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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US-led Coalition
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Incident Code

CS908

Incident date

June 3, 2017

Location

الملعب الاسود, Al Mala'ab al Aswad, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.956944, 39.005833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that one civilian – reportedly from the city’s al Dari’ya neighbourhood – was killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the Al Mala’ab al Aswad playing fields area of Raqqa.

No additional details are presently known.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Abu al Reem
Adult 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad Abu al Rim, killed in an alleged Coalition raid on the Al Mala’ab al Aswad area, June 3rd (via Al Ragga Truth)
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 Mala’ab al Aswad near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV986792
    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
Official source

For June 2nd-June 3rd the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 10 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 12 vehicles, five fighting positions, four tactical vehicles, two VBIEDs and an ammunition cache.” It also later added that on June 2nd “Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three fighting positions.”
For June 3rd-June 4th, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, 16 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units; destroyed 17 fighting positions, three vehicles, and an ISIS excavator; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit." For June 3rd it added that "Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units, destroyed 10 fighting positions, and damaged one ISIS-held building."

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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS909

Incident date

June 3, 2017

Location

مسبح الشراع, area behind al Shira' swimming pool, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.936066, 38.989464 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 15 and 20 civilians died and dozens more were injured in alleged Coalition airstrikes on the area behind al Shira’ swimming pool in Raqqa, according to local media.

Euphrates Post, Mohab Naser and Step News Agency said 15 non-combatants died in Coalition raids on residential homes. LCCSY – also blaming the Coalition – put the death toll at 20.

Qasioun reported that the Coalition bombed five houses at the back of the swimming pool. It also put the death toll at 15.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 20
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from 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
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV990768
    Military Grid Reference System

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 2nd-June 3rd the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 10 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 12 vehicles, five fighting positions, four tactical vehicles, two VBIEDs and an ammunition cache.” It also later added that on June 2nd “Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three fighting positions.”
For June 3rd-4th, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, 16 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units; destroyed 17 fighting positions, three vehicles, and an ISIS excavator; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit." For June 3rd it added "Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units, destroyed 10 fighting positions, and damaged one ISIS-held building."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 20
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS910

Incident date

June 3, 2017

Location

الجسر القديم, Al Tayyar and al Jisr al Qadim, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians died and were injured in airstrikes and/or an artillery bombardment on the al Tayyar and old bridge area of Raqqa. It is currently unclear from reports who was responsible, though there were allegations against the US-led Coalition.

The Step News Agency reported that “several civilians” died in a strike by the Coalition, but Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently didn’t identify the warplane responsible for the raid.

According to an initial report by Smart News, there were “dead and wounded as a result of an aerial bombardment likely by the International Alliance on the neighborhoods of al Tayyar and the vicinity of the old bridge in the city of Raqqa”.

However, a subsequent report blamed “airstrikes and artillery shelling”. The report didn’t name the culprit, while Akhbaralan reported that the SDF were shelling in the area.

Baladi reported that the Coalition targeted the isir Qadim area, while according to Qasioun, “The [coalition] raids targeted river crossing boats in the area linking Jisir Qadim and Jisir Hadeeth, often used by civilians to move between the banks of the Euphrates River, in addition to the Sabaheya checkpoint of the organization, killing eight members of the organization [IS].”

Q_Alenzy said that a number of civilian vehicles were burnt in Coalition strikes on Jisir Qadim.

In June 2019 the Coalition announced that it assessed this allegation of civilian harm to be non-credible, noting “After a review of all available strike records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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 (11) [ 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
    Other
  • Stated location
    near Raqqa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV010766
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 27, 2019

  • Jun. 3, 2017, near Raqqa, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available strike records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 2nd-June 3rd the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 10 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 12 vehicles, five fighting positions, four tactical vehicles, two VBIEDs and an ammunition cache.” It also later added that on June 2nd “Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three fighting positions.”
For June 3rd-June 4th, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, 16 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units; destroyed 17 fighting positions, three vehicles, and an ISIS excavator; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit." For June 3rd, the Coalition added: "Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units, destroyed 10 fighting positions, and damaged one ISIS-held building"

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI744

Incident date

June 2, 2017

Location

ِعنة, Anah, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.372699, 41.986442 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that an elderly man was killed and his son and another woman were severely injured as a result of airstrikes hitting their houses in Anah district, in the west of Anbar province.

According to several Facebook posts, the elderly man was called Hajj Juma al-Abd. He reportedly died when shelling on a house next to his led to the collapse of the room he was in. Iraqi Spring Media Center said that up to five people were killed or wounded.

The head of the Anah district council, Abdul Karim al-Ani, told Alsumaria News (quoted by Western People Facebook group) that “an unknown military aircraft randomly bombed a house in the city of Anah (210 km west of Ramadi), killing a civilian, a senior citizen, and wounding his son and a woman.” Al-Ani called for “an end to the indiscriminate shelling of the city of Anah until the liberation of ISIL is launched, because it does not work for the time being.”

The Facebook page also mentioned that ISIL has controlled the Anah district since mid-2014, has used thousands of civilians as human shields, and has prevented them from leaving the area.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hajj Juma al-Abd
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Hajj Juma al-Abd, allegedly killed in airstrikes on Anah (via AbuRahma Alani)
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 Anah, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SGU742070
    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
Official source

For June 1st-June 2nd, the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and a sniper; destroyed 11 fighting positions, four rocket-propelled grenade systems, three medium machine guns, two mortar systems, a heavy machine gun, and a command and control node; damaged 12 ISIS supply routes, four fighting positions; and suppressed a mortar team and a medium machine gun.”

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS902

Incident date

June 2, 2017

Location

سويدية, Sweiyda, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.7517, 39.616 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman and her child died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Swaydya village, according to local sources.

Reports said that the Coalition struck Hussein al-Harfi’s house, killing his wife and his child, the girl.

Hasaka Rasd reported that “The International Alliance aircraft targeted the house of “Hussein Al-Harfi” in the village of Suweida Rural Ma’dan, resulting in the martyrdom of his wife and a small girl and the rest of the family in a critical situation”.

Smart News put the death toll at three: “Three civilians, including a woman and her child, were killed by a bombardment by warplanes in the village of Suwayda, located in the town of Ma’dan (about 61 km east of Raqqa).”

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Coalition planes “fired near a school in Al Sweda village killing a girl and her mother and partially damaging the building”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Wife of Hussein al-Harfi
Adult female killed
Daughter of of Hussein al-Harfi
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition raid on Swaydya, June 2nd (via RBSS)
  • Pictures showing destruction in Suweida after an alleged Coalition airstrike (via RBSS).
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 Sweiyda, Syria
    Nearest population center

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
Official source

For June 1st-June 2nd, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed five vehicles, three fighting positions, a front end loader and an ISIS crane.” It also later added that on June 1st “Near Raqqah, Syria, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed 17 fighting positions, an ISIS headquarters, an ISIS-held building, and an IED.”
For June 2nd-June 3rd, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, 10 strikes [1 British] engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 12 vehicles, five fighting positions, four tactical vehicles, two VBIEDs and an ammunition cache." For June 2nd, the Coalition added: "Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three fighting positions."

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

"Friday 2 June – Tornados and Typhoons destroyed an armoured truck near Raqqa, and attacked eight targets in Mosul…A mixed Tornado and Typhoon pair used a Brimstone to destroy an armoured truck moving along a main road on the outskirts of Raqqa on Friday 2 June. Two other flights operated over Mosul, where attacks were delivered in very close support to the Iraqi forces, hitting eight Daesh positions with a mix of Brimstones and Paveway IVs. The targets included three machine-gun teams and three groups of terrorists armed with rocket-propelled grenades. In addition, a truck-bomb, concealed close to one of the positions, was also fortuitously detonated by one of the attacks."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS903

Incident date

June 2, 2017

Location

حي الرميلة, Rumayla, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.959444, 39.0325 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died and six others were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Rumayla, according to the Smart News Agency.

The local news group reported that “warplanes likely to be from the International alliance launched two raids on the Romaniya and Rumayla neighborhoods in the city, killing three civilians and wounding six others in Rumaila, who were working on a nearby tractor.”

No further details are currently known.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 Rumayla, Syria
    Nearest population center

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
Official source

For June 1st-June 2nd, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed five vehicles, three fighting positions, a front end loader and an ISIS crane.” It also later added that on June 1st “Near Raqqah, Syria, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed 17 fighting positions, an ISIS headquarters, an ISIS-held building, and an IED.”
For June 2nd and June 3rd, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, 10 strikes [1 British] engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 12 vehicles, five fighting positions, four tactical vehicles, two VBIEDs and an ammunition cache." For June 2nd the Coalition added "Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three fighting positions".

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

"Friday 2 June – Tornados and Typhoons destroyed an armoured truck near Raqqa, and attacked eight targets in Mosul…A mixed Tornado and Typhoon pair used a Brimstone to destroy an armoured truck moving along a main road on the outskirts of Raqqa on Friday 2 June. Two other flights operated over Mosul, where attacks were delivered in very close support to the Iraqi forces, hitting eight Daesh positions with a mix of Brimstones and Paveway IVs. The targets included three machine-gun teams and three groups of terrorists armed with rocket-propelled grenades. In addition, a truck-bomb, concealed close to one of the positions, was also fortuitously detonated by one of the attacks."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS904

Incident date

June 2, 2017

Location

حي الرومانية, Romaniya, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.963056, 38.975556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian reportedly died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Romaniya, according to the Smart News Agency.

Smart noted that “warplanes likely to be from the International alliance launched two raids on the Romaniya and Rumayla neighborhoods in the city, killing three civilians and wounding six others in Rumaila, who were working on a nearby tractor. One additional person died at Romaniya.”

No further details are currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 Romaniya, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV977798
    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
Official source

For June 1st-June 2nd, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed five vehicles, three fighting positions, a front end loader and an ISIS crane.” It also later added that on June 1st “Near Raqqah, Syria, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed 17 fighting positions, an ISIS headquarters, an ISIS-held building, and an IED.”
For June 2nd-June 3rd, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, 10 strikes [1 British] engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 12 vehicles, five fighting positions, four tactical vehicles, two VBIEDs and an ammunition cache." The Coalition added that "Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three fighting positions."

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

"Friday 2 June – Tornados and Typhoons destroyed an armoured truck near Raqqa, and attacked eight targets in Mosul…A mixed Tornado and Typhoon pair used a Brimstone to destroy an armoured truck moving along a main road on the outskirts of Raqqa on Friday 2 June. Two other flights operated over Mosul, where attacks were delivered in very close support to the Iraqi forces, hitting eight Daesh positions with a mix of Brimstones and Paveway IVs. The targets included three machine-gun teams and three groups of terrorists armed with rocket-propelled grenades. In addition, a truck-bomb, concealed close to one of the positions, was also fortuitously detonated by one of the attacks."

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS905

Incident date

June 2, 2017

Location

السباهية, Al Sabahiya, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.95538, 38.96341 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Al Raqqa Truth and the Syrian Network for Human Rights named one victim of a reported Coalition airstrike on the Al Sabahiya area of Raqqa. The victim was also named by Raqqa24 which blamed the Coalition.

However, RFS reported that artillery had led to the death of an unspecified number of civilians. It didn’t identify the culprit.

In April 2019, the Coalition accepted responsibility for the event, noting: “Coalition aircraft conducted a strike against hostile forces at a Daesh checkpoint. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed due to the proximity of the strike.” The Coalition provided Airwars with coordinates for this event to within a 100m box.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently published a list of 652 names of people allegedly killed by International Coalition strikes from March 15th 2017 to 7th June 2017. One of the reported civilian casualties (Mohammed Ahmed al-Habeel) in this incident is listed, as number 610.

In its 2019 annual civilian harm report to Congress, the Pentagon omitted this event from its list of US actions, with two officials later confirming to Airwars that all non-US Coalition events had been left out. In March 2020, Airwars, Liberation and De Morgen published a joint investigation revealing that Belgium and France were refusing to accept responsibility for civilian harm in this and other events – despite all other allies ruling themselves out.

Asked to say whether its aircraft were responsible for officially declared civilian harm in up to nine incidents, the Belgian Ministry of Defence told Airwars by email: “For the year 2017, BAF [Belgian Armed Forces] was certainly not involved in all events. With regard to the other data given, BAF was no longer present in theatre. BAF completed its role at the end of 2017. Our conclusion is that all ROEs [rules of engagement] were respected as confirmed by our federal court.”

After confirming receipt from Airwars in June 2019 of details of possible French civilian casualty events, the defence ministry then ceased communication – refusing to answer all subsequent emails.

In May 2020, the Pentagon retrospectively appeared to have added this event to its list of confirmed US civilian harm actions for 2017.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Ahmad al Habil
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Mohamad Ahmad al Habil, killed in an alleged Coalition strike on the al Sabahiya area of Raqqa, June 2nd (via SN4HR)
  • Table from May 2020 Pentagon report to Congress, conceding additional US civilian harm events in Iraq and Syria during 2017.

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 35.955556, 38.963611

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
    Other
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV967790
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 25, 2019

  • June 2, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted a strike against hostile forces at a Daesh checkpoint. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed due to the proximity of the strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 1st-June 2nd, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed five vehicles, three fighting positions, a front end loader and an ISIS crane.” It also later added that on June 1st “Near Raqqah, Syria, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed 17 fighting positions, an ISIS headquarters, an ISIS-held building, and an IED.”
For June 2nd-3rd, the Coalition reported: " For June 2nd, the Coalition added "Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three fighting positions."Near Raqqah, 10 strikes [1 British] engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 12 vehicles, five fighting positions, four tactical vehicles, two VBIEDs and an ammunition cache."

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

"Friday 2 June – Tornados and Typhoons destroyed an armoured truck near Raqqa, and attacked eight targets in Mosul…A mixed Tornado and Typhoon pair used a Brimstone to destroy an armoured truck moving along a main road on the outskirts of Raqqa on Friday 2 June. Two other flights operated over Mosul, where attacks were delivered in very close support to the Iraqi forces, hitting eight Daesh positions with a mix of Brimstones and Paveway IVs. The targets included three machine-gun teams and three groups of terrorists armed with rocket-propelled grenades. In addition, a truck-bomb, concealed close to one of the positions, was also fortuitously detonated by one of the attacks."

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (11) [ collapse]