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

CS799

Incident date

May 11, 2017

Location

بئر الهشم, Bir Al Hashem, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.002222, 38.8875 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 12 and 18 civilians including eight children and four women – reportedly from the same family – died and dozens more were injured in an Coalition airstrike on the Al Hashem area north of Raqqa city, local media reported.

Euphrates Post said that 12 non-combatants were killed in the Coalition strike, most of whom were displaced from Raqqa’s Al Mashlab neighbourhood. The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the number killed at 13 including eight children and four women, saying that the Coalition was responsible.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the death toll rose to 15, of which there were five children and women. Again, the source blamed Coalition jets.

Ahmad al Shibli reported “a coalition massacre in raid on a home in Bi’r al Hashem”.

Al Ragga Truth reported that 15 members of the al Hamoud family died in the strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Othman al Ahmad al Hamoud
Age unknown male killed
Zakiya al Othman
Age unknown female killed
Mozer Othman al Hamoud
Age unknown male killed
Amira Othman al Hamoud
Age unknown female killed

Family members (3)

Marya Hadi
Age unknown female killed
A son of Marya Hadi
Age unknown male killed
A second son of Marya Hadi
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 18
  • (8 children4 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (29) [ 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 5 km away

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 10th-11th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven vehicles, three fighting positions, an ISIS barge, a VBIED factory, a weapons storage facility; and damaged two ISIS supply routes.” It later added that “Additionally, 13 strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on May 10th that closed within the last 24 hours. Near Raqqah, Syria, seven strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 12 fighting positions, an ISIS headquarters, a command and control node, a supply cache, an ISIS staging area, a tactical vehicle, and a vehicle.”
For May 11th-12th. “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.” It later added that “Additionally, six strikes were conducted in Syria on May 11th that closed within the last 24 hours…. Near Raqqah, five strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed two VBIEDs, a fighting position, a weapons cache, a vehicle; and damaged two ISIS supply routes and a bridge.”

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
    12 – 18
  • (8 children4 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI706

Incident date

May 11, 2017

Location

17 تموز, Mosul, Tammuz / July 17th, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3667014, 43.0854607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A local report said that a family was killed in shelling in the Tammuz neighborhood of western Mosul.

Ninawa Media Center reported that a father, son and the son’s daughter were all killed by shelling in Tammuz. As the report noted, “My dear brother, a random bombardment of July near the Mufti Mosque claimed the death of a father, son and daughter of his son. The people of the region buried them in the garden of his house. God let you stop the indiscriminate shelling.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (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
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF282263
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 22, 2020
  • May 11, 2017, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, the alleged civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action. 3094/CI706 38SLF282263

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 8th-9th: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and a sniper; destroyed 12 fighting positions, seven rocket-propelled grenade systems, four medium machine guns, three mortar systems, two VBIED facilitation areas, two front-end loaders, a sniper position, a weapons cache, an IED facility, a roadblock, a VBIED; damaged 13 ISIS supply routes, three fighting positions; and suppressed a mortar position.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS798

Incident date

May 10, 2017

Location

ميادين, Al Mayadin, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.016667, 40.444167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Mayadeen, according to a single source.

The Shaam News Network was the only source pointing directly towards the Coalition, reporting that “international coalition planes launched an air strike targeting an arms factory belonging to IS in the city of Mayadeen, which led to the explosion and the fall of many of the dead and wounded in the ranks of the organization [IS], in addition to the fall of four martyrs from one family who were inside their house near the factory.”

Sour News reported an airstrike, but didn’t identify the culprit, saying that “the smoke from the place suggests that an oil tank is burning, while there were sounds of explosions in the area.”

According to @Sharqiya__voice, unidentified warplanes “targeted The Club roundabout and the sheep market.” It added that “ambulances rushed to the scene of the shelling and that there were reports of civilian casualties.”

Asharqiya Voice named three victims.

In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition denied responsibility for the incident: “May 11, 2017, near Mayadin, Syria, via social media report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mustapha al A’llash
Adult male killed
Mustapha al A’llash's Daughter, Arwa
Age unknown female killed

The victims were named as:

Walid Hamadi al Kardoush
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 women1 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Photographs of the smoke and destruction in Mayadin following allged Coalition strikes, May 10th (via @EuphratesPost)
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 Al Mayadin, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU324762
    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 9th-10th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed a front-end loader an and ISIS well head.”
For May 10th-11th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed two ISIS headquarters"

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 women1 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS796

Incident date

May 10, 2017

Location

الحي الثاني, Tabaqah, al Thani, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.846667, 38.543889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman was killed and two men were reportedly wounded in airstrikes “likely” carried out by the Coalition in Al Thani neighbourhood of Al Tabaqa city, a local source told Smart News Agency. A medical source told the agency that the victims were taken to medical checkpoints in the area.

Baladi also reported that there had been a Coalition strike on the second neighbourhood but didn’t mention civilian casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    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
    Al Thani, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV588670
    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 9th-10th, the Coalition reported: “Near Tabqah, seven strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, three vehicles; damaged a fighting position; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.”
For May 10th-11th, the Coalition reported: “Near Tabqah, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions.” It further added that “Near Tabqah, Syria, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position, an ISIS headquarters and a VBIED facility.”

From CJTFOIR on May 11th:

‘SAC and SDF Liberate Tabqah

SOUTHWEST ASIA – The Syrian Arab Coalition and their Syrian Democratic Force partners completed the liberation of the Tabqah Dam, as well as the city of Tabqah and its nearby airfield May 10.

The multi-ethnic SDF forced the surrender of Tabqah Dam and the remainder of Tabqah City, continuing the trend of ISIS’s diminished control of territory and people. The SDF has now further isolated ISIS in Raqqah, the terror group’s stronghold, and will continue to pursue the military defeat of ISIS throughout Syria.

“This is yet another victory by the SAC and the SDF, our most committed and capable ground force partners in the fight against ISIS who remain hard at work erasing ISIS from the battlefield, liberating their own people and lands,” said the Coalition Spokesman, Col. John Dorrian.

In Tabqah, the SDF’s increased pressure on ISIS from each flank allowed it to accelerate the pace of the fight, clear the final neighborhoods of the city, and isolate Tabqah Dam. Approximately 70 ISIS fighters conceded to the SDF’s terms, which included the dismantling of IEDs surrounding the dam, the surrender of all ISIS heavy weapons, and the forced withdrawal of all remaining fighters from Tabqah City.

The SDF accepted ISIS’s surrender of the city to protect innocent civilians and to protect the Tabqah dam infrastructure which hundreds of thousands of Syrians rely on for water, agriculture, and electricity.

The Coalition tracked fleeing fighters and targeted those that could be safely hit without harming civilians.

The SAC and SDF liberation of the ISIS stronghold of Tabqah, an operation that began March 22 with a surprise aerial infiltration behind enemy lines to the south of Lake Assad, severs ISIS’s ability to reinforce Raqqah and denies ISIS a key coordination hub that its foreign terrorist fighters used since 2013 to plan local operations and external attacks against the West.

With its seizure, the coalition has prevented a potential humanitarian disaster and ensured local citizens will continue to receive the dam’s basic services.

After ISIS’s defeat in northern Syria, ISIS moved its foreign fighters and external attack planning operations to Tabqah in order to avoid coalition airstrikes within Raqqah. The operation to seize the Tabqah dam, airfield and city disrupts ISIS operations in Raqqah and their ability to defend the city and plan and execute external attacks against the West.

With Tabqah now liberated and Raqqah further isolated, the Coalition and its partner forces continue to hinder ISIS’s ability to reinforce its self-proclaimed capital in Raqqah, prevented a potential humanitarian disaster, and ensured local citizens will continue to receive the dam’s basic services.

“The SDF’s success against ISIS demonstrates the power of working by, with and through local partner forces fighting ISIS, among their own people, in their own territory” said Dorrian. “The SDF, fighting to liberate their own people and lands, have freed more than 8,000 square kilometers of Syria from ISIS since November.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

[In the past week, France reports nine strikes in Iraq and Syria. Eight of them were carried out in the United States and continued to operate in the United States. Wagram Task Force carried out 76 artillery strikes.] Situation of Operations FRENCH ARMY - MILITARY OPERATIONS · THURSDAY, 11 MAY 2017 CHAMMAL ASSESSMENT OF SITUATION In Syria, the flight of the last jihadists entrenched in isolated neighborhoods in the north of the city and on the edge of the dam allowed the Syrian democratic forces (SDF) to liberate the city of Tabqah and its dam. In the Raqqah region, the SDS maintains offensive pressure on Daesh positions around the city to weaken them or detect weaknesses. In Iraq, ISIS is again strongly under pressure from the Iraqi security forces (ISF) in Mosul and is still seeking to compensate for its military setbacks by a resurgence of its harassing actions elsewhere in the country, mainly in the Anbar regions. from Hawijah. In the Mosul region, the week was marked by the resumption of the ISF offensive that opened a new front north of the city. The 9th Division, supported by TF Wagram, has progressed rapidly since its positions around Badush. It has seized all the western suburbs of the city still in the hands of Daesh. After working with the ICTS, she then continued her efforts to reach the banks of the Tigris River and is now looking for progress towards the Medina. In this sector, Daesh is still fighting hard, but it does not succeed in blocking the isolation that is continuing from the south. ACTIVITIES OF THE CHAMMAL FORCE Fire support - TF Wagram The Task Force (TF) Wagram supported this week the 9th Iraqi Division's offensive to seize the western suburbs of the city. It carried out 76 firing missions in support of the Iraqi units, contributing by firing of destruction to the rapid progression of the division between Badush and the urban area, then by firing of illumination and prohibition to the securing of the zone against Daesh's counterattack attempts. Air support to the Levant This week, the aircraft of Operation Chammal made 40 sorties, including 31 armed reconnaissance or ground support (CAS), 1 air command and control, 4 refueling, and 4 intelligence gathering. 9 strikes were made by French planes in Iraq and Syria. 8 of these were conducted in support of ongoing operations in Mosul and Tabqah, and a planned one in Iraq to destroy a site used to assemble and store suicide vehicles.

[In the past week, France reports nine strikes in Iraq and Syria. Eight of them were carried out in support of the ongoing operations in Mosul and Tabqah and a planned strike occurred in Iraq to destroy a site used to assemble and store suicide vehicles. Task Force Wagram carried out 76 artillery strikes.] ‘Point de situation des opérations ARMÉE FRANÇAISE – OPÉRATIONS MILITAIRES·THURSDAY, 11 MAY 2017 CHAMMAL APPRÉCIATION DE SITUATION En Syrie, la fuite des derniers djihadistes retranchés dans des quartiers isolés du Nord de la ville et aux abords du barrage a permis aux forces démocratiques syriennes (FDS) de libérer la ville de Tabqah et son barrage. Dans la région de Raqqah les FDS maintiennent une pression offensive sur les positions de Daech autour de la ville afin de les fragiliser ou de déceler les faiblesses. En Irak, Daech subit à nouveau fortement la pression des forces de sécurité irakiennes (FSI) à Mossoul et cherche encore à compenser ses revers militaires par une recrudescence de ses actions de harcèlement ailleurs dans le pays, essentiellement dans les régions de l’Anbar et de Hawijah. Dans la région de Mossoul, la semaine a été marquée par la reprise de l’offensive des FSI qui ont ouvert un nouveau front au Nord de la ville. La 9e division, appuyée par la TF Wagram, a rapidement progressé depuis ses positions autour de Badush. Elle s’est emparée de l’ensemble des faubourgs Ouest de la ville encore aux mains de Daech. Après avoir opéré sa jonction avec l’ICTS elle a ensuite poursuivi ses efforts pour atteindre les berges du Tigre et cherche désormais à progresser en direction de la Médina. Dans ce secteur Daech oppose toujours une vive résistance sans pour autant réussir à entraver la manœuvre d’isolement qui se poursuit depuis le Sud. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE CHAMMAL Appui feu – TF Wagram La Task Force (TF) Wagram a appuyé cette semaine l’offensive de la 9e division irakienne pour s’emparer des faubourgs Ouest de la ville. Elle a réalisé 76 missions de tir en appui des unités irakiennes, contribuant par des tirs de destruction à la progression rapide de la division entre Badush et la zone urbaine, puis par des tirs d’éclairement et d’interdiction à la sécurisation de la zone face aux tentatives de contre-attaque de Daech. Appui aérien au Levant Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 40 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée ou d’appui au sol (CAS), 1 de commandement et de contrôle aérien, 4 de ravitaillement, et 4 de recueil de renseignements. 9 frappes ont été réalisées par les avions français en Irak et en Syrie. 8 d’entre elles ont été conduites en appui des opérations en cours à Mossoul et Tabqah, et une planifiée, en Irak, afin de détruire un site servant à assembler et stocker des véhicules suicides.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS797

Incident date

May 10, 2017

Location

الصور, Al Soor, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.508257, 40.662927 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least seven and as many 14 civilians were killed including four children and dozens more were reportedly injured in airstrikes on Al Soor, 55km northeast of Deir Ezzor city, according to local reports. The Coalition later confirmed killing one civilian in the town that day.

There were conflicting reports at the time as to who was responsible, with many sources blaming the Coalition (Deir Free, Halab Today, Step News, Al Nateq quoting A’maq, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Syrian Network for Human Rights and an activist on Twitter). Others said that Russia was responsible (including Al Araby, Al Hasaka Arabea, Smart News and Shaam News Network) and one alleging that the Syrian government was to blame (Syrian News Desk, which said regime warplanes carried out six raids.

Four children were reportedly among the dead, according to sources. Most reports said that “dozens” or “several” people were also wounded, however Syrian News Desk was the only source to report an exact figure – it said 13 people were injured.

Al Hassaka Rasd named the victims of unidentified warplanes.

In its August civilian casualty report, the Coalition conceded that it had killed at least one civilian:”May 10, 2017, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS headquarters, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed.”

Coordinates supplied by the Coalition to Airwars placed the incident at al Soor.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Khalil Ahmad al Rajab
Age unknown killed
Ibrahim Ahmad al Rajab
Age unknown male killed
Fadi Ahmad al Rajab
Age unknown killed

The victims were named as:

Mohamad al Khalaf
Age unknown male killed
Mohammad al Layli al Harib
Age unknown male killed
Khitab Al Awwad al Bahathi
Age unknown killed
Mohammad al Moheissan
Age unknown male killed
Khalil al Msaytar
Age unknown killed
A person called Hamadi
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 14
  • (4 children4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (28) [ 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
    1
  • Stated location
    near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV5080730680
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017
  • May 10, 2017, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS headquarters, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 9th-10th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed a front-end loader an and ISIS well head.”
For May 10th-11th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed two ISIS headquarters"

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 14
  • (4 children4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS794

Incident date

May 10, 2017

Location

مساكن الادخار, Masaken al Idkar, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.955833, 38.986389

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed and seven others were injured in airstrikes “likely” carried out by the Coalition in Masaken al Iskhar neighbourhood, in Raqqa city, a local source told Smart News Agency.

The victims were reportedly taken to Raqqa National Hospital.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • 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 Masaken al Idkar, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV987790
    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 9th-10th: “Near Raqqah, Syria, 10 strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units; destroyed nine fighting positions, a VBIED factory, an ISIS headquarters; damaged a bridge, a road; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.”

For May 10th - 11th: "Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven vehicles, three fighting positions, an ISIS barge, a VBIED factory, a weapons storage facility; and damaged two ISIS supply routes"

For May 11th: From CJTFOIR on May 11th:

‘SAC and SDF Liberate Tabqah

SOUTHWEST ASIA – The Syrian Arab Coalition and their Syrian Democratic Force partners completed the liberation of the Tabqah Dam, as well as the city of Tabqah and its nearby airfield May 10.

The multi-ethnic SDF forced the surrender of Tabqah Dam and the remainder of Tabqah City, continuing the trend of ISIS’s diminished control of territory and people. The SDF has now further isolated ISIS in Raqqah, the terror group’s stronghold, and will continue to pursue the military defeat of ISIS throughout Syria.

“This is yet another victory by the SAC and the SDF, our most committed and capable ground force partners in the fight against ISIS who remain hard at work erasing ISIS from the battlefield, liberating their own people and lands,” said the Coalition Spokesman, Col. John Dorrian.

In Tabqah, the SDF’s increased pressure on ISIS from each flank allowed it to accelerate the pace of the fight, clear the final neighborhoods of the city, and isolate Tabqah Dam. Approximately 70 ISIS fighters conceded to the SDF’s terms, which included the dismantling of IEDs surrounding the dam, the surrender of all ISIS heavy weapons, and the forced withdrawal of all remaining fighters from Tabqah City.

The SDF accepted ISIS’s surrender of the city to protect innocent civilians and to protect the Tabqah dam infrastructure which hundreds of thousands of Syrians rely on for water, agriculture, and electricity.

The Coalition tracked fleeing fighters and targeted those that could be safely hit without harming civilians.

The SAC and SDF liberation of the ISIS stronghold of Tabqah, an operation that began March 22 with a surprise aerial infiltration behind enemy lines to the south of Lake Assad, severs ISIS’s ability to reinforce Raqqah and denies ISIS a key coordination hub that its foreign terrorist fighters used since 2013 to plan local operations and external attacks against the West.

With its seizure, the coalition has prevented a potential humanitarian disaster and ensured local citizens will continue to receive the dam’s basic services.

After ISIS’s defeat in northern Syria, ISIS moved its foreign fighters and external attack planning operations to Tabqah in order to avoid coalition airstrikes within Raqqah. The operation to seize the Tabqah dam, airfield and city disrupts ISIS operations in Raqqah and their ability to defend the city and plan and execute external attacks against the West.

With Tabqah now liberated and Raqqah further isolated, the Coalition and its partner forces continue to hinder ISIS’s ability to reinforce its self-proclaimed capital in Raqqah, prevented a potential humanitarian disaster, and ensured local citizens will continue to receive the dam’s basic services.

“The SDF’s success against ISIS demonstrates the power of working by, with and through local partner forces fighting ISIS, among their own people, in their own territory” said Dorrian. “The SDF, fighting to liberate their own people and lands, have freed more than 8,000 square kilometers of Syria from ISIS since November.”

The Coalition later reported: "Additionally, 13 strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on May 10th that closed within the last 24 hours. Near Raqqah, Syria, seven strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 12 fighting positions, an ISIS headquarters, a command and control node, a supply cache, an ISIS staging area, a tactical vehicle, and a vehicle"

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Wednesday 10 May – Typhoons struck a terrorist mortar team north of Raqqa, Syria, while Tornados attacked a sniper team and another Daesh position in Mosul…The following day [May 10th], Typhoons also patrolled over Syria, and successfully struck a Daesh mortar team that was firing on Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) some five miles north of Raqqa. Tornados also operated over western Mosul, where they used a Brimstone missile to silence a sniper team which had opened fire on Iraqi troops, and used a Paveway IV against a Daesh-held building.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS795

Incident date

May 10, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported the death of the entire family of Mohammad Yassin Mansour in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the gas factory north of Raqqa.

According to Raqqa Post, a civilians from two families died and “two other young men” in an air died in an air raid on Raqqa – though the source didn’t say who was responsible.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, Qa’qa al Anzi and Sour News all blamed the Coalition.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said that the Coalition had carried out a strike on a gas factory.

In December 2018, the Coalition announced that it had classed the event as non credible due to a lack of available evidence of civilian harm: “May 10, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. 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.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hajj Yassin Mansour
Age unknown killed
Mohammad Mansour
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Nasif
Adult male killed
The Wife of Ahmad Nasif
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (1 woman4 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 (11) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 30, 2018
  • May 10, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. 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

For May 9th-10th: “Near Raqqah, Syria, 10 strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units; destroyed nine fighting positions, a VBIED factory, an ISIS headquarters; damaged a bridge, a road; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.”

For May 10th - 11th: "Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven vehicles, three fighting positions, an ISIS barge, a VBIED factory, a weapons storage facility; and damaged two ISIS supply routes"

For May 11th: From CJTFOIR on May 11th:

‘SAC and SDF Liberate Tabqah

SOUTHWEST ASIA – The Syrian Arab Coalition and their Syrian Democratic Force partners completed the liberation of the Tabqah Dam, as well as the city of Tabqah and its nearby airfield May 10.

The multi-ethnic SDF forced the surrender of Tabqah Dam and the remainder of Tabqah City, continuing the trend of ISIS’s diminished control of territory and people. The SDF has now further isolated ISIS in Raqqah, the terror group’s stronghold, and will continue to pursue the military defeat of ISIS throughout Syria.

“This is yet another victory by the SAC and the SDF, our most committed and capable ground force partners in the fight against ISIS who remain hard at work erasing ISIS from the battlefield, liberating their own people and lands,” said the Coalition Spokesman, Col. John Dorrian.

In Tabqah, the SDF’s increased pressure on ISIS from each flank allowed it to accelerate the pace of the fight, clear the final neighborhoods of the city, and isolate Tabqah Dam. Approximately 70 ISIS fighters conceded to the SDF’s terms, which included the dismantling of IEDs surrounding the dam, the surrender of all ISIS heavy weapons, and the forced withdrawal of all remaining fighters from Tabqah City.

The SDF accepted ISIS’s surrender of the city to protect innocent civilians and to protect the Tabqah dam infrastructure which hundreds of thousands of Syrians rely on for water, agriculture, and electricity.

The Coalition tracked fleeing fighters and targeted those that could be safely hit without harming civilians.

The SAC and SDF liberation of the ISIS stronghold of Tabqah, an operation that began March 22 with a surprise aerial infiltration behind enemy lines to the south of Lake Assad, severs ISIS’s ability to reinforce Raqqah and denies ISIS a key coordination hub that its foreign terrorist fighters used since 2013 to plan local operations and external attacks against the West.

With its seizure, the coalition has prevented a potential humanitarian disaster and ensured local citizens will continue to receive the dam’s basic services.

After ISIS’s defeat in northern Syria, ISIS moved its foreign fighters and external attack planning operations to Tabqah in order to avoid coalition airstrikes within Raqqah. The operation to seize the Tabqah dam, airfield and city disrupts ISIS operations in Raqqah and their ability to defend the city and plan and execute external attacks against the West.

With Tabqah now liberated and Raqqah further isolated, the Coalition and its partner forces continue to hinder ISIS’s ability to reinforce its self-proclaimed capital in Raqqah, prevented a potential humanitarian disaster, and ensured local citizens will continue to receive the dam’s basic services.

“The SDF’s success against ISIS demonstrates the power of working by, with and through local partner forces fighting ISIS, among their own people, in their own territory” said Dorrian. “The SDF, fighting to liberate their own people and lands, have freed more than 8,000 square kilometers of Syria from ISIS since November.”

The Coalition later reported: "Additionally, 13 strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on May 10th that closed within the last 24 hours. Near Raqqah, Syria, seven strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 12 fighting positions, an ISIS headquarters, a command and control node, a supply cache, an ISIS staging area, a tactical vehicle, and a vehicle"

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Wednesday 10 May – Typhoons struck a terrorist mortar team north of Raqqa, Syria, while Tornados attacked a sniper team and another Daesh position in Mosul…The following day [May 10th], Typhoons also patrolled over Syria, and successfully struck a Daesh mortar team that was firing on Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) some five miles north of Raqqa. Tornados also operated over western Mosul, where they used a Brimstone missile to silence a sniper team which had opened fire on Iraqi troops, and used a Paveway IV against a Daesh-held building.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (1 woman4 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI704

Incident date

May 10, 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

At least 35 civilians were allegedly killed and over 100 wounded in attacks on eight west Mosul neighbourhoods blamed on both the Coalition and Iraqi government forces.

Yaqein reported that 170 civilians were killed or wounded in several neighborhoods in western Mosul. Among those named were Rifai, Agrarian Reform, Industry and Oreibi.

Other sources, including al Jazeera, put the death toll at 35 and said that 133 civilians were injured. Most reports blamed both the Coalition and government.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    35
  • Civilians reported injured
    133
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient 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 8th-9th: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and a sniper; destroyed 12 fighting positions, seven rocket-propelled grenade systems, four medium machine guns, three mortar systems, two VBIED facilitation areas, two front-end loaders, a sniper position, a weapons cache, an IED facility, a roadblock, a VBIED; damaged 13 ISIS supply routes, three fighting positions; and suppressed a mortar position.”

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
    35
  • Civilians reported injured
    133
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]