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

CS872

Incident date

May 27, 2017

Location

المنصورة, Al Mansoura, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.83917, 38.74288 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two detainees were reportedly killed in a suspected Coalition air raid.

Local reports said that a group of prisoners being held by ISIL in Mansoura were killed or injured by Coalition airstrikes on the prison. Several outlets, including Raqqa is Being Silently Slaughtered (RBSS) put the death toll at two. Al Araby said three died.

Tabaqa Media Centre and Alragga Truth identified one of the civilian detainees. The Violations Documentation Center named the other victim; Azouz Askar al Obaid al Ashour from Sukhna Homs. According to RBSS, he was arrested a not long before the airstrike on charges of photographing the house of a relative after it had been destroyed by an airstrike. No further details are currently available.

In its December 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition confirmed that “During a Coalition strike which destroyed an ISIS headquarters building it was assessed the three civilians were unintentionally killed.” However officials have refused to provide co-ordinates for the event, meaning that we cannot presently determine whether this was incident S763; S765; S766; S767; S768 or perhaps a new event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Hamoud Al-Shaheen
Adult male killed
Azouz Askar al Obaid al Ashour
Adult male from Sukhna Homs killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Hussein Hamoud Al-Shaheen, one of the detainees who was killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on May 27th, 2017 (via Alraqqah Truth posted May 29th, 2017).
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Al Mansoura, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV013787
    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

For May 26th-27th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven vehicles, five fighting positions, three tunnels, an ISIS headquarters and an ISIS staging area.“
For May 27th-28th, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, 15 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, three ISIS headquarters, an ISIS staging area and a VBIED." For May 27th it added that "Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed a six fighting positions, an ISIS-held building and a weapons cache."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS873

Incident date

May 27, 2017

Location

رطلة, Ratlah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

At least 17 civilians – reportedly displaced persons – were killed when buses transporting them were hit by Coalition airstrikes according to local reports.

The Syrian Observatory reported that 18 people were killed in Coalition airstrikes in the vicinity of al-Kasrat, of whom at least 10 members of ISIS. The Observatory said that some attacks hit buses on the road between al Kasrat and Ratla village.

Smart News put the death toll at 17 and said the Coalition strikes hit public buses transporting civilians south of Raqqa city. Many other outlets cited the figure of 17 or 18, and gave similar accounts.

Baladi News had a higher death toll of 20, and said that others were injured when the buses were attacked. Masaida said there were women and children among the dead, and added that 20 were injured.

Unusually no victims were named.

In its December 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition confirmed that “During a Coalition strike which destroyed an ISIS headquarters building it was assessed the three civilians were unintentionally killed.” However officials have refused to provide co-ordinates for the event, meaning that we cannot presently determine whether this was incident S763; S765; S766; S767; S768 or perhaps a new event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 20
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (28) [ collapse]

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
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV0433771223
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 1, 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 May 26th-27th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven vehicles, five fighting positions, three tunnels, an ISIS headquarters and an ISIS staging area.“
For May 27th-28th, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, 15 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, three ISIS headquarters, an ISIS staging area and a VBIED."
For May 27th it added "Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed a six fighting positions, an ISIS-held building and a weapons cache."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 20
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS870a

Incident date

May 27, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.94907, 39.00665 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a previously unreported incident, in the US-led Coalition’s December 2017 report, it conceded it had killed three civilians in near Raqqa.

Without a more accurate location, Airwars cannot determine if the Coalition’s assessment matches any of the five locally reported civilian events which occurred in the area on that day, including incident CS870.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 35.953861, 39.005409

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
    Previously unknown
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV006783
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 2017
  • May 27, 2017 near Raqqah, Syria via media report. During a Coalition strike which destroyed an ISIS headquarters building it was assessed the three civilians were unintentionally killed. (497)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Near Raqqah, 15 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, three ISIS headquarters, an ISIS staging area and a VBIED.

Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed a six fighting positions, an ISIS-held building and a weapons cache.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS874

Incident date

May 27, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Multiple neighbourhoods, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.953861, 39.005409 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Thirteen named civilians including two children died in airstrikes and/or artillery shelling across multiple locations in Raqqa, according to local sources – though reports blamed both Coalition airstrikes and shelling by the SDF.

Al Raqqa Truth reported that 78 shells were dropped on the city while planes circled the skies. It added that Kurdish units positioned in the sugar factory targeted the area with artillery fire. The following locations were said to be have been struck.

Moua’wiya school

The automatic bakery area

Al Tousa’iya area west of the city

The barraks neighborhood

Rasheed Primary School

Al Diyafa Palace

Al Qouwatli road

Al-Moataz Street area next to Al-Hini Mosque

Area near the Directorate of Electricity

Area near the College of Education

Rumaila neighborhood,

February 23 Street

The Old Garage

The surroundings of the Faculty of Arts

The Silos roundabout

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently listed the following additional locations:

Engineers Syndicate

Al Karnak Tourist Hotel

Governor Palace

The Security quarter

House of police chief

Mohab Naser reported “air and artillery shelling by the coalition planes and SDF artillery targeting several neighbourhoods of the city”. He put the death toll at 10 with 20 more wounded. Masrawy also pointed to SDF artillery. According to the Smart News Network, “artillery of the US forces stationed in the north of the city, targeted neighborhoods with dozens of missiles and warplanes launched raids killing a civilian and wounding 17 others.”

Other sources, including the Syrian Network for Human Rights, attributed strikes to the Coalition – reporting five raids on different locations.

In its December 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition confirmed that “During a Coalition strike which destroyed an ISIS headquarters building it was assessed the three civilians were unintentionally killed.” However officials have refused to provide co-ordinates for the event, meaning that we cannot presently determine whether this was incident S763; S765; S766; S767; S768 or perhaps a new event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Faisal Nasser Al-Sheikh Issa Al Mabrouk
killed
Nidal Nasser Al-Sheikh Issa Al-Mabrouk
killed

Family members (2)

Ahmad Al-Tamash
killed
Daughter of Ahmed Al Tamash
female killed

Family members (2)

Hussein Obaid Al-Dandal
killed
Mohammed Ahmed Al-Dandal
killed

Family members (3)

Ismail Abrahima Al-Shaleel
killed
Khaled Ismail Al – Shaleel
killed
Mohamed Ismail All – Shaleel
killed

The victims were named as:

Mazen Khalil Al-Hassouni
8 years old killed
Muhannad Nasser Al-Hammadi
Age unknown killed
Mohamamd al Sabti
Adult Young man displaced from Palmyra killed
Abdo Al-Taki
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 13
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–20
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Mazen Khalil al-Husuni, killed in a raid on Raqqa, May 27th (via RBSS)
  • Mohamamd al Sabti killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa on November 27th 2017 (via Palmyra media centre Facebook page, posted on November 28th, 2017).
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 26th-27th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven vehicles, five fighting positions, three tunnels, an ISIS headquarters and an ISIS staging area.“
For May 27th-28th, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, 15 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, three ISIS headquarters, an ISIS staging area and a VBIED." For May 27th it added that "Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed a six fighting positions, an ISIS-held building and a weapons cache."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 13
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–20
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS869

Incident date

May 26, 2017

Location

Ar Raqqah - Deir Ezzor road, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.701487, 39.635664 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A taxi driver was killed by an airstrike, according to local reports.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee reported that a man was killed by unidentified warplanes on a road near Deir Eizzor. The report said he was a driver. HRO also named him, as did Euphrates Post, which identified him as a taxi driver. That report placed the incident on the road between Raqqa and Deir Ezzor. None of the reports said who was responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Suleiman Mohammed Al-Atallah
29 years old 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Suleiman Mohammed al-Attallah, killed by an alleged Coalition airstrike which targeted his car on the road from Deiralzur to Raqqaa (via Euphrates Post May 26th, 2017).
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV575510
    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

For May 25th-26th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, nine strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, three vehicles, a tactical vehicle, and a mortar system” and “Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed seven ISIS oil trucks, four ISIS barges, an ISIS well head, a command and control node, and an ISIS headquarters.”
For May 26th-27th, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven vehicles, five fighting positions, three tunnels, an ISIS headquarters and an ISIS staging area."

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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI733

Incident date

May 26, 2017

Location

البعاج, Baaj, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.0426, 41.71632 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A military source told Yaqein agency that 46 civilians were killed and dozens were wounded – with varying injuries – after airstrikes of the Joint Forces targeted Baaj and Qayrawan towns in western Nineveh. It was also reported that dozens of houses of civilians were destroyed.

The area was the scene of heavy fighting between Iraqi government-aligned PMU militias and ISIL.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    46
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces, ISIS

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 Baaj, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SGV447920
    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

For May 25th-26th the Coalition publicly reported: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed 42 vehicles, nine VBIEDs, three fighting positions, two mortar systems, two mortar systems, a rocket-propelled grenade system, a tactical vehicle, an anti-air artillery system, a VBIED facility; damaged 10 ISIS supply routes, a tunnel; and suppressed three ISIS tactical units and a mortar unit.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

ISIS Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    46
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces, ISIS

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI734

Incident date

May 26, 2017

Location

الشفاء, Mosul, Al-Shafaa, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3534304, 43.1174326 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported on Facebook that dozens of children and women were killed after heavy airstrikes hit Shifa neighborhood, close to Al-Khayyat circle, in West Mosul. It is presently unknown who was responsible for the raids.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Shifa, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF308246
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 28, 2018
  • 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 May 25th-26th the Coalition publicly reported: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed 42 vehicles, nine VBIEDs, three fighting positions, two mortar systems, two mortar systems, a rocket-propelled grenade system, a tactical vehicle, an anti-air artillery system, a VBIED facility; damaged 10 ISIS supply routes, a tunnel; and suppressed three ISIS tactical units and a mortar unit.”

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS864

Incident date

May 26, 2017

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

Up to 12 civilians died in a fresh round of Coalition airstrikes on Al Mayadeen, according to local sources.

Euphrates Post reported that “the warplanes launched five air strikes at approximately 2 am today [May 26th], a time difference of nearly three hours from the first raids that left three martyrs and a number of wounded on the city of Mayadeen.” It said that the raids were distributed “on the vicinity of the roundabout near the party building and Street Forty, the vicinity of the Saraya and the vicinity of the Nuri Said hospital – the same site targeted by the first raids”. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the airstrikes

Other locations of the strikes were named by Euphrates Post as:

Al-Arbaeen Street from the Agricultural Bank

The park near the party square

The vicinity of the water tunnel

Syria News Desk put the death toll at five civilians three of them children, with 22 more injured, adding that strikes were on residential sites.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights “warplanes of the International Coalition renewed their bombing on Al-Mayadin city around 1:30 am Friday”. It put the number killed at 12, including five children and five women.

@YAlsarout2 put the death toll at 14, however – also pointing to the Coalition – said that as many as 14 non-combatants were killed.

@affairsyrian said that 35 died, though it was unclear whether this was on the 26th or across the 25th too.

Aletihadpress reported that in two days of air strikes on Al Mayadeen, 50 civilians died – but according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, this latest round of strikes brought the number killed to 106, of which 42 were children.

 

The incident occured at 01:30:00 local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 12
  • (1–5 children1–4 women)
  • 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 (19) [ 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 Al Maydin, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU324762
    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

For May 25th-26th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed seven ISIS oil trucks, four ISIS barges, an ISIS well head, a command and control node, and an ISIS headquarters.“
For May 26th-27th, the Coalition reported: "Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes destroyed four ISIS well heads and destroyed an ISIS boat." For May 26th it added that "Near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, one strike destroyed 10 ISIS oil separators and an ISIS well head."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 12
  • (1–5 children1–4 women)
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]