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

CS918

Incident date

June 4, 2017

Location

north of Raqqah, Syria, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.06537, 39.04331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of four civilians in an event north of Raqqa.

Their November 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a Coalition strike that engaged a Daesh tactical unit, it was assessed that four civilians were unintentionally killed.”

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ 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
    4
  • Stated location
    north of Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV039912
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 30, 2017

  • June 4, 2017 north of Raqqah, Syria, via self-report. During a Coalition strike that engaged a Daesh tactical unit, it was assessed that four civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 4th-5th the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions and five vehicles.” In addition it reported for June 4th that “Near Raqqah, Syria, five strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed 49 boats, five fighting positions, three anti-air artillery systems, two tactical vehicles and two ISIS staging areas.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1328

Incident date

August 4, 2017

Location

منطقة جمعية المهندسين, Jamiat al Muhandissen area in Orme al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.116944, 36.908611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple local sources reported the explosion of a car bomb in “the second village of engineers” killing members of Haiat Tahrir al Sham [formerly Al Qaeda/ Al Nusra] and up to four civilians, as well as wounding others.

According to @Elghad , “The Syrian Observatory, based in Britain, said that a car bomb exploded near the headquarters of the editor of the Levant in the Al Mouhandeseen countryside.

The Observatory said that preliminary reports indicated the killing of two members of the Liberation of the Sham and wounding others.

A media unit of the group confirmed the explosion, saying that a number of its members were killed and wounded.”

There was only one allegation against Coalition warplanes, from the Step News Agency. It reported: “Thirteen members of Haiat Tahrir al Sham [formerly Al Nusra] and a number of civilians were killed and wounded when the Coalition’s international air force targeted them in the area of the Society of Engineers [or Jamiaat al Muhandissen] in Orme al-Kubra, west of Aleppo.”

The incident was first reported on August 19, 2017 at 8:17 am by @Akhbr .

Summary

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

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports mention the area of Jamiat al Muhandissen (منطقة جمعية المهندسين) in Orme al Kubra (أورم الكبرى), western Aleppo governorate, for which the coordinates are: 36.116944, 36.908611    

  • The area of Jamiat al Muhandissen (منطقة جمعية المهندسين)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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 Orme al Kubra, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCV117989
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 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

The Coalition has not publicly reported any strikes in Aleppo governorate for August 3rd-4th.

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • For August 3rd-9th, France report 1 strike in Iraq and 1 in Syria, along with 9 artillery strikes in Mosul. (via EtatMajorFR)

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS1518

Incident date

November 2, 2016

Location

معرة مصرين, Maarat Misrin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.012172, 36.6730499 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians died and between four and ten were wounded after a series of three cluster missile attacks were carried out against the city of Maarat Misrin, according to local media. The majority of sources have assigned responsibility to Syrian regime planes but LCCSY and Syria Idlib Today alleged that Russian warplanes carried out the attacks. In addition, Moussa al Assa’ad, an armed leader of the FSA, and the Fath al-Sham Front, blamed the US-led coalition as being responsible for the attack.

In a statement released following the strikes, Fath al-Sham alleged ”the criminal world sponsor, America’s injustice and tyranny have targeted one of our Mujahideen centers in Maarrat Misrin.”

Those killed in the attacks were alleged by Sky Souria to be members of Jabhat Al Nusra.

The Holy Defence Network reported that the raids were a response to attacks that alleged militants had carried out in al Fo’a and Kafriya.

Video footage published by the Idlib White Helmets shows badly injured people being removed from the rubble and loaded into emergency vehicles. According to Syrian News Desk, they were swiftly transported to medical units in the town. 

An on the ground source said that cluster bombs were used in this raid, however other sources such as RadioAlKul reported that surface missiles were used. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adel Abu Mohammad al Ansari
Age unknown male named by Moussa al Assa’ad killed
Abu Hamza al Masri
Age unknown male named by Moussa al Assa’ad killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (35) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment the alleged airstrike hit Maarat Misrin, 2nd November 2016. (via The Holy Defence Network)
  • The exact moment the alleged airstrike hit Maarat Misrin, 2nd November 2016. (via The Holy Defence Network)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic footage showing people being rescued and dug up from the rubble in the dead of night in the aftermath of an alleged airstrike on Maarat Misrin, 2nd November 2016. (via Idlib white helmets)
  • Footage showing just moments after the airstrike hit Maarat Misrin, 2nd November 2016. (via Union Activists Revolution)
  • Footage showing the alleged plane which dropped bombs on Maarat Misrin, 2nd November 2016. (via Union Activists Revolution)
  • Rough translation: "On Wednesday 2nd November 2016 the protector of international crime the oppressive America targeted one of the centres of al Mujahidin in Maarat Misrin in the Idlib countryside which destroyed the place completely killing all the mujahidin who were inside. The most notable of the martyrs were: -Adel Abu Mohammad al Ansari -Abu Hamza al Masri [administrator] May god receive them in his paradise. This targeting complements the role played by Russia in bombing and destroying and supporting Bashar’s regime." (via Moussa al Assa’ad)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Maarat Misrin (معرة مصرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36,012172, 36,6730499. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

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

CJTF–OIR for November 1, 2016 – November 2, 2016 reported that "Coalition military forces conducted no strikes in Syria".

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (35) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1820 CS439a

Incident date

January 11, 2017

Location

تفتناز, Taftanaz, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.99832, 36.78579 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians were killed in alleged Russian, Syrian regime, and or US led Coalition airstrikes on Taftanaz. Sources are conflicted as to who was to blame. Most sources blame Russia and the Syrian regime, however there were also two allegations against the Coalition. 

As many as four civilians were also wounded – according to sources – some with serious injures that it was estimated the death toll would likely rise.

According to some source the three adult males pictures were displaced civilians from the same family, however many sources also reported that they were three leaders of the “Lwa’a Al Haq” in the operations room of the “Fatah Army”, also known as the Free Syrian Army.

Sources reported that residential homes were struck in the raid, causing huge fired and destroying much infrastructure.

In their June 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Hamid al-Zobaa al-Mulhim
Adult male possible fighter killed
Abu Namis al-Jubouri
Adult male possible fighter killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 4
  • (0–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Three victims of the alleged raids on Taftanaz, 11th January 2017. Possibly fighters. (via Tasnimnews)
  • Three victims of the alleged raids on Taftanaz, 11th January 2017. Possibly fighters. (via @abozaid_alshame)
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

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between January 1st – 31st 2017.

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
    37SCV004858
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 24, 2020

  • Jan. 11, 2017, in Taftanaz, 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. 3095/CS439a 37SCV004858

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 4
  • (0–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS965c

Incident date

June 11, 2017

Location

Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.934506, 39.010462 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, four civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes in Raqqa. Although Airwars assesses single sourced incidents as “weak”, researchers have assessed this incident “fair” due to the depth of material provided by Amnesty.

According to the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, “Ibrahim Sabri al-Aabed, 17, and his three cousins were killed when the boat they took to cross the river was destroyed by an air strike.”

Field notes contain additional information explaining that they went to the river with Ibrahim’s mother and other relatives; people boarded boats by the old bridge (to the right [west] side, which is now not accessible). Ibrahim’s mother and other relatives managed to cram onto a boat and crossed but Ibrahim and his cousins did not as Ibrahim were a bit further behind waited for a guy to bring him cigarettes. Once on the other side (where her sister lived) his mother learned that the boat had been hit and Ibrahim and his cousin and two others had been killed.

Fatima, the mother, told Amnesty in a testimony that “I got on a boat with some relatives but my son and his cousin had stopped to buy cigarettes, and had to wait for the next boat. When I reached the other side I learned that their boat had been bombed.”

In their monthly civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition has indicated that the credibility of this civilian harm allegation is in the process of being assessed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Sabri al-Aabed
17 years old male killed
Suleiman Daud Aabed
20 years old male killed
Ahmad Hassan al-Faqir
19 years old male killed
Aissa Musa al-Aajili
23 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child2 men)
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Ibrahim Sabri al Abed, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on June 11th 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Suleiman Daud Abed, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on June 11th 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Ahmad Hassan Al Faqir, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on June 11th 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • The site of the strike to years on. (via Amnesty)
  • The site of the strike to years on. (via Amnesty)
  • The site of the strike to years on. (via Amnesty)
  • The site of the strike to years on. (via Amnesty)
  • The site of the strike to years on. (via Amnesty)
  • Via Amnesty International

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

  • Before strike. (via Amnesty)

  • After strike. (via Amnesty)

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The assessment on this allegation is pending.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child2 men)
  • 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

Incident Code

CI113

Incident date

September 27, 2015

Location

يت, Hit, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.642631, 42.829814 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four members of the al-Jumaili family were killed in an alleged Coalition strike at Hit, according to reports.

Mr al-Jumaili was described as a refrigerator repairman, whose home in the city’s April 7th neighbourhood was hit.

The dead have been named by one of the sources.

In their August 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that after a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Ahmed Hamid Jassim al-Jumaili
Adult male Father killed
Abeer Zia Nafeh Jumaili
Adult female Mother killed
Wael Ahmed Hamed
Age unknown male Son killed
Nabah Ahmed Hamid Jassim al-Jumaili
Child female Daughter killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Funeral for a family of four reported killed in a Coalition strike at Hit, Iraq Sept27 2015 (via Iraqi Revolution)
  • Aftermath of the strike

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of one of the alleged victims (via Haret Mothana)
  • Another image of the funeral (via Iraqi Revolution)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SKC987246
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 22, 2020

  • Sept. 27, 2015, in Hit, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, the alleged civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action. 2834/CI113 38SKC987246

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Airstrikes on September 26th-27th in the city had targeted a “VBIED production facility,” according to a press release.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS199

Incident date

April 7, 2016

Location

جرابلس, Jarablus, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.818378, 38.010343 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, the Syrian Observatory, reported that “no less than 13 IS [fighters] were killed by aerial bombardment by the Coalition warplanes in Jarablus, in addition to four detainees were also killed during the same airstrikes.”

The Observatory’s Arabic-language report said the detainees were carrying out as punishment duty the digging of trenches for ISIS around the city of Jarablus.

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA117751
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • April 7, 2016, in Jarablus, 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. 2943/CS199 37SDA117751

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For April 6th-7th 2016, the Coalition reported the following for Aleppo governorate: “Near Mar’a, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS404

Incident date

December 6, 2016

Location

العبارة, `Abbarah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.1553406, 39.0213776 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians including three brothers – along with two ISIL fighters – were reported killed in an alleged Coalition air raid on al Abbara.

Syria News Desk said that “Four civilians and two members of Islamic state were killed and others were injured this afternoon, due to international coalition raids targeting with four raids the village of Al A’bbara under the control of ISIL in the countryside of northern Raqqa.”

According to Smart news, seven civilians were also injured in the attack.

Syrian PC has named three of the dead, all from the same family.

In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, Coalition officials said the event had been submitted “for further review.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ahmad Shareef Sakher
20 years years old male killed
Hussein Shareef Sakher
18 years years old male killed
Mo’ayad Ibrahim Sakher
15 years years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad Sharif al Sakhir and his brother Hussein Sharif al Sakhir (via Raqqa is Being Slaughtered)
  • Mouayed Ibrahim al Sakhir (via RBSS)
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near al-Abbara village, northern Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEA020010
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 27, 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 December 5th-6th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Ar Raqqah, three strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units and destroyed a fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]