US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Civilians in the ruins of Mosul city. (Maranie R. Staab)

Belligerent
US-led Coalition
Country
Iraq
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

CS813

Incident date

May 13, 2017

Location

شنينة, Shanina, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.0089089, 39.0964794 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 30 civilians including seven children died and between 23 and 45 more were injured in a major casualty event on a refugee camp in Al-Hashem and Shanina, according to local sources. While most reports blamed the US-led Coalition, one also mentioned Kurdish artillery.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently published “pictures of the martyrs and wounded, mostly children, as a result of the bombing of coalition forces and the artillery of the Kurdish militias on the area of Hashem and the outskirts of the town of Shanina north of the city of Al-Raqqa.”

Ahmad al Hamad was named as a victim of a Coalition raid by Al Ragga Truth.

Death counts varied. According to Shaam, three civilians died, while Syrianpc put the death count at four: “a man, his wife and their son, in addition to the martyrdom of ‘Abdullah Muhammad al-Fayyad, 14 years old, and the injury of his entire family”.

Zaman Alwasl reported that “Islamic State media published testimony of a doctor from a hospital in Raqqa, who confirmed the killing of seven children and wounding of 30 more children, along with 15 women, in an aerial bombardment and US artillery strikes on the villages of Shanina and Mazra’at al-Rashid in the northern Rifqa.”

Al Ragga Truth, also attributing the event to Coalition jets, put the death toll as high as 30 – all members of the family of Abu al Hana from al Bu Hmeid.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, seven children died in the strike. Although it is important to note that this report pinpointed the date of the incident at May 12th, whereas most other sources mention May 13th as the date of the airstrike.

An Amnesty International report released in August, 2017 also identified May 12th as the date of the incident. According to the report, a series of air strikes killed 31 family members in Shannina, targeting “simple agricultural structures” where Internally Displaced Persons were sheltering. Relatives who had survived the airstrike stated to the Amnesty researchers that the bombardments started at 8pm and continued until 4am.

One of the survivors told Amnesty International: “The bombs killed many children, small children aged few months to six years.” The survivors had identified some of the victims of the airstrike, but only mentioned the first names to the field researchers: Iman, her husband and their four-year-old son Haitham; her mother-in-law Noura; Fadda along with six children; one of them was a baby boy born four days earlier and not yet named; Fadda’s sister and husband and three of their four children; Sumaya; Jamal along with his two daughters, and his mother Fatima, his brother Mousa and his two-year-old son Mahmoud; Mohammed and his son and daughter, aged four and six; Amina and her husband and their little girl, and Amina’s sister, Shaha, and her husband and their two young children; Mohammed Nasser, aged 60.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Iman
Adult male Mother killed
Haitham
4 years old male Son killed
Noura
Adult female Mother-in-law of Iman killed

Family members (4)

Jamal
Adult male Son killed
Fatima
Adult female Mother killed
Mousa
Adult male Son killed
Mahmoud
2 years old male Mousa's son killed

Family members (2)

Amina
Adult female Shaha's sister killed
Shaha
Adult female Amina's sister killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad al Hamad
Age unknown male killed
Abdullah Muhammad al-Fayyad
14 years old male killed
Abu al Hana
Adult male killed
Fadda
Adult female killed
Sumaya
Adult female killed
Mohammed
Adult male killed
Mohammed Nasser
60 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 30
  • (7–14 children7 women5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    23–45
  • 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, Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child allegedly killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children allegedly killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child allegedly injured in the strike (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child allegedly injured in the strike (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another child allegedly killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another child allegedly injured in the strike (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children allegedly killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another child allegedly injured in the strike (via RBSS)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 12th-13th the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions, a front-end loader, an ISIS crane, and a house-born improvised explosive device.”

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 30
  • (7–14 children7 women5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    23–45
  • 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, Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS811

Incident date

May 13, 2017

Location

حويقة, Hweika, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3353632, 40.1380348 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three named civilians died in an airstrike on a home in Hweika, according to local media. No sources pointed directly at the Coalition, with the majority referring to unidentified “warplanes.” Other reports, however, attributed the event to the Assad regime or Russia.

The Euphrates Post reported the death of two civilians following a raid by an unidentified warplane on their home in Hweika.

However, Raqqa Post blamed a raid by the regime for the death of two children. Sharqiya also said that the regime was responsible, naming the child Thaer al-Tahtouh as killed in a strike on a civilian home.

But other sources – Amer Hweidi, Enab Baladi, JisirTV, RFS – pointed towards Russia, again saying that two children died in the strike.

Two further victims were named.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mahmoud Askar Khalifa
Adult male Also known as Abu Musab killed
Mahmoud Jamil Khalifa al-Askar Abu Musab
Adult male Also known as Abu Lahoud killed

The victims were named as:

Thaer al-Tahtouh
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Yusuf Thaer al-Tahtouh, killed in an airstrike on Hweika, May 13th (via Euphrates Post)
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 Hweika, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV040116
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 12th-13th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, six strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed 16 ISIS oil tankers, two ISIS oil processing equipment, two fighting positions, and a vehicle.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS809

Incident date

May 12, 2017

Location

Khirbat Farms, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.06517, 39.04342 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of two civilians in an airstrike near the hamlets of Khirbat farms and Ruhayyat in Raqqa province.

Their August 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIS VBIED, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that two civilians, not previously observed during the engagement, were unintentionally killed.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a one metre box. The location given placed the event between the two village, with Khirbat farms reported captured by the SDF the day before.

Local sources had reported fierce battles for control of Yarmouk, with Euphrates Post noting on the same day that “The separatist militias and with help of an aerial bombardment by international coalition aircraft secured control of Yarmouk Farms north of the city of Raqqa.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from 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
    Unseen at time of engagement
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV0391091178
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017
  • May 12, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS VBIED, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that two civilians, not previously observed during the engagement, were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 11th-12th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, three VBIEDs, two ISIS oil storage tanks, two ISIS oil stills, two excavators, a front-end loader, an IED, and an ISIS staging area.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI708

Incident date

May 12, 2017

Location

الموصل: غرب/الجانب الأيمن, Mosul, West, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.336843, 43.117979 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple local sources and Al’Amaq [ISIL press agency] reported that up to 108 civilians were killed and 265 were wounded due to artillery shelling and airstrikes by the international Coalition, the Iraqi Joint Forces and popular militia over a number of days.

A medical source had told Yaqein Agency in a press statement that “108 people from Mosul were killed and 265 wounded, mostly children and women, who died during the past four days as a result of continuous shelling on the neighborhoods of the right side [West] of the city of Mosul.” These numbers were also reported by others, who said these were numbers reported by Al’Amaq – the ISIL press agency.

A resident, Um Imam Ahmed, also reported that many had died. On May 16th he posted a photo on Facebook and commented: “The bodies of 30 civilians, including nine members of a family who were killed in the bombing of Coalition aircraft, still under the rubble of a house that was bombed two days ago on the western side of Mosul.”

The Ninawa Media Center said that a local source had confirmed that “a number of unarmed civilians” had died and were injured in Rifai neighbourhood, in north-west Mosul. The Center said that the Coalition had carried out airstrikes on a car bomb near Khaled Ibn al-Walid school – resulting in the destruction of the homes of these civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30 – 108
  • Civilians reported injured
    265
  • 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, Iraq Irregular Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A photo posted on Facebook by Um Imam Ahmed - showing the destruction and one of the victims of heavy shelling in West Mosul (via Um Imam Ahmed)
  • A statement by Al'Amaq - ISIL press agency - saying that 108 had died and 265 were wounded in airstrikes and artillery shelling during the past four days (via Ali Ahmed, Facebook)
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 Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 11th-12th: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, three mortar systems, two sniper positions, a tactical vehicle, a command and control node, a VBIED, a front-end loader; damaged 24 ISIS supply routes, three fighting positions; and suppressed six mortar teams and two ISIS tactical units.“

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

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

Iraq Irregular Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30 – 108
  • Civilians reported injured
    265
  • 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, Iraq Irregular Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS810

Incident date

May 12, 2017

Location

near Raqqah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on April 1st 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment on social media claims of civilian harm “near Raqqah, Iraq”. According to the Coalition report, “102. May 12, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via social media report: No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties. The closest strike to the report of possible civilian casualties was over 2 km away.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017
  • No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties. The closest strike to the report of possible civilian casualties was over 2 km away.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 11th-12th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, three VBIEDs, two ISIS oil storage tanks, two ISIS oil stills, two excavators, a front-end loader, an IED, and an ISIS staging area.”

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS807

Incident date

May 12, 2017

Location

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.8295049, 38.5360909 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians from one family and an additional person died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the Third neighbourhood of Tabaqa, according to local media.

SheroAlo1 said that “the family of the media activist Wassim Abdou“, died in a Coaltion strike, adding that the victims were still under the rubble.

According to Etihad Press – “a member of the coordination of the Kurdish brotherhood” – was killed along with his wife and daughter. Again, the source pointed towards the Coalition, as did Al Hassaka Rasd.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported the deaths of a man and “his wife and grandson”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mohammed Abdo Manan
Adult male killed
Wife of Mohammed Abdo Manan
Adult female killed
The Grandson of Mohammed Abdo Manan
male killed

Family members (3)

Wassim Abdou
Age unknown male killed
Wife of Wassim Abdou
Adult female killed
Daughter of Wassim Abdou
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child1–2 women2 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The family of media activist Wassim Abdo killed in the alleged International Coalition attacks on their house in Tabaqah, May 12th (via @SheroAlo1)
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 Tabqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV580669
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 11th-12th, the Coalition reported: “Near Tabqah, 11 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed seven fighting positions, seven tactical vehicles, a vehicle and a supply cache.”

For May 12th - 13th, the Coalition reported: "Near Tabqah, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a tactical vehicle and a vehicle"

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Thursday 11 May – Typhoons attacked three targets in eastern Syria, as well as a truck-bomb factory north-west of Raqqa. Tornados also struck six times in Mosul…On Thursday 11 May, a pair of Typhoons, armed with Paveway IVs, destroyed a truck-bomb staging area some fifteen miles north-west of Raqqa, while another pair supported the SDF in eastern Syria, hitting a mortar team and two Daesh-held buildings near Al Ulwah. The same day, two flights of Tornados patrolled over Mosul, using Brimstone missiles against two Daesh positions very close to Iraqi troops. A further Paveway IV eliminated a mortar in a courtyard, and three more Paveways cratered roads along which Daesh might have tried to move truck-bombs along.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child1–2 women2 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS808

Incident date

May 12, 2017

Location

مزرعة الأسدية, Al Asadeya farm, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.917928, 39.167638 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 20 civilians – including “entire families” – died and dozens more were wounded in a casualty event at Al-Asadeya farm. Most sources attributed the incident to Kurdish artillery, and only one blamed the US-led Coalition. The alliance later admitted responsibility for ten deaths.

It was later revealed that the strike was either by French or Belgian forces – though both countries refuse to say more.

Syrian Press Center reported that “attacks by the military aircraft of the International coalition on Asadiya farm, north of the city of Raqqa, yesterday morning left dozens of dead and wounded civilians in addition to much destruction of the village”.

However, other sources believed that shelling by Kurdish artillery was responsible. According to Step News Agency, 20 died and dozens more were injured. Alaraby pointed at both strikes by warplanes and artillery, putting the death toll at 10.

All4Syria – which also attributed the event to Kurdish artillery – listed victims in addition to those named below as: One of the sons of Shawadi; Abu Baraa’s entire family; The whole family of Al-Taheri; and a displaced person on the farm

The Coalition’s August 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on ISIS fighters, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed in a building adjacent to the target.” Officials provided Airwars with the location for this incident, accurate to within a one metre box.

In March 2020, Airwars, Liberation and De Morgen published a joint investigation revealing that Belgium and France were refusing to accept responsibility for civilian harm in this and other events – despite all other allies ruling themselves out.

Asked to say whether its aircraft were responsible for officially declared civilian harm in up to nine incidents, the Belgian Ministry of Defence told Airwars by email: “For the year 2017, BAF [Belgian Armed Forces] was certainly not involved in all events. With regard to the other data given, BAF was no longer present in theatre. BAF completed its role at the end of 2017. Our conclusion is that all ROEs [rules of engagement] were respected as confirmed by our federal court.”

After confirming receipt from Airwars in June 2019 of details of possible French civilian casualty events, the defence ministry then ceased communication – refusing to answer all subsequent emails.

In its own investigation, De Morgen featured Muhammad Sheikh Sa’ab, whose leg was amputated following a likely Belgian or French airstrike on May 12th-13th 2017 [translation]:

“26-year-old Muhammad Sheikh Sa’ab sprawled out on some pillows in his home in Assadiyah, a small town just outside Raqqa. He prefers not to have his prosthesis photographed. He is missing a leg, in his own words, since an air attack by the international coalition against IS on the night of May 12-13, 2017.

‘We were all in the house when the Coalition bombs fell. My younger brother died in the process. He was 21 years old. Mahmoud was not a warrior, but an ordinary citizen. My neighbour Muhamad Al Nasih also died, as did a refugee from elsewhere in Syria who lived here. ‘

“… The international coalition regularly shared information about incidents involving civilian casualties, after its own evaluations or after reports in the local press and social media. That happened, for example, after the air raid on Assadiyah, in which Muhammad sheikh Sa’ab lost his leg. Several reports in the day after that attack reported civilian deaths. In the list of victims that became so famous, the brother of Muhammad sheikh Sa’ab is not included, but his 55-year-old neighbour, Muhamad Al Nasih, and the displaced person.

“Several witnesses in Assadiyah confirm to De Morgen that Muhammad Sheikh Sa’ab indeed lost his leg, that his brother died and that his father was injured by shrapnel shards. They are talking about ten to fifteen deaths. In an August 2017 report, the international coalition itself states that it is “credible” that civilian deaths occurred in this airstrike. “It has been judged that an attack on IS (fighters) killed ten civilians unintentionally in a building adjacent to the target.”

According to De Morgen, neither the defence ministry nor the Government wished to respond publicly to that list of incidents, even now that the operation is over, since Belgium may send its F-16s again later this year.

“We don’t want to set a precedent or start a polemic with other coalition partners,” the a Cabinet official said, citing the ‘many nations, one mission’ concept. If a country replies in the negative to a specific incident, it may lead towards other potential actors in that airstrike being identified. During the war against ISIS, this also had security implications, because civilian deaths can lead to revenge actions, government officials claimed.

“None of the authorities or the Coalition have visited us,” Muhammad Sheikh Sa’ab told De Morgen. “That artificial leg has cost me handsfull of money, all paid out of my own pocket.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Muhammad Sheikh Sa'ab
23 years old male Brother of Mahmoud injured
Mahmoud Sheikh Sa'ab
21 years old male killed
Father of Muhammad and Mahmoud
Adult male Harmed by shrapnel injured

Family members (3)

Abu Baraa
Adult male killed
Family member 1
killed
Family member 2
killed

Family members (3)

Al Taheri family member 1
killed
Al Taheri family member 2
killed
Al Taheri family member 3
killed

The victims were named as:

Khalil Dhamma
Age unknown male killed
Hassan Ismail Al Zeyab
Age unknown male killed
Muhammad Al-Naseh
55 years old male killed
Unnamed Syrian IDP
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (14) [ 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
    10
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV1512474858
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017
  • May 12, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via social media report: During a strike on ISIS fighters, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed in a building adjacent to the target.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 11th-12th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, three VBIEDs, two ISIS oil storage tanks, two ISIS oil stills, two excavators, a front-end loader, an IED, and an ISIS staging area.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS806

Incident date

May 12, 2017

Location

القورية, Quriya, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.94995, 40.55731 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Euphrates Post, five named civilians died in an airstrike when the car they were in was struck in Quriya. According to one source, Zaman Alwasl, the victims died as they were returning from a picnic in nearby Badia. The US-led alliance later accepted responsibility for injuring one person in the event.

All sources but one at the time attributed their deaths to the US-led Coalition – though Syria News Desk said that warplanes belonging to the Syrian regime were responsible.

The source didn’t identify the warplanes responsible for the deaths, though an earlier report said that Coalition aircraft had been seen over Deir Ezzor.

RFS also put the death toll at five, including two children, and blamed the Coalition.

However, one source, Syria News Desk, said that the regime was responsible, reporting that “four members of the organization [IS] and five civilians were killed yesterday night, following two raids by regime military aircraft on the city of Qouriya controlled by the organization [IS] in the eastern suburb of Deir al-Zour.

Al-Hamd pointed out that the warplanes targeted two vehicles, one carrying four members of the organization and the other five civilians at the entrance of the eastern city of Qureia as they entered the city. The shelling also completely burned the cars and damaged cars passing by.”

In December 2018 the Coalition accepted responsibility for the event – though only for one person injured rather than the five reported fatalities: “On May 12, 2017, near Quriya, Syria, via Airwars report. The coalition aircraft engaged what was positively identified as an ISIS vehicle containing two known ISIS combatants. While ISIS combatants were killed in the attack, a civilian in the vicinity was unintentionally injured in the explosion.”

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.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Idris Abu Somar
Adult male killed
Sheikh Mahmoud Al Karad Abu Ahmed
Adult male killed
Muslim Aldrees
Adult male brother of Mohammed Aldrees killed
Mohammed al-Muslim
Adult male Mohammed Idris’s cousin killed
Abdul Salamah Abu Laith
Adult male Cousin of Mohammed Aldrees killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected attacker
    Syrian Regime

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The funeral of five civilians, killed in an alleged Coalition strike on their vehicle in Quriya, May 12th (via Baladi)
  • Mohammed al-Adris "Abu Somer", killed in an airstrike on Quriya, May 11th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Abdul Salamah and Mahmoud Al-Karad two men killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Quriya, May 12th (via Euphrates Post)
  • The funeral of five men allegedly killed by Coalition airstrikes on their vehicle in Quriya, May 12th (via Zaman ALwasl)

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 34.96, 40.55

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
    Killed by strike blast
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Quriyah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU422686
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 30, 2018
  • On May 12, 2017, near Quriyah, Syria, via Airwars report. The Coalition aircraft engaged what was positively identified as an ISIS vehicle containing two known ISIS combatants. While the ISIS combatants were killed in the attack, a civilian in the vicinity was unintentionally injured in the explosion.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 11th - 12th, the Coalition reported: "Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes destroyed three ISIS oil processing items and two ISIS well heads"

For May 12th - 13th, the Coalition reported: "Near Dayr Az Zawr, six strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed 16 ISIS oil tankers, two ISIS oil processing equipment, two fighting positions, and a vehicle"

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected attacker
    Syrian Regime

Sources (26) [ collapse]