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

CS1923

Incident date

July 13, 2019

Location

بادية (فليطح) فلطيح, Faltih (Fletih) desert (Badit Faltih), Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

Abed Abdullah al-Numan, a shepherd from the town of Al Tayana, was killed by an alleged Coalition airstrike when he was out working in the Faltih(Fletih) desert (Badit Faltih), north of Deir Ezzor – near the Syrian-Iraqi border, according to local media.

Suriye u.a.d. reported that the victim was killed by a Coalition helicopter, whereas Euphrates post reported he was struck from a Coalition plane.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, who also blamed the Coalition, the plane was “without pilot”.

No other details are known at this time.

In September 2019 the Coalition announced that it had classed this allegation of civilian harm as non-credible. Their monthly civilian casualty report noted, “After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abed Abdullah al-Numan
Adult male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A shepherd called Abed Abdullah al-Numan was out with his sheep when he was struck by an alleged Coalition airstrike on Faltih(Fletih) desert (Badit Faltih), north of Deir Ezzor - near the Syrian-Iraqi border, on July 13th (via Euphrates Post).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Fliteh (فليطح) within the Fliteh Desert (بادية فليطح) in the northern region of Deir ez-Zor Governate (مُحافظة دير الزور‎). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
  • Stated location
    in Badit Faltih, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV157184
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 26, 2019

  • July 13, 2019, in Badit Faltih, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Between July 2 and July 31, 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted one strike consisting of five engagements against Daesh
targets in Syria. CJTF-OIR engaged five Daesh tactical units.

Summary

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

Incident Code

CS018

Incident date

November 5, 2014

Location

دير الزور‎, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3333335, 40.1499999 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An internal Coalition report noted that “Open source video indicated that three civilians were killed in a deliberate strike on an oil collection point in DeZ.” Airwars researchers have identified what they believe to be the [graphic] video in question, which was posted to YouTube on November 11th 2014.

The Coalition was unable to verify the claims, though assessed that “No further inquiry required.” As an internal CENTCOM document notes: “Review could not determine that the video came from the strike in DeZ. Although there was a US strike on the oil collection site, the target was validated through the JTCB [Joint targeting Coordination Board?]. Targeting was mitigated – it was a night strike on a specific target where NCV [Non-Combatant Value] was assessed as 0, with mitigated weapons effects.

WSV [weapon system video] cleared target. There was no way to determine authenticity of allegation.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

COALITION-ASSESSED CASUALTY INCIDENT

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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

CI027

Incident date

January 2, 2015

Location

الفرحانية, Villages of Al-Farhaniya and al-Subaihat, Salah al-Din, Iraq

Geolocation

33.907385, 44.181475 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An airstrike by an unspecified belligerent reportedly killed 12 civilians including women and children, and wounded an additional 23. The deaths occurred during an Iraqi government offensive against Islamic State.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • Civilians reported injured
    23
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the villages of Alfarhanah (الفرحانية) and Subaihat (الصبيحات) in the Ishaqi district, South of Tikrit, Salah Al Din province. The location for the Syied Khareeb ( سيد غرايب ) area North West of the Dejeil district, South of Tikrit: 33.907385, 44.181475. Satellite imagery available to Airwars shows visible structural damage to a building at the coordinates 33.908549, 44.180139, between 2014 and 2016. The year long window means this may be a separate incident, however, it should not be discounted.

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-Farhaniya and al-Subaihat, Tikrit, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SMC243521
    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
Official source

No coalition airstrikes were officially reported in the vicinity of Tikrit between January 1st-2nd or 2nd-3rd 2015, and no non-combatant deaths have been conceded.

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
    12
  • Civilians reported injured
    23
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1985

Incident date

October 28, 2022

Location

ذيبان, Thiban, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.00502, 40.513045 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman was killed and two others, including a minor, were injured in an alleged airdrop operation carried out by the Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Hawija neighborhood of Thiban town, east of Deir Ezzor, on October 28, 2022.

Nahr Media reported that a woman named Nadia Mustafa al-Ali was killed and two other people were injured when an SDF patrol raided the homes of the “Al-Askar” family in the Hawija neighborhood of Thiban town to arrest someone connected to smuggling operations. Clashes broke out between the SDF and the people of the houses, resulting in the casualties. According to Orient News, a minor was among those injured and the SDF arrested a number of people, taking them to al-Omar field base.

Local sources from Deir Ezzor governorate told Alaraby News that ““a woman was killed on Thursday/Friday night, and two other people were injured of varying degrees, in addition to the arrest of several people following a raid carried out by the SDF with the support of US helicopters of the coalition forces,” adding that this was an operation carried out by the SDF and the US Coalition.

@DeirEzzore added that the clashes were between the SDF/Coalition forces and people who smuggle oil cross the Euphrates River.

Orient News pointed out that this operation was part of an increase of operations carried out by the Coalition and SDF, with the majority of them occurring in Deir Ezzor

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nadia Mustafa al-Ali نادية مصطفى العلي
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Al Hawija (الحويجة) neighbourhood, reportedly within the town of Thiban (ذيبان), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.00502, 40.513045. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS057

Incident date

February 23, 2015

Location

تل حميس, Tall Hamis, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.75514, 41.399094 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Syria’s Violations Documentation Center, a Coalition airstrike at Tal Hamis – scene of a major battle between Kurdish forces and Islamic State at the time – resulted in the death of a male teenager.

In July 2017, the Coalition classed the event as non credible on grounds of lack of available evidence of civilian harm: “Feb. 23, 2015, near Tal Hamis, 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.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sleiman Al-Khada’an
15 years old male killed

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 (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

  • Image of 15 year old Sleiman Al-Khada’an killed in an alleged coalition raid on Tal Hamis on 23/02/2015. [Via: VDC]

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 Tal Hamis, 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

The coalition did not begin referencing airstrikes at Tal Hamis until February 27th-28th. Prior to then it is likely that any strikes were grouped with activity around Kobane.

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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS065

Incident date

April 30, 2015

Location

بئر محلي, Jubb Mahli (Ber Mahli), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.561113, 38.41203 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In one of the worst reported incidents in nine months of bombings by the US-led Ccoalition, 64 civilians were said to have died in an attack on the village of Ber Mahli near Sareen – the majority of them women (19) and children (32). It remains disputed as to whether the village was partly or wholly under the control of Islamic State forces at the time.

Later admitting that it had carried out a strike on the village, the Coalition said it had instead bombed “several ISIL fighting positions [and] striking more than 50 ISIL fighters.” A CJTF-OIR spokesman appeared to blame any error on Kurdish forces in the area, telling Airwars by email that: “Prior to the airstrikes, Kurdish forces, who held the town before leaving after being attacked by ISIL, reported there were no civilians present in that location and that there had not been any civilians present for two weeks prior to the Coalition airstrikes.”

An internal CENTCOM investigation almost immediately decided “allegation initially not determined credible”, it was revealed in September 2015. The declassified document also appeared to pin responsibility for any error on the YPG, noting that the Kurdish fighters “had held the village up until the ISIL attack and [reported] that there were no civilians in the village.”

According to Al Jazeera, eyewitnesses said that when the village was first bombed, residents ran out of their houses. However Ber Mahli was then repeatedly struck, including a group of cars leaving the village. SN4HR also claimed that “some of the houses were targeted again after people and medical teams gathered to help the victims and wounded.”

Speaking from his hospital bed, one injured survivor spoke of the attack: “We were four families gathered in one room. It was around 11 or 12 at night. They kept on striking the houses. The first time they struck, my cousin was killed with his small children. Why did this happen? Is it because Obama wants to please the King of Saudi Arabia? Why is the coalition bombing us? Why don’t they fight [President] Bashar?“

Another unnamed and injured survivor, a young girl, also spoke for the cameras:”The planes came above us and bombed us and destroyed houses. My father was killed and two of my sisters.”

Buzzfeed also interviewed a 67-year-old witness to the attack, who went by the name of Abu Khaled, who corroborated the names of many of those killed. “They killed whole families. The Americans will never apologize, and they will keep killing civilians,” hecomplained to the news site from southern Turkey.

All 64 known fatalities have now been named by SN4HR and by Manbij News, indicating that entire families were wiped out.

Fadel Abdulghani, head of monitoring group the Syrian Network for Human Rights, demanded that those in the coalition responsible for the deaths be held accountable: “Despite all the efforts made to avoid this, this incident indicates a blatant disrespect for the lives of innocent civilians. The people responsible for this crime should be held accountable which would be a clear message to their associates and commanders.”

In an assessment of the event published in October 2016, it was noted that “a review by Amnesty International of a series of aerial images of the Bir Mahli area, including a satellite image taken approximately one week after the attack, indicates four strike locations and nine to 10 houses being completely flattened…. Amnesty International is concerned that Coalition forces appear to have either mistakenly carried out a large-scale attack on an entirely civilian area having failed to take adequate steps to positively identify a military objective prior to attacking or to have carried out a grossly disproportionate attack against suspected IS targets. In addition, CENTCOM appears to have dismissed evidence indicating scores of civilian casualties.“

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (64)

Ali Al Shawakh Al Salibi
Adult male killed
Aida Al Hussein al Salibi
Adult female Ali al Salibi's wife killed
Khaled Ali al-Shawakh
25 years old male Aida's son killed
Mohammad Ali al-Shawakh
24 years old male Aida's son killed
Eid Ali al-Shawakh
23 years old male Aida's son killed
Jumah Mustafa Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi
1 years old male son of Shuaa Mustafa al-Shawakh killed
Feisal Ali al-Shawakh
17 years old male Aida's son killed
Mustafa Ali al-Shawakh
17 years old male Aida's son killed
Wassel Ali al-Shawakh
6 years old male Aida's son killed
Noura Ali al-Shawakh
14 years old female Aida's daughter killed
Houriah Ali al-Shawakh
10 years old female Aida's daughter killed
Nadeih Jassem al-Sheikh
Adult female Khaled al Shawak's wife killed
Ameirah Eid al-Mustafa al-Shawakh
Adult female Eid Ali Al Shawak's wife killed
Nadeih Eid Ali al-Shawakh
1 years old female Ameriah's daughter killed
Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi
56 years old male killed
Fatima Al Kahhal
Adult female Jumah's wife killed
Shawakh Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi
24 years old male Fatima's son killed
Ahmad Jumah al-Shawakh al-Sleibi
17 years old male Fatima's son killed
Lamya Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi
23 years old female Fatima's daughter killed
Shuaa Mustafa al-Shawakh
30 years old female wife of Mustafa Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi killed
Moneirah Mustafa al-Shawakh
24 years old female Wife of Shawakh Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi killed
Khaznah Ahmad al-Obeid
28 years old female Wife of Wasel Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi killed
Mustafa Wasel Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi
1 years old male Khaznah's Ahmad al Obeid's son killed
Malak Mustafa Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi
3 years old female the daughter of Shuaa Mustafa al-Shawakh
Turki Mustafa Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi
2 years old male the son of Shuaa Mustafa al-Shawakh killed
Jumah Mustafa Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi
1 years old male the son of Shuaa Mustafa al-Shawakh killed
Hadla al-Msallam
Adult female wife of Ali Mohammad al-Ali killed
Hadlah
Adult female the second wife of Ali Mohammad al-Ali, from Alja'adah village killed
Mustafa Ali al-Mohammad al-Ali
31 years old male son of Hadla al-Msallam killed
Fatema Ali al-Mohammad al-Ali
18 years old female the daughter of Hadla al-Msallam killed
Najeeb Ali al-Mohammad al-Ali
1 years old male the son of Hadla, the second wife killed
Maram Mustafa Ali Mohammad al-Ali
6 years old female the daughter of Mustafa Ali Al-Mohammad Ali killed
Mohammad Mustafa Ali Mohammad al-Ali
5 years old male the son of Mustafa Ali Al-Mohammad Ali killed
Ali Mustafa Ali Mohammad al-Ali
3 years old male the son of Mustafa Ali Al-Mohammad Ali killed
Fatema Ali al-Mohammad al-Ali
1 month old years old female Ali Mohammed Ali killed
Eid al-Mustafa al-Shawakhal-Sleibi
47 years old male killed
Ghazalah
Adult female Eid's wife killed
Shahah Eid al-Mustafa al-Shawakhal-Sleibi
10 years old female Eid and Ghazalah's daughter killed
Sabah Eid al-Mustafa al-Shawakhal-Sleibi
6 years old female Eid and Ghazalah's daughter killed
Mona Eid al-Mustafa al-Shawakhal-Sleibi
2 years old female Eid and Ghazalah's daughter killed
Aysheh Eid al-Mustafa al-Shawakhal-Sleibi
7 months years old female Eid and Ghazalah's daughter killed
Turki Eid Al Mustafa Al Shawakh
12 years old male Eid and Ghazalah's daughter killed
Zleikhah
45 years old female Wife of Jalal Mustafa al-Sleibi killed
Turkeih
42 years old female the second wife of Jalal Mustafa al-Sleibi killed
Muhannad Jalal Mustafa al-Sleibi
14 years old male Turkeih's son killed
Azizah Jalal Mustafa al-Sleibi
11 years old female Turkeih's daughter killed
Abd Jalal Mustafa al-Sleibi
10 years old male Zleikhah's son killed
Warde
32 years old female Hussein Al Ali Al Salibi's wife killed
Raghad al-Husain al-Ali al-Sleibi
11 years old female killed
Aboud al-Ali al-Sleibi
10 years old male killed
Younes al-Ali al-Sleibi
4 years old male killed
Mustafa al-Shawakh al-Sleibi
65 years old male killed
Shaha Al Salibi
Adult female Mustafa's wife killed
Khatoun Mustafa al-Shawakh al-Sleibi
25 years old female Shahah's daughter killed
Wardah Mustafa al-Shawakh al-Sleibi
18 years old female Shahah's daughter killed
Shawakh al-Bakko al-Sleibi
40 years old male killed
Ahmad Shawakh al-Bakko al-Sleibi
22 years old male killed
brother of Mustafa al-Bakko al-Sleibi
40 years old male killed
Khatoun al-Hussein al-Sleibi
38 years old female Wife of Aref al-Mustafa al-Sleibi killed
Waheideh Aref al-Mustafa al-Sleibi
8 years old female Khatoun's daughter killed
Amal Aref al-Mustafa al-Sleibi
5 years old female Khatoun's daughter killed
Mahmoud al-Hussain al-Sleibi
40 years old male killed
Ida Al Mahmoud Al Hussein Al Salibi
15 years old female killed
Maryam Mahmoud al-Hussain al-Sleibi
3 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    64
  • (32 children19 women13 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 (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (22) [ collapse]

  • Eyewitness account from a survivor who recounts that the planes struck between 10:00 am and 10:30 am. A family of 9 was killed in the first house, a family of 14 in the second house and 35 members of one family in the third house. [Via: SN4HR]
  • A second survivor recalls how entire families were wiped out in the alleged coalition strikes on the village of Beir Mahli. [Via: SN4HR]
  • Footage of the burial of victims at Beir Mahli, published 14th May 2015. [via: SN4HR]
  • Image showing the coordinates of the village. [via: SN4HR detailed report published on May 6th 2015]
  • Images showing the homes that were targeted in the alleged coalition strikes [via: SN4HR detailed report published on May 6th 2015]
  • The victims' houses that were targeted in the alleged coalition strikes on Beir Mahli [via: SN4HR detailed report published on May 6th 2015]
  • A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]
  • A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    a:1:{i:0;s:5:"other";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    Ber Mahli, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015

  • Prior to the airstrikes, Kurdish forces, who held the town before leaving after being attacked by ISIL, reported there were no civilians present in that location and that there had not been any civilians present for two weeks prior to the Coalition airstrikes

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    64
  • (32 children19 women13 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 (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI078

Incident date

June 28, 2015

Location

يت, Hit, al Bakir, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.649167, 42.834722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A reported coalition airstrike on a Daesh/ ISIL checkpoint also allegedly killed seven non-combatants, according to a single source. According to al Sharqiyah the civilians were caught up in the attack after being held at the checkpoint for an inspection.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a Daesh checkpoint in the neighbourhood of Al Bakr (حي البكر) in the city of Hit (يت), in the Anbar Province. The coordinates for the midpoint of the neighbourhood of Al Bakr (حي البكر) are: 33.649167, 42.834722

  • The Al Bakr neighbourhood (حي البكر) in the city of Hit (يت)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Hit, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SKC992253
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • fter 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

No coalition strike was publicly reported at Hit for June 27th-29th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI088

Incident date

July 29, 2015

Location

الرطبة, Ar Rutbah, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that four non-combatants were killed and six injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike at Ar Rutbah.

According to Iraqi Revolution, “the alliance bombed Rutba in the morning, leading to the martyrdom and wounding of 10 civilians.”

Iraq Body Count, citing Xinhua [source now lost], said that four civilian fatalities had been reported at Rutbah on this date from “international airstrikes.”

In its civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year, the Coalition assessed this event as ‘not credible, asserting: “July 29, 2015, in Ar Rutbah, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2787/CI088 37SFS199561”.

Officials published a location for the event to within 100 metres of where they had remotely assessed the incident.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (3) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Ar Rutbah
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFS199561
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • July 29, 2015, in Ar Rutbah, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2787/CI088 37SFS199561

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No Coalition strikes were publicly reported in the vicinity of Ar Rutbah between July 28th-30th 2015.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (3) [ collapse]