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

CS363

Incident date

November 7, 2016

Location

northern countryside of Ar Raqqah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three individuals were killed in a Coalition strike, local sources reported.

Euphrates Post said that international coalition strikes killed three individuals traveling in a car “in the desert of Al Raqqa.”. It identified the victims as being from Bokros in Deir Ezzor province though did not clarify if they were civilians.

The Deir Ezzor and Raqqa Legal Network also reported the same names, and said the three men had been killed by “coalition planes.”

The Syrian Observatory reported Coalition raids in the area, but did not cite casualties.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Al hajj Khalifa Abboud al Sharida
Adult male killed
Fawwaz Said al Habboud
Adult male killed
Mohammad Khalifa al Hamidi
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • One of the victims of the strike (via Euphrates Post)
  • One of the victims of the strike (via Euphrates Post)
  • One of the victims of the strike (via Euphrates Post)
  • Fawwaz al Haboud, Khalifa al Sharida, Mohammad al Hamidi (via Abu Abd al Aziz)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For November 6th-7th, the Coalition reported no strikes near Raqqa, but reported “Near Ayn Isa, 16 strikes engaged 12 ISIL tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, five vehicles, two VBIEDs, and a communications node”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI357

Incident date

November 29, 2016

Location

Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.36459, 43.1954 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident previously unknown to Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of three civilians near Mosul.

Their January 2017 civilian casualty report noted “During a strike on ISIL fighters it is assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed when they entered the target area just prior to the munition’s impact.”

This incident may be related to CI356.

Al Rafidain published a video on the day (probably originating from ISIL) which showed significant damage to a west Mosul neighbourhood, along with dead and injured civilians. Local journalist Zyaad Alsenjary claimed civilian homes had been targeted.

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with coordinates for the event, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bloody video shows the aftermath of the bombing of coalition allegedly aircraft on the industrial area on the right side of Mosul (via @rafidenchannel)

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
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF381259
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 2, 2017

  • Nov. 29, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq: During a strike on ISIL fighters it is assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed when they entered the target area just prior to the munition’s impact.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For November 28th-29th, the Coalition reported “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged four ISIL tactical units; destroyed five mortar systems, three ISILheld buildings, three vehicles, three VBIEDs, two front-end loaders, a VBIED factory, and a command and control node; suppressed three tactical units; and damaged five supply routes and two pieces of road construction equipment.”

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS999

Incident date

June 15, 2017

Location

نزلة شحادة, Nazlat Shahada, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.951921, 39.022304 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three adult brothers died and at least one was injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike between the area of the two bridges in Raqqa, according to local media.

Multiple sources named two brothers as killed in the Coalition raid while Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently named an additional third victim.

A joint Amnesty and Airwars’s report from April 2019 “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality” reports the death of the three brothers after speaking to eyewitnesses on the ground. Samia, sister to the killed brothers, told Amnesty’s researchers that the strike hit around 6 am, killing Mohannad and Mohammed as they were still asleep. Samia said that the third victim, Sami, was with their mother, who sustained very serious injuries all over her head and body.

It should, however, be noted that sources, besides from Amnesty/Airwars’ research reported different surnames for the three brothers.

Sharqiya Voice reported that “Mohamed Omar Hamdan and his brother Mohannad Omar Hamdan” were killed, and published a photo depicting the same two brothers that Amnesty and Airwars reported.

Moreover, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported the death of a “Sami Mohammed “Al Haj Hassan” and published the same photo of Sami as Amnesty’s researchers.

Because of the field research made by Amnesty’s researchers, the Amnesty/Airwars’ reported names are the ones that will be used.

The incident occured at 06:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mohammad Omar al-Sheikh
23 years old male killed
Mohannad Omar al-Sheikh
19 years old male killed
Sami al-Sheikh
24 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Two of the victim brothers, Mohamed and Mohannad, killed in an alleged Coalition strike on Raqqa, June 15th (via Sharqiya Voice)
  • Sami al-Sheikh, victim of the alleged Coalition strikes targeting the area of the two bridges in Raqqa (via Amnesty/Airwars)
  • Mohammad Omar al-Sheikh, victim of the alleged Coalition strikes targeting the area of the two bridges in Raqqa (via Amnesty/Airwars)
  • Mohannad Omar al-Sheikh, victim of the alleged Coalition strikes targeting the area of the two bridges in Raqqa (via Amnesty/Airwars)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

  • Before the attack.

  • After the attack.

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 Between two bridges, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV000761
    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 June 14th-15th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed nine fighting positions, three ISIS boats, and a vehicle; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.”

For June 15th-16th the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 20 strikes engaged 14 ISIS tactical units and a sniper and destroyed nine fighting positions, four vehicles, three mortar systems, two supply caches, two ISIS headquarters, a heavy machine gun, and a home-made explosives factory.” It also additionally reported that “On June 15, near Raqqah, Syria, six strikes destroyed eight fighting positions, an ISIS headquarters, and a tunnel, and suppressed two snipers.” And that “On June 15, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike destroyed six fighting positions, five ISIS staging areas, two command and control nodes, an ISIS headquarters, and a supply cache, and damaged 10 fighting positions and two VBIED facilities.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

or June 14th-20th, 19 strikes were made by French aircraft in Iraq and Syria. Most of them were carried out during the Battle of Mosul, in support of the Iraqi fighters engaged in the fighting to drive ISIL out of its positions in the North of the Medina. The other strikes were carried out in support of the fighting for the capture of Raqqah, and against flows of arms and fighters in Iraq and Syria.

Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 34 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée ou d’appui au sol (CAS) et 3 de recueil de renseignements. 19 frappes ont été réalisées par les avions français en Irak et en Syrie. La majeure partie d’entre elle ont été réalisées dans le cadre de la bataille de Mossoul, en appui des combattants irakiens engagés dans les combats pour chasser Daech de ses positions au Nord de la Médina. Les autres frappes ont été réalisées en appui des combats pour la prise de Raqqah, et contre des flux d’armes et de combattants en Irak et en Syrie.

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

Thursday 15 June – A Reaper destroyed a terrorist vehicle in eastern Syria. Typhoons struck three targets in Raqqa, while Tornados and Typhoons hit a mortar near Tal Afar and six targets in Mosul…The following day [June 15th], a Reaper remotely piloted aircraft conducted armed reconnaissance in eastern Syria, some 35 miles north-east of Dayr az Zawr, and used a Hellfire missile to destroy a terrorist truck. Two Typhoons also struck three Daesh positions in Raqqa in support of the offensive by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1496 RS2451

Incident date

September 15, 2017

Location

شميطية, Shumaytiyah, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.4710166, 39.9351239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman, died after unidentified warplanes conducted a raid on the town of Shumaytiyah (شمیطیة) in rural west Deir Ezzor, local sources said. There is limited information on the incident, Airwars will update the entry when new information arises.

Additionally, Deir Ezzor 24 and Asharq Asouri named two adult males as killed at a refugee camp i n Shumaytiyah – and blamed Russia for their deaths.

However western Deir Ezzor falls into the regime/Russian part of the deconfliction line, making this highly unlikely to be a Coalition action.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

AbdulSamad Al Abdul Mohsen Al Fayyad
Adult male killed
Abdul Razzaq Al Ahmad Al Fayyad
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Fatima Moussa al-Aloush
Age unknown female killed
Name unknown
Age unknown

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 'Martyrdom of both Abdul Razzaq Al Ahmad Al Fayyad AbdulSamad Al Abdul Mohsen Al Fayyad'.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Shumaytiyah (شمیطیة), for which the coordinates are: 35.4710166, 39.9351239. 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
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near al Shammatia, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For September 14th-15th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two vehicles.“ and "Additionally, 38 strikes consisting of 55 engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on Sept. 14 that closed within the last 24 hours. On Sept. 14, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria six strikes destroyed an ISIS UAS, a fighting position, an ISIS supply route and suppressed three fighting positions"

For September 15th - 16th, the Coalition reported: "Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes [1 British?] engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions" and "Additionally, 13 strikes consisting of 18 engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on Sept. 15 that closed within the last 48 hours. On Sept. 15, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, five strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions and a command and control node"

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Friday 15 September – a Reaper supported coalition airstrikes near Dayr az Zawr, and delivered two attacks itself against extremists in the open, whilst Typhoons destroyed a Daesh-held building… On Friday 15 September, a Reaper was again very active north-east of Dayr az Zawr; it provided support to coalition airstrikes which destroyed three Daesh-held buildings, then conducted two attacks on its own account with Hellfire missiles against terrorists moving through the area. Nearby, a Typhoon flight bombed a further Daesh-held building.’

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
    1 – 3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1681

Incident date

November 21, 2017

Location

سوح الرفاعي, Souh al Rifai camp, Abu Kamal countryside, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.619365, 40.456123 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, a father and his two daughters, died and many more were wounded in shelling of a camp for displaced people in the Abu Kamal countryside. It was not clear who was responsible for the incident as no sources apportioned blame.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, unidentified warplanes carried out a massacre in the area of South Al-Refaei camp in the desert of Al-Bukamal. It said that a man and his two daughters died and that many more civilians were wounded – many seriously.

Sharqiya Voice named a man killed with his daughters by aircraft and artillery shelling of the camp, but didn’t say who was responsible.

The Coalition publicly reported no airstrikes in Syria that day.

 

The incident was first reported on November 21, 2017 at 8:00 am by .

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Abboud al Muhaidi Al-Saleh Al Mithkal
Adult male via Sharqiya Voice killed
Daughter 1 of Abboud al Muhaidi Al-Saleh Al Mithkal
female via Sharqiya Voice killed
Daughter 2 of Abboud al Muhaidi Al-Saleh Al Mithkal
female via Sharqiya Voice killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention Suh Al Rifai (سوح الرفاعي), an Internally Displaced People (IDP) camp, and the countryside of Abu Kamal, near the village of Mu’ayzilah (معيزيلة), for which the coordinates are: 34.619365, 40.456123. Satellite imagery available to Airwars from December 2017 shows tents of IDP around the following coordinates: 34.483620, 40.531890

  • Location of IDP tents seen on satellite imagery of December 2017, near the village of Mu'ayzilah (معيزيلة)

    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
    Souh al Rifai camp, Abu Kamal countryside, Deir ez-Zor
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU526547
    Military Grid Reference System

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For November 20th-21st, the Coalition reported: “Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed an ISIS vehicle.”

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1918

Incident date

April 15, 2019

Location

الشعفة, Al Shaafa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.57888, 40.93441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Ali al-Muhammed al-Furaiji and his two wives were killed in the morning of April 15th, when their house was hit by an alleged Coalition airstrike, multiple local sources reported – though there was also a claim that the deaths had been caused by an explosion of an ISIS-planted mine.

@alhasensaleem tweeted that “a whole family” had died, while other sources named the man and his two wives as the victims.

Other sources such as Deir Ezzor 24 said that the house was struck by an unknown explosion.

According to Jisir TV, “local sources said the blast occurred in a house belonging to a civilian, killing his two wives and destroying the house completely, adding that the explosion was believed to be caused by aerial bombardment of coalition fighters, while witnesses said it was caused by a mine left by Daesh.”

In July 2019 the Coalition announced that it had assessed this allegation of civilian harm to be 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 incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ali al-Muhammed al-Furaiji
Adult male killed
Wife of Ali al-Muhammed al-Furaiji (1)
Adult female killed
Wife of Ali al-Muhammed al-Furaiji (2)
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 women1 man)
  • 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, ISIS

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The house of Ali al-Muhammad al-Furaiji after it was struck by an airstrike between April 14th and 15th (via Euphrates Post).

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
    Al Shafah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU774280
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2019

  • Apr. 15, 2019, Al Shafah, 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

Between April 7 - 20, 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted no strikes in Syria.

ISIS Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 women1 man)
  • 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, ISIS

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS036

Incident date

December 23, 2014

Location

دير الزور‎, Deir ez-Zor: Ziban street, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Syrian Martyrs and other monitoring sites listed three civilian males as being the victims of a coalition strike. They were named by the VDC and Syrian Martyrs.

All three men were listed as residents of Dayr az Zawr, and as having been killed in Ziban Street (شارع زيبان) in the city

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Hamid Al Zakkawi
Adult male Listed by Syrian Martyrs and VDC killed
Ziyad Hussein Al Hamid
Adult male Listed by Syrian Martyrs and VDC killed
Yahiya Hussein Al Hamid
Adult male Listed by Syrian Martyrs and VDC killed

Summary

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

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 Deir Ez Zoor, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV045106
    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

The coalition has confirmed an airstrike in the vicinity on December 23rd-24th 2014, noting: “Near Dayr az Zawr, an airstrike struck a crude oil collection point.” However the claims above appear to refer to events in the city itself.

Summary

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

CS501

Incident date

February 17, 2017

Location

المركز الثقافي القديم, Old Cultural disctrict, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.951112, 39.009489 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, Smart, reported that one civilian male was killed and his six-year-old child injured in an airstrike that was later confirmed by the Coalition.

Contrary to the reporting, in October 2017 the Coalition admitted to having killed three civilians. In its monthly civilian casualty report, the following was noted: “During a Coalition strike that destroyed six ISIS-held buildings and damaged an ISIS fueling station, it was assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed.”

The location of the Old Cultural Center mentioned by Smart is 35.951112, 39.009489 according to Airwars geolocation.

In July 2019 the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box. Although this places the event 4km away from Airwars’ geolocation of the incident, Coalition officials confirmed that that their report was based on this event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ 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
    3
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV983803
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017

  • Feb. 17, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria via Airwars report. During a Coalition strike that destroyed six ISIS-held buildings and damaged an ISIS fueling station, it was assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 16th-17th, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, 17 strikes engaged two ISIS staging areas and an ISIS tactical unit; and destroyed four tunnels, three fighting positions, three ISIS-held buildings, two weapons storage areas, two ISIS headquarters, a VBIED storage facility, a fuel station and a bridge.” For February 17th-18th, they reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, seven strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed 70 oil barrels, three oil storage tanks, three fighting positions, two oil refinement stills and a weapons storage area; and damaged a bridge.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]