US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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Incident Code

CI068

Incident date

May 21, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, near Bahauddin mosque, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.360033, 43.098733 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Summary: A devastating airstrike on the Mosul neighbourhood of Rifai reportedly killed numerous non-combatants and injured up to 150 people. Among those killed in the event was Ayman al Hayali (who ran a clothing shop) and his family, including his wife and young son.

Other sources claimed that 5 women and at least 3 children were among the dead, including a girl named Habiba aged four.

According to most media, the deaths and injuries occurred after a house used by Islamic State to store ammunition was hit by the coalition, leading to major secondary explosions in the vicinity of the Bahauddin mosque.

Mosul TV cited a local eyewitness as saying that “seven houses and five shops were completely destroyed” in the attack, and that scuffles broke out between survivors and militants over ISIL’s policy of storing munitions in a civilian neighbourhood. Local people also urged the coalition to be far more careful in its targeting.

In a later report issued January 2016 the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) noted: “On 22-23 May, UNAMI/OHCHR received a report that airstrikes hit al-Najjar, al-Rifai and Sahaa areas in western Mosul in Ninewa, allegedly killing 30 civilians and wounding 62 others, including women and children. UNAMI/OHCHR was not able to verify this report.”

 

The incident occured around dusk.

The victims were named as:

Ayman al Hayali
Adult male killed
Habiba
4 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 50
  • (2–3 children1–5 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–150
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • Habiba, a 4 year old 'killed in a coalition strike' at Mosul, May 21 2015 (via Hunaal Hadbaa)
  • Images of the aftermath of the alleged incident
  • Ayman al Hayali (via Iraqi Revolution)
  • A person allegedly injured in the attack (via Hunaal Hadbaa)
  • A person allegedly injured in the attack (via Hunaal Hadbaa)
  • A person allegedly injured in the attack (via Hunaal Hadbaa)
  • A person allegedly injured in the attack (via Hunaal Hadbaa)
  • A child named Rifai allegedly killed in the strike (via Mosul Ateka)
  • A child allegedly injured in the attack (via Hunaal Hadbaa)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the after aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the after aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the after aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Rudaw)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention Rifai neighborhood (حي جلاقة) and that civilians were harmed in proximity to “Bahauddin mosque”, in the adjacent ar-Rabi/al-Najjar (حي النجار) neighbourhood. The location for the affected area (75 m radius from point) based on geolocation of images: 36.360033, 43.098733

  • Overview of landmarks geolocated from photographs.

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Bing

  • Najjar (النجار) and Rifai (جلاقة) neighbourhoods in Mosul and the Bahauddin mosque (بهاء الدين)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The coalition has described destroying “an ISIL cache” in the vicinity of Mosul on May 21st 2015: “Near Mosul, four airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying two ISIL tunnel systems, an ISIL motorcycle, an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL cache.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 50
  • (2–3 children1–5 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–150
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI091

Incident date

August 8, 2015

Location

الرطبة, Ar Rutbah, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.036997, 40.284076 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Coalition aircraft were alleged to have struck civilians some 15 km from Ar Rutbah, at the Haj Saleh Mraid Kubaisi glassworks factory. According to a number of sources, some families had fled the town for fear of airstrikes, only for members to be killed in an alleged Coalition attack on a civilian vehicle.

It was claimed by one source that four women from two displaced families were killed at the Mraid plant, with 10 children injured. The deceased women were said to come from the Haj Hammoud and Hajj Abtan al-Shami families.

An alternative source said that a small child, the son of Adib Tariq al-Shami had died along with two daughters of Nuri Faisal Abtan al-Shami.

Two more people were listed as injured.

The US led Coalition declared no strikes in  the vicinity at the time. In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – CJTFOIR assessed this event to be ‘non credible’, noting: “August 8, 2015, in Ar Rutbah, 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. 2789/CI091 37SFS199561”.

The Coalition also provided coordinates showing the area it had assessed, accurate to within 100 metres.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nuri al-Faisal al-Shami Abtan
Age unknown male Had a foot amputated injured
Asaad Mahmoud Abu Shami
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (2–3 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Two of six or more victim of an alleged Coalition strike near Ar Rutbah, Iraq on August 8 2015 (via Fayad Fayad)
  • Aftermath of the strike (via Fayad Fayad)
  • Aftermath of the strike (via Fayad Fayad)
  • Aftermath of the strike (via Fayad Fayad)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the alleged victims of the strike (via Fayad Fayad)
  • One of the alleged victims of the strike (via Fayad Fayad)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the alleged victims of the strike (via Fayad Fayad)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the alleged victims of the strike (via Fayad Fayad)

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
    in Ar Rutbah, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFS199561
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • August 8, 2015, in Ar Rutbah, 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. 2789/CI091 37SFS199561

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No Coalition strikes were publicly reported in the vicinity of Ar Rutbah for August 7th-9th 2015.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (2–3 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI108

Incident date

September 20, 2015

Location

جزيرة الخالدية, Khalidiya island, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.4301462, 43.5243986 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged Coalition strike at Khalidiya island, to the east of Ramadi, reportedly killed seven civilians including two cildren. Thirteen people were also reported injured, described as ‘mostly women and children.’

A Coalition report issued in December 2016 stated the following: “After a thorough review of the facts and circumstances of each alleged civilian casualty report, CJTF-OIR assessed that the following [12] reports received in October are non-credible. Non-credible means that at this time there is not sufficient evidence available to determine that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in alleged civilian casualties.

1. Sept. 20, 2015, near Ramadi, Iraq: Insufficient evidence available to determine credibility.”

A different perspective was offered in July 2017 however, with the Coalition noting that “Sep. 20, 2015, near Ramadi, Iraq, via Airwars report: 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.”

Given these apparently contradictory positions and confirmed strikes in the vicinity that day, Airwars is seeking additional information from the Coalition.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ 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.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For September 19th-20th 2015, the Coalition reported that “Near Ramadi, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL buildings.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS140

Incident date

October 22, 2015

Location

البلعوم, Baloum, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.0324211, 40.4281855 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to reports civilian facility guard Waleed Mekhlef Al Abbad was killed in a Coalition raid on the Al Omar oil field. According to local reports, midnight airstrikes were followed by a raid involving up to six Coalition helicopters.

Ara News cited media activist Yasser al-Dairi from Al Mayadeen as saying the raid “targeted an important personality in IS and he confirmed that the landing resulted in the arrest of more than one person.”

Mr al Abbad, the civilian nightwatchman reported killed, came from the nearby village of al Baloum.

The Coalition later confirmed carrying out the strikes, with Major Michael Filanowski telling AFP: “There were strikes last night [in the Omar oil field] that struck Daesh-controlled oil refineries, command and control centres and transportation nodes… There were 26 targets and all 26 were struck. That will impact their strategic ability to generate money.”

In subsequent monthly civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition indicated that the credibility of this civilian harm allegation is in the process of being assessed. In April 2021, CJTFOIR declared this event to be ‘non credible – claiming (despite on the record confirmation at the time) that “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.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Waleed Mekhlef al-Abbad
Adult male He was a civilian facility guard at al Omar oil field. He was a resident of the village of Baloum in Deir Ezzor killed

Summary

  • 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (4) [ 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 Baloum, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU302775
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 16, 2021

  • Oct. 22, 2015, near Baloum, Syria 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. 2877/CS140 37SFU302775

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition has confirmed attacks in the vicinity for October 21st-22nd 2015: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes struck two ISIL crude oil collection points, an ISIL maintenance and storage yard, an ISIL main petroleum station, and an ISIL cash distribution site.“

Summary

  • 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI153

Incident date

December 9, 2015

Location

الشركة, Ramadi, Sharika, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.430833, 43.315278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were reported killed and 17 injured in an alleged Coalition or Iraqi strike on the centre of Ramadi.

According to FaceIraq, the source of the claim appeared to be Sputnik News, which itself reproted that “According to Iraqi security sources, who asked not to be named, a Coalition strike on the ‘Company’ area of central Ramadi, under the control of Daesh, killed four civilians and wounded 17 others.”

The Iraqi Revolution site – which posted footage of casualties of the incident – blamed the attack on “the army of the brutal enemy” – though it was not clear whether this implied the US-led Coalition or the Iraq Army.

In its July 2017 casualty report, the Coalition said it had classed the event as non credible on grounds of available evidence: “Dec. 9, 2015, near Ramadi, Iraq, via Airwars report: The report contained insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.”

Airwars is seeking additional information from the Coalition.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    17
  • 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 (4) [ 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 Ramadi, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • The report contained insufficient information on the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 8th-9th 2015, the Coalition reported that “Near Ramadi, four strikes struck three separate large ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL bed down locations, two ISIL light machine guns, two ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL recoilless rifle, four ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL tactical vehicle, three ISIL buildings, four ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED), an ISIL VBIED factory, an ISIL staging area, an ISIL compound, an ISIL resupply location, two ISIL command and control nodes, and denied ISIL access to terrain.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    17
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI177

Incident date

January 14, 2016

Location

الثقافية, Mosul, Cultural group (Daash court headquarters), Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

There were effectively single-source claims that an alleged Coalition strike on a Mosul court killed 33 civilians who had been detained on petty charges by so-called Islamic State. Three judges also reportedly died.

According to Al Mustaqbal, the Coalition targeted “a former Social Welfare Department building” which now functions as a court. The three ISIL judges were reportedly killed, named as Mohsen Allawi Afri, Walid Rashid and Ghaith Saher Rashidi.

The site also said the attack had killed “33 civilian detainees, mostly young people from Mosul who were under investigation by the court.”

Responding to a request for clarification about possible involvement given declared UK strikes near Mosul that day, the MoD told Airwars that “after extensive research, we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the alleged event.

In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition denied responsibility for the event on grounds of having conducted no strikes in the near vicinity: “Jan. 14, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.”

Given the specific details associated with this event, Airwars has requested additional clarification from the Coalition.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    33
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ 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
    a:1:{i:0;s:20:"no_coalition_strikes";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

According to the Coalition, for January 14th 2016 “Near Mosul, seven strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units, an ISIL headquarters, and an ISIL improvised explosive device (IED) factory and destroyed eight ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL heavy machine guns, two ISIL vehicles, nine ISIL assembly areas, two weapons caches, an ISIL bunker, an ISIL command and control node, and suppressed an ISIL rocket position.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    33
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS184

Incident date

February 25, 2016

Location

ميادين, Al Mayadin, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.016667, 40.444167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two adult civilian males named as Adnan Abd al-Wahab al-Bonaia al-Jasem and Ahmad Dalf al-Saleh were reported killed in al Mayadeen in an alleged Coalition airstrike.

No additional details are presently known.

In their February 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.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Dalf al-Saleh
Age unknown male killed
Adnan Abd al-Wahab al-Bonaia al-Jasem
Age unknown male killed

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU317758
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020

  • Feb. 25, 2016, in Al Mayadin, Syria, 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. 2921/CS184 37SFU317758

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reports one strike in the governorate for February 25th-26th 2016: “Near Abu Kamal, two strikes struck an ISIL petroleum, oil, and lubricant separation vessel and an ISIL gas and oil separation plant and crude oil collection point.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

In eastern Syria, a Tornado patrol supported Syrian Democratic Forces as they mounted an offensive against Daesh near As Shadadi; our aircraft destroyed a terrorist mortar position with a Paveway IV.’

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

1 frappe planifiée a été menée en Syrie Le 25 février, 3 Mirage 2000 D ont mené un raid à Raqqah en Syrie. Menée conjointement avec des aéronefs de la coalition, cette mission a détruit un dépôt d’armement de Daesh.’

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI237

Incident date

May 11, 2016

Location

الرطبة, Ar Rutbah, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.036997, 40.285862 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, a Coalition airstrike at Ar Rutbah resulted in the deaths of seven civilians and the injuring of an additional 13.

News of Iraq reported that the attack destroyed the house of Aref Abrash in Methaq neighbourhood, and the home of Abdullah al-Fayad near the Mustafa mosque.

A propaganda video issued by Al A’Amaq showed a number of injured civilians, along with widespread damage to central Ar Rutbah.

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, 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
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • 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]

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFS200561
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • May 11, 2016 in Ar Rutbah, 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. 2949/CI237 37SFS200561

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For May 10th-11th 2016 the Coalition reported that “Near Ar Rutbah, one strike produced inconclusive results.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • 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]