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

CI294a

Incident date

October 13, 2016

Location

Shora village near Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.99725, 43.22489 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Following the New York Times Magazine’s Uncounted investigation, the Coalition later confirmed the injury of a civilian in an event in Shora, a village near Qayyarah, Iraq.

According to reporters Azmat Khan and Anand Ghopal, “Mohammad Mansour Abdullah’s house was next to the home of an Army Officer who fled Shora when ISIS took over. An ISIS member named Omar Hussain Faraj moved into the empty Army Officer’s house, which had a generator and a big fan, and used the house to make mortars. Mohammad Mansour Abdullah—fearful of becoming collateral damage—moved into another house elsewhere in Shora, but his brother’s family stayed in their house next-door-since they were not directly next to the ISIS house.

“On October 13, 2016, there was an airstrike on the home of Mohammad Mansour Abdullah. The airstrike did not hit the ISIS house; Instead, it only hit the home of Mohammad Mansour Abdullah. His nephew Hassan Ahmed Mansour was injured on his arm.”

The Coalition’s September 2019 civilian casualty report noted: “Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh facility. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location for this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male Arm damaged by airstrike injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

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
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    in Qayyarah, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLE400851
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 26, 2019
  • October, 13, 2016, in Qayyarah, Iraq, via media report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh facility. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Near Ar Rutbah, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
 Near Kisik, one strike engaged an ISIL staging area and destroyed two tunnels.
 Near Mosul, five strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and a chemical weapons facility; destroyed
three tunnel entrances, a tunnel, a rocket rail, a vehicle, and a trench; and damaged a trench network.
 Near Sultan Abdallah, two strikes engaged an ISIL weapons factory and destroyed two boats.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS033

Incident date

December 11, 2014

Location

مسكنة, Jirah Military Airbase, al Maskana, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.0962736, 37.9406834 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A shepherd boy aged 10, 14 or 15, and named as Muhammad Qasim (or sometimes Mohammed Abd al Kareem), was reportedly killed in a coalition airstrike on a nearby Islamic State military base.

An investigation by the Syrian Network for Human Rights later concluded: “Around 2:45 in the afternoon an international alliance warplane raided over Al-Jarrah military airbase located on Al-Maskaneh – Deir Hafr road in eastern Aleppo countryside, which is under ISIS command. The shelling of the airbase surroundings killed a shepherd who was a child.” According to the monitoring group the flock of sheep was owned by the boy’s brother, a member of Islamic State.

An eyewitness told SN4HR that he had visited the family immediately following the air strike: “The parents told me that the boy was sitting near one of the buildings that was targeted inside the airport, and which led to the injury of his head by shrapnel metal and that it almost entirely crushed his head. His parents then buried him in the village after they received the body from ISIS fighters who also lost fighters to death because of the raids, but I do not know the number.”

 

The incident occured at 14:45:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Child male Listed by Syrian Martyrs killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

The Syria Network for Human Rights reports that an alleged “Coalition aircraft bombed the Al-Jarah military airport and its surroundings with three missiles, which caused the death of a child who was sitting near one of the buildings that had been targeted within the airport.” The coordinates for the Jirah Military Airbase (الجيرة القاعدة الجوية) are: 36.0962736, 37.9406834

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 Maskhanah, Syria
    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

One coalition event between December 10th-12th 2014 appears to match the incident: “Near Aleppo, an airstrike struck five ISIL-occupied buildings.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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

CS1958

Incident date

May 4, 2021

Location

الشنان, Al Shanan, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.976104, 40.576696 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one man was killed in an alleged US-led Coalition drone strike in al-Shanan village in eastern Deir Ezzor on May 4, 2021. While the majority of sources that reported on the incident claimed that the man killed was no longer part of any armed groups, a spokesman for the Coalition identified him as an ISIS operative.

According to Deir Ezzor 24 Network’s correspondent, “a person was killed when a drone believed to belong to the international coalition targeted his car in al-Shanan” and “the targeted car belonged to a former Free Army fighter who worked before his death as a gas official of the Syrian Democratic Forces.”

Euphrates Post identified the man killed as Bassem Atwan Al-Bilal and pointed out that his car was struck “near the Al-Balhawi Mosque in the village of Shannan.” They added that following the strike, “the Qasd imposed a cordon on the town”.

A spokesperson for the Coalition tweeted “.@CJTFOIR conducted an air strike removing a Daesh terrorist from the battlefield near Dayr az Zawr, Syria today. @Coalition and our partners will continue our mission to #defeatdaesh, disrupt their resources and eliminate Daesh remnants.”

However, in a civilian casualty assessment released July 9th 2021, the Coalition classed this event as ‘non credible’, claiming 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 Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified the man killed as being a civilian and Jesr Press reported that “at the present time he does not belong to any military organization, and he is married and has 8 children and two wives.” More details were given by Watan FM that the man killed “has defected from the Assad forces since 2012, and has not yet joined any military faction, and he is currently working as a gas delegate to the Autonomous Administration, and he has 4 brothers who volunteer with the Syrian Democratic Forces, one of whom is a leader called (Rayan Al-Shanan)”.

Eye of Euphrates reported that Al-Atwan was killed “while he was going to work in the harragas in Al-Hawi area near the oil burners” and spoke with a relative of the young man, who reiterated that “Al-Atwan has nothing to do with military matters, and that he works in the field of refining oil through primitive burners.”

Baladi News pointed out that “it is likely that the car he was traveling in was previously monitored, knowing that Al-Atwan bought it recently” which could explain why he was hit.

However, the North Press Agency Syria reported that the man was “said to be affiliated with the Islamic State” and added that he was killed after leaving a mosque.

The airstrike was carried out by an MQ-9 Reaper drone, according to @N0tWoofers. All of the sources that reported on the strike attributed it to Coalition drones or did not identify who was responsible, in addition to the Coalition spokesman verifying that its forces had carried out a strike in the area.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Bassem Atwan Al-Bilal
30 years old male Status as non combatant disputed by some sources killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • On Tuesday, May 4, a person was killed when a drone, believed to belong to the international coalition, targeted his car in al-Shanan village in the easter Deir Ezzor countryside, according to Deir Ezzor 24 network correspondent. (Images posted by @DeirEzzor24)
  • On Tuesday, May 4, a person was killed when a drone, believed to belong to the international coalition, targeted his car in al-Shanan village in the easter Deir Ezzor countryside, according to Deir Ezzor 24 network correspondent. (Images posted by @DeirEzzor24)
  • Destruction caused by "by an unidentified drone that targeted his car near the Al-Balhawi Mosque in the village of Shannan." (Image posted by Euphrates Post via Facebook)
  • Caption translation: A picture of the young man, Bassem Atwan Al-Bilal, who was killed this evening in an air strike by an unidentified drone that targeted his car near the Al-Balhawi Mosque in the village of Shannan. (Image posted by Euphrates Post via Facebook)
  • Caption translation: It is worth noting that “Al-Atwan” was a former commander of the Free Army Brigades in the “Jund al-Rahman” Brigade and is currently working as a delegate for the gas supported by the SDF. Meanwhile, the spokesman for the International Coalition Forces announced on Twitter: that an air strike had been launched near Deir Ezzor to remove an ISIS operative from the battle. (Image posted by Euphrates Post)

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck in the village of Al Shanan (الشنان). Analyzing visual material from sources, we have narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 34.976104, 40.576696.

  • Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck in the village of Al Shanan (الشنان).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged satellite imagery according to sources.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    Eye of Euphrates

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
    37SFV002107
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 9, 2021
  • May 4, 2021, near Deir Ezzor, 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. 3296/CS1958 37SFV002107

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

.@CJTFOIR conducted an air strike removing a Daesh terrorist from the battlefield near Dayr az Zawr, Syria today.
@Coalition and our partners will continue our mission to #defeatdaesh, disrupt their resources and eliminate Daesh remnants.

- From @OIRSpox

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI036

Incident date

February 3, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Kisik Junction, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An internal post-strike review for CENTCOM of full-motion video revealed a “possible child entering a targeted bunker and then disappearing out of the field of view (FOV) approximately 19 minutes before Strike.”

The dynamic strike, conducted by a French Mirage 2000 using a Bu-49 bomb, killed an estimated five enemy fighters.

Claims that a child had died were deemed “not credible” by military intelligence officers, who decided “that individuals struck were fighters.“

Airwars researchers could find no reference to a child fatality for this date, although reports did note an intensification of Coalition strikes on the city.

In July 2017 the Coalition said that based on available evidence, it had classed the event as non credible. It has also referenced Airwars not having found any other reporting of civilian casualties other than the internal CENTCOM document: “Feb. 3, 2015, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ 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 evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015
  • Jul 7, 2017
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

  • CFACC observed a possible child entering a targeted bunker and then disappearing out of the field of view approximately 19 min before the strike. CJTF-OIR conducted a dynamic strike on the targeted bunker by Rage 43 (M-2000 FRA) using BU-49 resulting in 5 EKIA. Not credible. INT reflections that individuals struck were fighters

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI056

Incident date

April 4, 2015

Location

فايده, Fadhiliya, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.5125336, 43.2689667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five Kurdish non-combatants, all from the same family, died in a reported Coalition strike on the village of Fadhiliyah, near Mosul. A major field investigation by the Guardian later identified the dead.

Three family members survived the attack though were injured. Rahim, an eyewitness and relative, told the Guardian: “We wrapped the dead in blankets and buried them the same day.”

CENTCOM later confirmed that the coalition had struck targets at Fadhiliya on April 4, with a spokesman adding that it was “looking into this further”. Local MP Mala Salim Juma Mohammad said he had been able to confirm that the family had no connection to militants, adding of the strike that “It was a mistake. The coalition needs to compensate the family adequately.”

A declassified CENTCOM report published by Airwars in August 2015 revealed that a US A-10 Warthog had struck the village, in response to a ‘troops in contact’ request by a unit labelled the Irbil Strike Cell. As the report notes, “Strike imagery shows a structure in the strike radius” and a formal investigation was launched into the attack. The results are not presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Hazem Abdulla Shahin
69 years old male Named by The Guardian, father killed
Nadya Nouri Dawoud
60 years old female Named by The Guardian, mother killed
Laith Hazem Abdulla
43 years old male Named by The Guardian, son killed
Hana Ali Abdulla
43 years old female pregnant Named by The Guardian, bride of Laith Hazem Abdulla killed
Danya Laith Hazem
8 years old male Named by The Guardian, daughter of Laith Hazem Abdulla and Hana Ali Abdulla killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 child2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • April 4th Danya Laith Hazem (Guardian)
  • Extract from declassified CENTCOM document detailing the Fadhiliya case

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Open incident
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    Al Fadiliya, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015
  • 5 KIA, 1 WIA At 2225Z [zulu = local time] the Irbil Strike Cell received a report of Troops in Contact IVO Mosul, IRQ. KRSC reported DShsK contact from al-Fadhiliya village [ ] A-10 US engaged with GBU-38s utilizing ROE 008. Initial BDA was assessed as 2x DShsK fighting positions destroyed. Strike imagery shows a structure in the strike radius. USEMB later received CIVCAS allegation. 4/6/2015: CJFLCC-I is preparing the "first impressions report" to determine a credibility assessment IAW CENTCOM. If the allegation is found to be credible, an AR-15 6 will be conducted and if the allegation is found to be not-credible it will be filed.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 child2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS078

Incident date

June 11, 2015

Location

سلوك, Slouk, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.59539, 39.128559 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two or three alleged Coalition incidents were clustered together in most news reports: the killing of a family of five at Slouk; the death of a child near Ma’adan; and up to 15 further civilian deaths in other airstrikes in the vicinity.

According to SOHR, “international coalition aircraft last night carried out several strikes in the area of Sukair in the southern countryside of Tal Abiyad. Initial reports indicate deaths and injuries of civilian nationals in the bombing. We have confirmed reports of the death of a child following coalition bombing on the area of Ma’adan in the Raqqa countryside.”

The Shaam Network claimed that as many as 20 civilians died in attacks, a number also cited by Eldorar which stated: “Activists reported that five people from one family from the village of Slouk were killed yesterday morning following coalition air strikes on civilians fleeing from the hell of the battles in the countryside of Tal Abiyad. A further 15 were killed in aerial bombardments on the villages and towns in the areas areas that are seeing clashes with IS.”

Those killed at Slouk were reported to be trying to flee the fighting in two vehicles when they were struck. The head of the family was later named as Juma Al Jassim.

Islamic State also posted a video [now deleted] showing a rescue in progress at Ar Raqaa, which it said was the result of a “coalition airstrike.” However elsewhere Daesh attributed the attack to Assad regime aircraft.

 

The incident occured around midnight.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 20
  • (1 child2 women)
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the area near Suluk, in the vicinity of Tal Abiyad, Ar Raqqah. Halab Today TV alleged civilians were harmed when two vehicles that were fleeing the fighting where struck by a Coalition airstrike. Airwars was unable to establish the direction the vehicles were travelling in. The wider area was under the control of Daesh at the time. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the event happening during the night. The coordinates for the midpoint of Suluk town (سلوك) are: 36.59539, 39.128559

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 Suluk, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEA114499
    Military Grid Reference System

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

Despite claims of heavy coalition airstrikes in support of Kurdish forces in the retaking of Tel Abyaf, the coalition officially reported only a small number of events in Syria for the date in question.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 20
  • (1 child2 women)
  • 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

CS100

Incident date

July 12, 2015

Location

مزرعة الأسدية, Al Assadiyah near Ar Raqqah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.966983, 38.703728

Airwars assessment

A boy named as Amjad Mohammed was reportedly killed along with eleven alleged Daesh militants, in a fresh coalition airstrike on the outskirts of Ar Raqaa.

According to SOHR, the child may have belonged to ‘Cubs of the Caliphate’ – an Islamic State indoctrination unit for young children in the city. One report claimed he died as a result of “airstrikes carried out by coalition warplanes on the farms of al-Asadiyyeh area, to the north of Raqqah city.” Another report said he was begging near a bridge in the north of the city when it was struck by the coalition.

Separately, an adult male non-combatant named as Sari Ibrahim Al A’akar also reportedly died as the result of a coalition strike on Mankalan bridge.

In an unusual move, the coalition reported that while both its own aircraft and those of the Assad regime had bombed Raqaa on July 11th-12th, “The nearest Coalition airstrike to Ar Raqqa city-center was 6.75 km away and targeted four bridges.”

Islamic State later published a propaganda video in which it said one adult male non-combatant had died in the US airstrikes. The organisation said that all bridges into the city had been destroyed, forcing locals to use side roads to get in and out.

In July 2017 the Coalition said it had classed the event as non credible on grounds of available evidence of civilian harm: “July 12, 2015, near Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

Given reports from the time, Airwars contionues to assess this event as likely – though is seeking additional claridication from the Coalition.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

8 years old male From al Assadiya farm killed
Adult male died as a result of a raid on Mankalan bridge. killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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]

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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 11th-12th 2015 CJTF-OIR additionally notes that: “Near Ar Raqqah, six airstrikes struck five ISIL staging areas and an ISIL personnel carrier destroying an ISIL t-wall and two ISIL excavators.” An additional note pointed out that: “Separately, Syrian aircraft conducted airstrikes within Ar Raqqah near the timeframe of Coalition forces. These Syrian airstrikes were not coordinated with the Coalition. The nearest Coalition airstrike to Ar Raqqa city-center was 6.75 km away and targeted four bridges.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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]

Incident Code

CS119

Incident date

August 29, 2015

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3709658, 37.5179666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A six-months pregnant woman named as Ghafran Al Jabli was reported killed in an event at Al Bab along with her 10-year old nephew, Mohammad Al Waki.

Syrian Martyrs reported that the deaths were caused by a Coalition strike on the outskirts of the city.

However VDC described the cause of death as shooting, while the Syrian Human Rights Committee cited unspecified ‘raids’ on Al Bab.

In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event to be ‘non credible’, noting: “August 29, 2015, in Al-Bab, 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. 2824/CS119 37SCA670261”.

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:

Family members (2)

Adult female pregnant killed
10 years old male Ghafran's nephew killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (7) [ 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
    in Al Bab, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCA670261
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019
  • August 29, 2015, in Al-Bab, 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. 2824/CS119 37SCA670261

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

While no Coalition strikes were pubicly reported for Al Bab, it was reported that strikes occured in the vicinity of nearby Kobane for August 29th-30th 2015: “Near Kobani, four airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and three ISIL excavators and destroyed five ISIL motorcycles, three ISIL structures, two ISIL guard shacks, two ISIL excavators and an ISIL vehicle.”

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (7) [ collapse]