 2015. A monthly summary was issued on the evening of October 30th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (3 children4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC187a

Incident date

August 31, 2019

Location

مرزق, Murzuq, Libya

Geolocation

25.919023, 13.923895 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and eight civilians were allegedly killed in an LNA airstrike on Murzuq.

The Libya Observer reported: “The member of Murzuq municipality Mohammed Omar said a warplane for Khalifa Haftar’s forces struck Saturday afternoon Murzuq in southern Libya twice.

Omar told the German news agency that between six and eight people had been killed in airstrikes on eastern part of the town – Anti-Desertification Project – near the meteorology building where many houses are located.”

There is currently no more information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Murzuq (مرزق), for which the generic coordinates are: 25.919023, 13.923895. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1247

Incident date

July 21, 2017

Location

قصر البنات, Ar Raqqah: Qasr Al Banat (palace), Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.94803, 39.02605 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Baladi reported that eight civilians including three children and their parents were killed in artillery shelling by the “Quds militia” which reportedly targeted their homes in Qaser Al-Banat.

Airwars understand that only the Coalition is using artillery in Raqqa.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (3 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    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

For July 21st-22nd: “Near Raqqah, five strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units, destroyed three fighting positions and an anti-air artillery system, and damaged a supply route.” It additionally reported that “On July 21, near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions.” And that “On July 21, near Raqqah, one strike destroyed 14 fighting positions and suppressed a mortar team.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

In the last week (20th-27th) France reports carrying out two strikes in Raqqah, destroying two ISIL combat positions. Task Force (TF) Wagram carried out 21 artillery strikes in Mosul. The overall record of air activity since September 19th 2014 amounts to 1,324 strikes, 2,092 targets destroyed and 6,857 sorties.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, Dans la ville de Raqqah, Daech continue de perdre du terrain, jour après jour, face aux Forces Démocratiques Syriennes. Les combattants terroristes continuent néanmoins de disposer de solides positions défensives dans le cœur de la ville, à partir desquelles ils mènent des contre-attaques régulières et des actions de harcèlement. En Irak, Les forces de sécurités irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations de sécurisation de la ville de Mossoul, face à des équipes isolées de combattants qui continuent de mener des actions symboliques de harcèlement. Dans le même temps, Daech consolide ses positions autour de Tal Afar, pour tenter de résister à l’offensive prochaine de la Coalition pour libérer aussi cette ville. Daech poursuit par ailleurs ses actions de diversion et de harcèlement, en se concentrant dans les régions de l’Anbar et d’Hawijah. Certaines actions ont également été menées cette semaine dans l’Ouest de l’Irak, dans la région de Rutbah. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 45 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 04 missions de recueil de renseignement et 06 de ravitaillement en vol. Un C135-FR récemment déployé a en effet réalisé de nombreuses missions en quelques jours à peine, soutenant ainsi, à son niveau, la bascule des efforts de la Coalition vers les autres bastions de Daech. Deux frappes ont été menées dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah, détruisant deux positions de combattants ennemies, au contact des troupes alliées engagées. De ces positions, des tireurs de Daech tenaient sous leur feu les soldats alliés à une centaine de mètres à peine. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a réalisé 21 missions de tir dont 07 de harcèlement et 14 d’éclairement. Ces missions interdisent une offensive de contre des terroristes vers Mossoul. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève à 1 324 frappes, 2 092 objectifs détruits et 6 857 sorties. Le bilan global de l’activité artillerie atteint 1 331 missions.’

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Friday 21 July – Tornados destroyed an observation and sniper post in Raqqa, whilst Tornados and Typhoons hit an anti-aircraft machine gun in the west of Iraq, and an armed truck in the north…Update: air strikes against Daesh – GOV.UK On Friday 21 July, a pair of Tornados bombed the top of a grain silo in Raqqa, where a group of Daesh were stationed in a combined observation and sniper post. In western Iraq, a mixed Tornado and Typhoon pair used a Brimstone missile to eliminate an anti-aircraft machine gun that was concealed under cover, south-east of Rawah. Our aircraft then flew north-east to an area south of Qayyarah, where a coalition surveillance aircraft was keeping watch on a truck armed with a recoilless anti-tank gun. This was destroyed using a Brimstone.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (3 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1418

Incident date

August 25, 2017

Location

The National Hospital, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.949994, 39.003815 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Sources initially reported three people were killed following alleged US-led Coalition air strikes on The National (Al Watani) Hospital in Raqqa. Subsequent reports identified nine victims.

Mohammad Jom’a al Taha (b. 1951), an agricultural engineer, and two of his sons, were killed in the offensive. According to sources the family was displaced people from Deir Ezzor Governorate. Syrianpc referred to the use of “artillery shelling” by the International Coalition, as did multiple other local media sources. The majority of sources hold the US-led Coalition responsible for the attack or cited the use of artillery. Airwars understands that only the Coalition have access to artillery in Raqqa.

The Al-Subeeh family were also listed as killed in the attack on Raqqa city, however, sources did not specify whether they were also near The National (Al Watani) Hospital. The victims of the family were named by sources.

See also CS1416

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ammar Hussein Al-Subeeh
Adult male killed
His wife Khadija Ayoub Al-Abd
Adult female killed

Family members (3)

Bdour Ammar Al Subeeh
Age unknown killed
Dalal Ammar Al Subeeh
Age unknown killed
Hala Ammar Al Subeeh
Age unknown killed

Family members (3)

Mohammed Juma al-Tah
Adult male born 1951 killed
Osama Jom’a al Taha
Child male killed
Abdullah Mohammed Jumah al-Taha
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (2 children1 woman2 men)
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Mohammed Juma al-Tah, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the national hospital in Raqqa, 25th August 2017. (via Oqba Matar Matar)
  • Son of Mohammed Juma al-Tah, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the national hospital in Raqqa, 25th August 2017. (via Oqba Matar Matar)
  • Son of Mohammed Juma al-Tah, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the national hospital in Raqqa, 25th August 2017. (via Oqba Matar Matar)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident refer to the National Hospital, for which the coordinates are: 35.949994, 39.003815. Syrian Network for Human Rights report mentioned “February 23 Street”, which is 500 m from the hospital compound.

  • The National Hospital and February 23 Street, three blocks (500 m) from the hospital.

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Duplicate
    Assessed to be a duplicate of another report that has already been assessed.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 25th-26th the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, 24 strikes engaged 15 ISIS tactical units; destroyed 20 fighting positions, two logistics nodes, two command and control nodes, a VBIED, an ISIS UAS, a vehicle, and an ISIS headquarters; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.” It was additionally reported that “On Aug. 25, near Raqqah, Syria, 31 strikes engaged 18 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 11 fighting positions, two command and control nodes, five vehicles, and three heavy machine guns.” And that “On Aug. 25, near Raqqah, Syria, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed a command and control node and two fighting positions.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Friday 25 August – Typhoons and Tornados attacked three terrorist positions in Raqqa, and three in Tal Afar…A mixed Typhoon and Tornado pair delivered three further Paveway attacks in Tal Afar on Friday 25 August, hitting two mortar teams and a Daesh-held building. Over Raqqa, our aircraft continued to support the Syrian Democratic Forces, and used Paveway IVs against two sniper positions and another terrorist strongpoint. The focus for RAF missions remained on Raqqa over the weekend.’

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • For Aug 23rd-29th, France report 8 strikes in Iraq and 11 strikes in Syria, plus 46 artillery missions in Tal Afar, Iraq.(@EtatMajorFR)

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (2 children1 woman2 men)
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS949

Incident date

June 27, 2016

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Surgical Hospital, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that two airstrikes hit the hospital in al-Bab city, causing the death of up to eight civilians, including two children and wounding up to 20 more. Included in the death count were up to five medics and two bodyguards. Sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

Baladi News received reports from two medical staff who told the source that the air raid caused “The martyrdom of eight civilians, including a baby girl and injury of 20 others”.

Likewise, the Free Syrian Army reported that: “Heavy shelling targeted the hospital wounding four of the medical cadre and the martyrdom of two bodyguards of the patients in the hospital. Additionally, a baby girl who was in an incubator died because her oxygen supply was cut off by the bombing”.

The culprit was contested. Syria News Desk attributed the strike to the Syrian regime, putting the death toll at five, including a doctor. It added that ten others, including five of the medical staff, were wounded.

Four other sources – Syrian Network for Human Rights, Halab News Network, Step Agency Bews and Jsirtv – reported that the airstrikes were carried out by Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 8
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Civilians pulled from the rubble in al-Bab following suspected airstrikes (Tweet by @jisirtv)

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia has not reported any strikes between June 1st – 31st 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 8
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Syrian Regime

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI148

Incident date

December 1, 2015

Location

القيارة, Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.7977836, 43.2935143 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple civilian casualties were claimed in Qayyarah after the Coalition was accused of bombing civilian houses in the town.

Face Iraq reported that seven children and an elderly woman died in the event, which it said destroyed six houses in the vicinity of the Khader mosque (which some sources said had also been destroyed). Three images were also published showing the damage.

Shafaaq also said the incident was a Coalition strike – but that ten civilians from the same family were injured rather than killed.

Local MP Ahmed al-Jubouri later condemened the attack, saying the Coalition had carried out the strike “without any coordination either with the Iraqi central government, local government, or the Mosul operational command.

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
    0 – 8
  • (0–7 children0–1 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Six houses were destroyed in an alleged Coalition strike at Qayyarah, Iraq on December 1st (via Face Iraq)

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
    38SLE458629
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020
  • December 1, 2015, in Qayyarah, 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. 2863/CI148 38SLE458629

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

No Coalition strikes were publicly reported in the vicinity of Qayyarah for either November 30th-December 1st or December 1st-2nd 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 8
  • (0–7 children0–1 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]