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

CS692

Incident date

April 14, 2017

Location

مشيرفة, Mushirfa, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.27418, 38.21988 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians died and eight more were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Mushirfa, according to local media.

All sources blamed the Coalition.

The incident was first reported on April 14, 2017 at 1:39 pm by Smart News.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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

Reports of the incidents mention the village of Mushirfa (مشيرقة), northwest of Raqqa. The coordinates for Murshirfa are: 36.27418, 38.21988. 

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 Mushirfa, 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
Official source

For April 13th-14th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqa, four strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions. Near Tabqah, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units, destroyed a fighting position, and damaged a supply route.”

For April 14th – 15th: “Near Raqqa, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three fighting positions and a weapons cache. Near Tabqa, one strike suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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

CI638

Incident date

April 14, 2017

Location

رأس الجادة, Mosul, Ras Al Jadda, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34075, 43.126911 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two local sources reported that seven civilians from one family died when an airstrike or bombardment hit their house in Ras Al Jadda neighbourhood in the old part of Mosul.

The victims were named by MNN and Sawlf Ateka (local Facebook group) as: Wa’ed Ali Saleh al-Sharifi, his wife, sons Ali and Nashwan, his daughter Mayada, grandson Yousif Ali, and the wife of his eldest son Bassam. An unspecified number of other family members were injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Wa’ed Ali Saleh al-Sharifi
Adult male Father killed
Ali
Adult male Son killed
Nashwan
Adult male Son killed
Mayada
Adult female Daughter killed
Yousif Ali
Age unknown male Grandson killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (3 women3–4 men)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Waed-Ali-Saleh-al-Sharifi died together with six family members when an airstrike hit their house in Old Mosul (via Sawlf Ateka Facebook page)
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 Ras al Jadda, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For April 13th-14th the Coalition publicly reported: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed four fighting positions, a VBIED, a command-and-control node, a tunnel; and damaged five fighting positions, and four ISIS supply routes.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (3 women3–4 men)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI639

Incident date

April 14, 2017

Location

تل خيمة, Tel Kheimeh near Badoosh, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.438611, 42.845556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a major alleged incident, two interviewees reported that up to 55 civilians died in an Iraqi or Coalition airstrike and ground-based machine gun fire as they attempted to flee ISIS control.

The following unpublished field report was shared by Amnesty International with Airwars: “Interviewee 1: ‘I’m from Tel Kheimeh, a small village, around one kilometre from (the larger) Badoosh (town) in Ninewa Governorate, outside Mosul city. There were about 200 villagers living in Tel Kheimeh. I left on 17 April, after something happened on 14 April. By 14 April the ISF had retaken Badoosh but not the surrounding villages, including Tel Kheimeh.

On 14 April 55 villagers from Tel Kheimeh decided to flee to Badoosh to avoid the forthcoming battle between approach ISF and the ISIS fighters in the village. They walked from Tel Kheimeh across the mountainous terrain towards Badoosh. At around 10pm we heard the sound of a big airstrike (presumed) from Tel Kheimeh, coming from the direction they had gone in. As they were approaching Badoosh a warplane had bombed them. The bombing was following by machine gun fire from the ISF in Badoosh.

Along with the rest of the villagers, I walked to the scene the following morning. All 55 villagers had been killed. Those closest to the explosion had suffered shrapnel wounds. The others had been killed by machine gun fire. One of my (male) cousins was among the victims. Fourteen of them were from the same family. Not one single person from those that left escaped alive. It was mountainous and there were no trees or farm crops to hide behind. They (the ISF) must have thought that the villagers were ISIS but there were only five or ten ISIS fighters in Tel Kheimeh. They killed all these villagers thinking everyone coming from Tel Kheimeh must be ISIS.’

Second interviewee (different date, different camp) ‘I know Tel Kheimeh village, it’s also near Badoosh. I heard about “something bad” happening there. A plane hit them (the villagers from Tel Kheimeh) in the village. They were collected together in a place (not necessarily by force) and a plane hit them. They said that many people died. I don’t know the details.’

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    55
  • 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, Iraq Government Forces

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 Tel Kheimeh near Badoos, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For April 13th-14th the Coalition publicly reported: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed four fighting positions, a VBIED, a command-and-control node, a tunnel; and damaged five fighting positions, and four ISIS supply routes.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    55
  • 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, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS693

Incident date

April 14, 2017

Location

حمرة غانم, Hamra Ghanem, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported the death of one civilians “as a result of a raid by international coalition aircraft on the town of Hamra Ghanem”.

Local news source Sharaf News also reported a few days later that “Activists from Raqqa said that international coalition aircraft targeted the house of Bashir Yusuf al-Sultan in the village of Hamra Ghanem in the eastern Raqqa, where four martyrs and many wounded civilians were killed, with the destruction of the targeted house.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nora Hamoud al-Jazaa
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hamra Ghanem (حمرة غانم), east of Raqqa. The coordinates for Hamra Ghanem are: 35.9375, 39.144167.

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 Hamra Ghanem, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties. (1328)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For April 13th-14th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqa, four strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions. Near Tabqah, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units, destroyed a fighting position, and damaged a supply route.“

For April 14th – 15th: the Coalition reported “Near Raqqa, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three fighting positions and a weapons cache. Near Tabqa, one strike suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS694

Incident date

April 15, 2017

Location

مزرعة يعرب, Mazra'at Yarub, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.977858, 38.872622 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians from the same family died and two others were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike which hit homes in the village of Mazra’at Yarub, according to local sources which all blamed the Coalition.

According to Smart News, “Five civilians from one family were killed in most likely coalition air strike on a village west of the city of Raqqa, north of Syria, a local source told the Smart correspondent on Saturday night. The source added that the aircraft targeted the houses of civilians in the village of Mazra’at Yarub, in Mansoura district (35 km from the city of Raqqa), which is controlled by the Islamic State, killing the family members.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Mazra’at Yarub (مزرعة يعرب), Raqqa governorate, for which the coordinates are: 35.977858, 38.872622.

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 Mazra’at Yarub, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties. (1330)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For April 14th-15th: “Near Raqqa, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three fighting positions and a weapons cache. Near Tabqa, one strike suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.“

For April 15th-16th: ” Near Raqqah, six strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units, destroyed an ISIS bridge, and damaged an ISIS supply route. Near Tabqah, 11 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units, destroyed seven fighting positions and an ISIS vehicle.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS695

Incident date

April 15, 2017

Location

السكرية, Sukariya, Al Bukamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.471667, 40.911111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and 17 civilians died and dozens more were injured in an airstrike on Sukariya area, according to local media. While most sources blamed the Coalition, one alleged that the Iraqi air force was responsible.

@ALAMAWI and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights were among sources that reported the death of a family of eight displaced civilians from Aleppo. According to JisrTV, “Coalition aircraft bombed nine civilians from one family, most of them children and women.”

Aksalser put the death toll as high as 17 but didn’t identify the culprit.

However, Smart News Agency pointed towards Iraqi forces, reporting: “The aircraft was believed to belong to the Iraqi air force and bombed a house in Sukariya in the countryside of the city of Al Bukamal (130 km southeast of the city of Deir al Zour), last night, killing nine civilians, displaced from the city of Aleppo, mostly women and children”.

Syria News Desk reported that eight displaced civilians from Aleppo, all from the same family, died in a Coalition strike.

In what is likely to be the same event, Sharqiya reported the deaths of 10 IDPs from Aleppo though at Al Hamdan.

In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition deemed this incident non-credible due to a lack of evidence that civilians were killed: “April 15, 2017, near Abu Kamal, Syria, via social media report: After 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
    6 – 17
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

The majority of sources refer to the Sukariya neighbourhood (السكرية), adjacent to Al Hamdan neighbourhood in Al Bukamal (البوكمال) city. The coordinates for the Sukariya neighbourhood (السكرية) are: 34.471667, 40.911111. 

  • Sukariya neighbourhood (السكرية) in Al Bukamal (البوكمال)

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 Sukariya, 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
Official source

For April 14th-15th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike damaged an ISIS fuel facility.”

For April 15th-16th: the Coalition reported: “Near Abu Kamal, three strikes destroyed three ISIS well heads and ISIS engineering equipment.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 17
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS696

Incident date

April 15, 2017

Location

البوكمال, near Abu Kamal, Syria, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.466049, 40.907593 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

Summary

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

Incident Code

CI640

Incident date

April 15, 2017

Location

ريحانة, Rayhana, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.340814, 42.02837 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two local sources reported that nine civilians were killed and others injured after Coalition airstrikes allegedly hit Rayhana village near Anah, in Anbar province. The exact number of wounded was not determined.

Yaqein placed the village 210 km west of Ramadi.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • 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 (2) [ 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
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For April 14th-15th the Coalition did not report strikes near Anah.

Summary

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