US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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

Incident Code

CS665

Incident date

April 6, 2017

Location

حويجة السواقي, Howeija Al Sawaki, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.8826525, 39.1066933

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, five civilians including a woman and a child died when the boat they were in near the town of Howeija al-Suwaki was struck.

A report by Glasswire cited Raqqa24 and RaqqaSL which blamed the Coalition. However, it also reported that “a spokesperson for the US-led coalition told Grasswire that it ‘does not appear to have conducted any strikes on watercraft near Raqqah between 2-6 April,’ and that this incident has been referred to its civilian casualty team for assessment.”

According to Glasswire, “local activists said on April 6th that an overnight US-led coalition airstrike on a boat near Raqqa, Syria causing civilian casualties. Raqqa SL said on Twitter that coalition strikes targeted a boat crossing the Euphrates river in the early hours of the morning.”

Glasswire also said that around March 17th, the coalition had dropped leaflets on Raqqa warning people not to use boats. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported thatr “a missile believed to be of a land-to-land type landed on the Hawija al-Swaqi area, causing material damage, and injured a man and a woman.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Leaflets warning people not to use river boats, reportedly dropped by the Coalition in April 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Howeija Al Sawaki, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 2017
  • 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. (1290)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 5th-6th, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes destroyed an ISIS vehicle.”
For April 6th-7th, the Coalition reported: "Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; and destroyed four fighting positions and a tactical vehicle."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS666

Incident date

April 6, 2017

Location

near al Hassakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.

Incident Code

CS667

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

رابعة, Rabi'a, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9714769, 38.9187241 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Smart reported that a “likely” Coalition raid on Rabia mosque killed “the servant of the mosque [the imam] and his seven-year-old son,” saying that ISIL cancelled Friday prayers in the village following the deaths.

No further details are currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Rabi’a, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 2017
  • 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. (1293)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 6th-7th, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; and destroyed four fighting positions and a tactical vehicle.”
For April 7th-8th, the Coalition did not report any airstrikes near Ar Raqqah.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS668

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

حمرة غانم, Hamra Ghanem, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9375, 39.144167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and seven civilians – five from the same family including one or two women and three children – died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Hamra Ghanem, according to local sources.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported the death of five civilians in a Coalition strike on “the house of Bashir Yusuf Sultan in the village of Hamra Ghanem”.

Smart put the death toll at seven with ten others wounded. JisirTv reported: “Coalition warplanes committed a massacre killing a family of five: mother father and their three children after targeting their house in Hamra Ghanem in the northern countryside of Raqqa. Others were wounded. The main reason for these massacres is that SDF gives the wrong coordinations to the coalition.”

In July 2019 the Coalition announced that it had assessed this allegation of civilian harm to be non-credible. Their monthly civilian casualty report noted “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 (6)

Moaied Bashir Yusuf Sultan
killed
Hassan Bashir Yusuf Sultan
killed
Tharaa Bashir Yusuf Sultan
killed
Ahmed Bashir Yusuf Sultan
killed
The wife of Ahmed Bashir Yusuf Sultan
Adult female injured
Wife of Hassan al – Bashir
Adult female injured

The victims were named as:

Khadija Sheikh Issa
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (3 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–10
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The house of Bashir Yusuf Sultan, Hamra Ghanem, where five family members died in a reported Coalition strike April 7th 2017 (via Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
  • The house of Bashir Yusuf Sultan, Hamra Ghanem, where five family members died in a reported Coalition strike April 7th 2017 (via Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
  • The house of Bashir Yusuf Sultan, Hamra Ghanem, where five family members died in a reported Coalition strike April 7th 2017 (via Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
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
    Other
  • Stated location
    in Hamra Ghanem, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV130770
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2019
  • Apr. 7, 2017, in Hamra Ghanem, Syria, 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.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 6th-7th, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; and destroyed four fighting positions and a tactical vehicle.”
For April 7th-8th, the Coalition did not report any airstrikes near Ar Raqqah.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (3 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–10
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS669

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

رطلة, Ratlah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.882222, 39.048611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Smart News Agency reported the death of three civilians inlcuding two children and the injury of four more in an alleged Coalition strike on Rata.

Other sources put the death toll at four including two children, though they did not identify who was responsible for the “raids”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (13) [ 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 Ratlah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 2017
  • 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. (1294)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 6th-7th, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; and destroyed four fighting positions and a tactical vehicle.”
For April 7th-8th, the Coalition did not report on any airstrikes near Ar Raqqah.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS670

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

هنيدة, Hunaida, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.83234, 38.69938 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 21 civilians died and dozens more were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on an internet cafe in Huneida, according to multiple local media.

All sources pointed towards the Coalition. Death counts varied but were in the range of 12-15 or more, with Almadenah putting the figure as high as 17. @infoctma said that “US Coalition planes” were responsible.

The Violations Documentation Center named 15 victims from Sukhna in Homs killed in an alleged Coalition strike on an internet cafe in Hunaida. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently named additional additional victims.

In its June report the Coalition denied responsibility: “24. April 7, 2017, near Hunaydah, Syria, via social media: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”

No other parties have been suggested as responsible for this action – and Airwars presently continues to determine this to be a likely Coalition event, though is seeking additional information.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Abdulbaset Mouhammad
Adult male killed
Ahmad Ibraheem Mouhammad
Adult male killed
Son of Ibraheem Mouhammad
Adult male killed
Son of Abd Mouhammad
Adult male killed

Family members (4)

Fawaz Mheimid al-Aani
Adult male killed
Hamoud Mheimid al-Aani
Adult male killed
Son of Mouhammad al-Aani 1
Adult male killed
Son of Mouhammad al-Aani 2
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Son of Abdulrazak al-Share’a 1
Adult male killed
Son of Abdulrazak al-Share’a 2
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Hussein Aboud Shara
Child male killed
Osman Aboud Shara
Child male killed

Family members (3)

Ali Mohammed Sheikh
Adult male killed
Wife of Ali Mohammed Sheikh
Adult male killed
Son of Ali Mohammed Sheikh
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Majd al-Yaseen
Adult male killed
Son of Yaseen Hweidi
Adult male killed
Mohammed Mahmoud Al-Mohammed Al-Alawi
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18 – 21
  • (4 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–24
  • 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 (35) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Mohammed Mahmoud Al-Mohammed Al-Alawi, who was alleged killed in an Coalition airstrike on April 7th 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Hunaida, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV7284665401
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 2017
  • 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. (1295)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 6th-7th, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; and destroyed four fighting positions and a tactical vehicle.”
For April 7th-8th, the Coalition did not report any airstrikes near Ar Raqqah.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18 – 21
  • (4 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–24
  • 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 (35) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS671

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

الشعيرات, Shoa'yrat, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.494027, 36.947032 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to nine civilians were alleged to have died and 14 others injured in a unuilateral US cruise missile strike on Shoa’yrat airfield, according to local sources – though the combatant status of some or all victims is uncertain.

The state news agency Sana reported: “Nine civilians, including four children, were killed by a number of rockets fired by the United States at dawn today on houses in a number of villages in the south-eastern Homs countryside.” The source said that two missiles which had targeted a Syrian Air Force base instead struck “the village of Shoa’yrat causing the deaths of five civilians, including three children, in addition to the destruction of homes.” It added that a US missile was also fired on “the village of Hamarat, killing four civilians, including a child, while seven civilians were injured when a rocket hit houses in the center of the village of Manzul, about four km from the air base.” The BBC, citing the Sana report, giving the same figures.

HMC published a video in which Activist Mohammed al-Sibai, spokesman for the Homs Media Center, was asked how accurate the allegations were. He said that there were no civilians in the area because it’s a military zone.

Syrian News Center also said that nine civilians died in the strike, as did RT who cited Sana.

Nady Homs published a list of victims and said that six of the names listed were soldiers, but the rest were civilians. The source said that the list of names was issued by Shay’rat hospital.

However, the rebel-aligned Homs Media Center told Airwars that in its assessment all the names in the document issued by the Sha’yrat hospital are of soldiers and that no civilians died.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khalil Issa Ibrahim
Adult male Eldorar lists him as “Brigadier General Khalil Issa Ibrahim killed
Issa Ahmad Ali
Adult male Alarabiya lists Issa Mohammed Ali as military killed
Firas Yusuf Hamoud
Adult male Eldorar lists him as a First Luitenant
Ibrahim Al Mansour
Adult male Reported as Sergeant killed
Muhi Al Din Suheil Alisha
Adult male killed
Ali Haydar Abboud
Adult male killed
Firas Mahmoud Al-Babki
Adult male Eldorar lists him as military killed
Wael Issa Mihoub
Adult male Enabbaladi lists him as military killed
Abdel Karim Salim Jadid
Adult male Colonel - Right hand broken injured
Salem al Atrash
Adult male Major - left hand broken injured
Khaled Rahhal
Adult male Shrapnel in stomach injured
Ayman al Ahmad
Adult male Shrapnel injured
Suleiman Ali AlMohammad
Adult male Sergeant, surface wound injured
Alaa Abdul Latif Mohammad
Adult male Surface wound and shrapnel injured
Mohammad Asaad Mohammad
Adult male Shrapnel injured
Haidar Majed Hamoud
Adult male Bruises injured
Shoueib Suleiman
Child male Right foot burns injured
Samir Ahmad Sakar
Adult male Right shoulder dislocated injured
Alaa Abdel Hamid Sarem
Adult male Shrapnel injured
Ram’mah Jamil al Asaad
Adult male Military aid with bruises injured
Moussa Ismail
Adult male Shrapnel injured
Nabil Ibrahim Khalil
Adult male Shrapnel injured
Majid Khudar Yusuf
Adult male Shrapnel injured
Adnan Hasan al Ali
Adult male Shrapnel injured
Ali Mohammad Assaf
Adult male Shrapnel injured
Salman Ali Ghadir
Adult male Shrapnel injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 9
  • (0–4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–14
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • List of victims both killed and injured from Shay'rat hospital, from Nady Homs Facebook page posted April 7th 2017.
  • Military affiliated Issa Mohammed Ali who was alleged killed in an Coalition airstrike, posted by Alarabiya on April 7th 2017.
  • Funeral of the military men who were alleged killed in an Coalition airstrike, tweeted by @AJA_Syria on April 7th 2017.
  • Sarin gas alleged used in a chemical attack that the Syrian regime was reported to have a role in, to which the Coalition responded with an airstrike on Syrian Air Force airfield (image by Mousa Omar on April 7th 2017).
  • Sarin gas alleged used in a chemical attack that the Syrian regime was reported to have a role in, to which the Coalition responded with an airstrike on Syrian Air Force airfield (image by Mousa Omar on April 7th 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Shoa’yrat, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCU076189
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 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

The attack was a unilateral US action in retaliation for the Syrian regime’s alleged role in a chemical weapon attack. According to the Pentagon: “At the direction of the president, U.S. forces conducted a cruise missile strike against a Syrian Air Force airfield today at about 8:40 p.m. EDT (4:40 a.m., April 7, in Syria). The strike targeted Shayrat Airfield in Homs governorate, and were in response to the Syrian government’s chemical weapons attack April 4 in Khan Sheikhoun, which killed and injured hundreds of innocent Syrian people, including women and children.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 9
  • (0–4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–14
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS672

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

الكالطة, Qaltah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.1795231, 39.0142536 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that one civilian was killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the village of Al Kalta. Revolutionary Forces of Syria said he died when his home was struck.

There are no other details available at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Musleh
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 (9) [ 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 Qaltah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 2017
  • 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. (1297)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 6th-7th, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; and destroyed four fighting positions and a tactical vehicle.”
For April 7th-8th, the Coalition did not report on any airstrikes near Ar Raqqah.

Summary

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