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

CS1755

Incident date

May 28, 2018

Location

باغوز فوقاني, Al Baghouz, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.4641667, 40.9452778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that three civilians were killed after an air raid targeted the village of al Baghouz.

Sound and Picture stated that the three civilians were killed after “air strikes from a combat aircraft coming from the Iraqi side” struck the village in the countryside of Abu Kamal.

While the source was alone in saying this, several other reports made mention of Coalition airstrikes on al Baghouz in which “several members of Daesh were killed”. Baladi News said that ‘dozens’ of ISIS fighters were injured.

In January 2019, the Coalition announced that it had classed the event as non credible due to a lack of available evidence of civilian harm: “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 incident was first reported on May 28, 2018 at 11:00 am by .

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Baghuz Fawqani (باغوز فوقاني), for which the coordinates are: 34.4641667, 40.9452778

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
  • Stated location
    near al-Baghouz, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU786153
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 31, 2019
  • May 28, 2018, near al-Baghouz, 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 28th, the Coalition publicly reported no airstrikes in Syria.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1379a

Incident date

August 16, 2017

Location

Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.957289, 38.994414 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In Amnesty and Airwars’ joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, three civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition artillery strikes in Raqqa.

Although Airwars generally assesses single sourced incidents as “weak”, our researchers have assessed this incident “fair” due to the depth of material provided by Amnesty.

The Amnesty report noted that “Ahmad Mohammed al-Hammadi, a mathematics teacher, 65, his wife Zahra Mahammed al-Khamri, 50, and their son Abderrahman Ahmad al-Hammadi, 20, were killed by an artillery strike on their home. A month earlier their other son, Abdallah, was killed in another artillery strike while fetching water from a well.”

The daughter of the victim, Maha, told Amnesty in testimony that “Only me and my sister survived. We have no one left. My brother Abdallah was killed by the well when he went to fetch water, then my parents and my brother Aabderrahman, Abdallah’s twin, were killed when our home was hit by a shell.”

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 around midday.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ahmad Mohammed al-Hammadi
65 years old male mathematics teacher killed
Zahra Mahammed al-Khamri
50 years old female wife of Ahmad killed
Abderrahman Ahmad al-Hammadi
20 years old male son of Ahmad and Zahra killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman2 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

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Abderrahman Ahmad Al Hammadi, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on 16th August 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Ahmad Mohammed Al Hammadi, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on 16th August 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Zahra Mohammed Al Khamri, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on 16th August 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Abderrahman Ahmad Al Hammadi, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on 16th August 2017. (via Amnesty) He is with a member of his family, Abdallah Ahmad Al Hammadi, who was also killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on 12th July 2017.
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
  • Stated location
    in Raqqa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV995792
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2019
  • Aug. 17, 2017, in Raqqa, Syria, via Amnesty International 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

Near Raqqah, 20 strikes engaged 16 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 17 fighting positions, a
logistics node, an IED, a command and control node, an ISIS UAS and a vehicle.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Incident Code

CS626a

Incident date

March 27, 2017

Location

Sarmada, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.18221, 36.70481 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident previously not tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of three civilians and the injury of another in an incident near Idlib, Syria.

In its May 2019 civilian casualty report, the Coalition noted: “Coalition aircraft conducted a strike against a Daesh vehicle. Regrettably, three civilians were unintentionally killed and one civilian was injured due to their proximity to the strike.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box. The location given placed the event near Sarmada.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected 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
    Other
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Idlib, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SBA936066
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2019
  • Mar. 27, 2017, near Idlib, Syria, via self-report. Coalition aircraft conducted a strike against a Daesh vehicle. Regrettably, three civilians were unintentionally killed and one civilian was injured due to their proximity to the strike. (Not previously reported)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

On Mar. 27, Coalition military forces conducted 30 strikes consisting of 72 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes consisting of 32 engagements against ISIS targets.
• Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed two ISIS well heads.
• Near Al Shadaddi, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; and destroyed three tactical vehicles, three vehicles, two bulldozers, two front-end loaders, a VBIED, and a tank.
• Near Ar Raqqa, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; and destroyed eight barges, a vehicle, a front-end loader, and a truck and trailer.
• Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes destroyed 15 ISIS barges and three well heads.
• Near Tabqah, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; and destroyed a front-end loader and a vehicle.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI217

Incident date

April 5, 2016

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.36464, 43.13968 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what may be the same incident as CI216 or CI218 – or a separate targeted killing operation – the US revealed three weeks after the event that a strike on an ‘ISIL finance emir’ had also killed a woman civilian. Three months later CENTCOM revealed two additional civilian deaths in the event.

General Peter E. Gersten, deputy commander for operations and intelligence for the Coalition, also revealed that US aircraft had detonated a Hellfire missile above the house as a ‘warning’ to civilians inside to leave.

“He was the major distributor of funds to Daesh fighters,” CNN reported Gersten as saying. “We watched him come and go from his house, we watched his supplies, we watched the security that was involved in it. And we also watched occasionally a female and her children in and out of the quarters…We went as far as actually to put a Hellfire on top of the building and air-burst it so it wouldn’t destroy the building, simply knock on the roof to ensure that she and the children were out of the building… And then we proceeded with our operations.”

But the tactic failed according to CNN citing Gersten: “We watched her and observed her leaving the building. And she cleared the building, and we began to process the strike.” But then, he said, she ran back in the building. It was “very difficult for us to watch, and it was within the final seconds of the actual impact,” Gersten recalled.”

In a statement issued July 28th 2016, CENTCOM noted: “On April 5, 2016, in Mosul, Iraq, during a strike on an ISIL financial storage facility, it is assessed that three civilians were killed.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (0–2 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 36.34585235, 43.09857692

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 Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF331260
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 28, 2016
  • during a strike on an ISIL financial storage facility, it is assessed that three civilians were killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition reports that for April 5th-6th 2016: “Near Mosul, seven strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units, an ISIL financial storage center, and an ISIL headquarters and destroyed two ISIL supply caches, two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL command and control node, and three ISIL assembly areas.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (0–2 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS436

Incident date

January 9, 2017

Location

كبش, Kabish, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.1308644, 38.7842273 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians died during a battle for control of Kabish. While most sources blamed SDF artillery, one claimed that the US-led Coalition was responsible for the deaths.

A single source, Eldorar, reported that three civilians died in an alleged Coalition strike on Kabish.

However according to Raqqa Post, one victim, Sadeq Qassem, was was killed in “shelling by the militias of Saleh Muslim”.

Raqqa24 blamed “violent raids” by SDF artillery for the death of one civilian.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • 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 (5) [ 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 Kabish (Raqqah), Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV8058598485
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For January 8th-9th, the Coalition reported that “Near Ar Raqqah, 15 strikes [1 British] engaged five ISIL tactical units; destroyed six oil refinement stills, three supply caches, two bridges, two artillery systems, a VBIED, a bulldozer, a UAV, an IED, a dump truck, a pontoon bridge, a tank, and an armored vehicle; and damaged a supply route. Near Ayn Isa, one strike destroyed a repeater station.”

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
    1 – 3
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS531

Incident date

February 24, 2017

Location

كسرة شيخ (جمعة), Kasrat Sheikh (Juma'a), Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.905278, 38.963889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Smart news agency, reported the death of three civilians including one child and the injury of one other in an alleged Coalition airstrikes on Kasrat Juma’a village in the western Raqqa countryside.

Smart reported: “The source said the raids are likely to have been by the international coalition and targeted a poultry farm in the village of Kasrat Juma’a, killing two men and a child, and seriously injuring another man.”

Micro Syria reported that “warplanes, probably belong to the coalition, carried out raids in a chicken coop, killing two men and a child and wounding another man seriously.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (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
    near Kashrat Sheiykh al Juma’a (Raqqah), Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV9674473463
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017
  • 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 February 23rd-24th, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, 17 strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and an ISIS staging area; and destroyed three pump jacks, a command and control node, a fighting position and a tactical vehicle.” And for February 24th-25th: “Near Ar Raqqah, five strikes destroyed an artillery system, a mortar system, a rocket system, a watercraft, a weapons storage facility and a chemical weapons facility.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

[France reports carrying out 34 sorties in the last week – and 11 strikes destroying 19 ISIL targets. In Iraq, the six strikes were concentrated in the Mosul region. They targeted mortar positions, combatant groups, a logistics depot and a command center. In Syria, two ground troop support missions were carried out in the Raqqah and Deir Ezzor areas against artillery pieces and an armored vehicle, loaded with an explosive device (SVBIED). The intervention of a Rafale patrol, after detection and guidance of the ATL2, led to the destruction of 2 clandestine oil wells in the south-east of Raqqah. In the region of Palmyra, two planned strikes were carried out and enabled the neutralization of a military storage site and a vehicle-bomb manufacturing site (VBIED).Task Force Wagram carried out 28 missions]

‘CHAMMAL APPRÉCIATION DE SITUATION Point de situation sur les opérations au 02 mars 2017 En Syrie, à Al Bab, les forces d’opposition soutenues par la Turquie ont pu saisir la ville après le retrait de Daech de la ville. En périphérie, les forces armées syriennes et les FDS tentent d’accentuer ce repli progressif des combattants de Daech vers l’Est. Si ce repli dessine un renforcement probable de Raqqah par les combattants exfiltrés, la menace d’actions asymétriques reste présente. En Irak, Daech poursuit ses actions de harcèlement, notamment dans l’Anbar, par l’intermédiaire d’embuscades, de tirs de mortiers ou d’attaques par drones. Dans la région de Mossoul, l’encerclement progressif de l’agglomération perturbe le ravitaillement de Daech même si l’étendue de la zone ne permet pas de garantir l’étanchéité du dispositif. Dans la partie occidentale de la ville, le recul de Daech se poursuit. Près du Tigre, après la reprise de l’aéroport, les forces de police fédérale et l’ICTS continuent leur progression coordonnée vers le nord. Dans la périphérie ouest de Mossoul, les forces irakiennes avancent vers la prison de Badush et la crête d’Astanah. La résistance se durcit à mesure que le cercle se resserre et que les forces irakiennes s’approchent des zones urbanisées. A l’Est de la ville, Daech maintient ses actions de harcèlement par tirs indirects. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE CHAMMAL Appui aérien au Levant Point de situation sur les opérations au 02 mars 2017 Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 34 sorties aériennes dont 32 de reconnaissance armée ou d’appui au sol (CAS), et 2 de recueil de renseignement. 11 frappes ont été réalisées par les avions français, elles ont permis la destruction de 19 objectifs. En Irak, les 6 frappes se sont concentrées dans la région de Mossoul. Elles s’inscrivent dans le cadre de l’appui des troupes irakiennes engagées dans l’offensive visant à reprendre la partie ouest de Mossoul. Elles ont ciblé des positions de mortier, des groupes de combattants, un dépôt logistique ainsi qu’un centre de commandement. En Syrie, 2 missions d’appui des troupes au sol ont été conduites dans la région de Raqqah et de Der Er Zawr contre des pièces d’artillerie, un véhicule suicide, blindé, chargé d’engin explosif (SVBIED). L’intervention d’une patrouille de Rafale, après détection et guidage de l’ATL2, a par ailleurs permis la destruction de 2 puits de pétrole clandestins dans le sud-est de Raqqah. Dans la région de Palmyre, 2 frappes planifiées ont été réalisées et ont permis la neutralisation d’un site de stockage de matériel militaire et d’un site de fabrication de véhicules piégés (VBIED). Appui feu – TF Wagram Cette semaine, le détachement de la Task Force (TF) Wagram déployé au nord de Mossoul a fourni un appui important aux troupes engagées au sol, avec un effort marqué à l’ouest de la ville. Les 28 missions réalisées comprennent 21 de neutralisation, destruction ou harcèlement contre des positions de combattants, des pièces de mortier ou contre des tentatives d’infiltrations en bordure du Tigre. 7 missions d’éclairement ont également été effectuées pour interdire l’utilisation du terrain par Daech. La reprise de l’offensive sur Mossoul-Ouest a marqué un tournant dans la physionomie de l’activité de la TF. Au cours des 3 dernières semaines, l’intensification des missions confiées à la TF et la proportion croissante de missions de neutralisation ou de destruction sont significatives. Cette évolution de l’activité est couplée aux progressions sur le terrain des forces de sécurité irakiennes, elle souligne l’importance et l’efficacité des appuis fournis par la partie française.’

Summary

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

Incident Code

CS1159

Incident date

July 5, 2017

Location

البوحمد, Al Bouhamad, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.786111, 39.436389 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilian males, described as “youths” were reportedly killed – and more than 20 people were wounded – in alleged Coalition airstrikes in Al Bouhamad village, local sources reported.

Aleqirshi Alfuratiya reported that the deaths occurred as a result of strikes that were targeting an ISIL vehicle which was traveling on “Downtown Middle Street” to the west of the Great Mosque of Beit Elwan. It is not known whether any ISIL fighters were killed.

Alaraby reported that the the civilians were killed as a result of a “guided missile fired by a Coalition drone”.

Nine of ten sources who reported the incident alleged that the Coalition was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Jumah al Jarad
Age unknown male identified by Aleqirshi Alfuratiya killed
Naseeb Bader al Met’eb al Hamoud
Age unknown male identified by Aleqirshi Alfuratiya killed
Naseeb Bader al Ahmad al Bader al Hamoud.
Age unknown male identified by Aleqirshi Alfuratiya killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (0–3 children0–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Bader Met’eb al-Hamoud, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Bouhamad, 5th July 2017. (via RBSS)
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 5th-6th: “Near Raqqah, 21 strikes engaged 15 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 13 fighting positons, two vehicles, two heavy machine guns, a front-end loader, a UAV site and a sniper position.”

It additionally reported that “On July 5, near Raqqah, Syria, five strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, a sniper position, and a heavy machine gun,”

And also that “On July 5, near Raqqah, Syria, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed a fighting position, a front-end loader, and an UAS launch site; and suppressed 17 fighting positions and a sniper team.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Wednesday 5 July – Typhoons hit seven Daesh strongpoints in Mosul, Tornados eliminated a sniper team in Raqqa…Typhoons continued to support the Iraqi troops in west Mosul on Wednesday 5 July. Exceptionally careful coordination was needed given the very short distances between the Iraqi forces and the Daesh positions, but the two Typhoons were able to destroy seven strongpoints, including two with medium machine-guns, each struck by a Paveway IV. Tornados kept watch over the latest SDF advances in Raqqa, and used a Paveway IV to deal with a sniper team.’

French Military
  • English
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    Original

In the past week, June 29th – July 4th, France reports 4 airstrikes in Mosul and 4 in Raqqa, all in support of the troops on the ground.

Point de situation des opérations ARMÉE FRANÇAISE – OPÉRATIONS MILITAIRES·WEDNESDAY, 5 JULY 2017 OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, A Raqqah, les combats pour le contrôle de la ville se poursuivent. Daech concentre sa défense sur les zones les plus urbanisées selon une stratégie qui a déjà été observée à Mossoul : piégeage, tunnels, fortifications sont en place et rendent la progression des Forces Démocratiques Syriennes difficile et dangereuse. Les FDS progressent néanmoins de l’Est vers l’Ouest de la ville, profitant de brèches dans le mur d’enceinte pour entrer dans la Médina. Elles poursuivent également leur manœuvre d’encerclement au Sud de la ville pour réduire les soutiens de Daech, notamment en provenance du Sud-Ouest. Les Forces pro-régime sont à une vingtaine de km au Sud de Tabqa. En Irak, A Mossoul, Daech perd du terrain chaque jour dans la Médina et s’acharne à défendre le dernier kilomètre carré encore tenu. Sa liberté de circulation dans la région environnante est également compromise. L’organisation terroriste essaie de se recentrer vers Tal Afar à l’Ouest, et Hawijah plus au sud de Mossoul, deux secteurs fortement défendus et encore sous son contrôle. Daech a néanmoins la capacité de réactiver des cellules dormantes qu’elle concentre au moment opportun contre les forces de sécurité. Ceci démontre que la prudence reste de mise quant à la reprise de Mossoul même si l’optimisme des forces locales domine. MOSSOUL Cette bataille s’inscrit bien dans une stratégie coordonnée entre la Coalition et le pays hôte. Cette stratégie comportait une première phase de préparation de la bataille afin d’accompagner la montée des forces de sécurité vers Mossoul et d’encercler la ville pour couper tout renfort ou soutien extérieurs au profit des terroristes retranchés. 300 frappes aériennes françaises ont accompagné pendant plusieurs mois cette première étape de préparation et de renseignement (Shapping). Dans la deuxième phase, avec l’engagement des canons CAESAR et du Groupe aéronaval, 300 autres frappes aériennes, auxquelles s’ajoutent près de 1200 missions d’artillerie, ont permis d’appuyer les forces de sécurité engagées pour la libération de la ville. Les 600 frappes aériennes délivrées dans la région représentent donc une partie conséquente de l’effort français réalisé depuis trois ans, lequel s’élève début juillet à plus de 1 300 frappes. Avant de débuter une éventuelle troisième phase pour Mossoul et ses habitants, de longues opérations de déminage et de sécurisation devront néanmoins être menées pour neutraliser les pièges dont Daech a saturé la ville et éliminer les cellules dormantes. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 35 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 04 missions de recueil de renseignement. 04 frappes ont été réalisées à Mossoul et 04 autres à Raqqah, toutes en appui des troupes au sol. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 14 missions de tir dont 13 de harcèlement et 01 d’éclairement. Le bilan global depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève 1307 frappes, 2072 objectifs et 6754 sorties. OPÉRATIONNELS ENSEMBLE : LE SOUTIEN INTERARMÉES EN OPÉRATIONS Pour réussir ces opérations, il faut réaliser les « 12 travaux de la logistique » et être « opérationnels ensemble ». 1 200 militaires sont déployés dans le cadre de CHAMMAL sur cinq pays. 16% seulement de cet effectif contribue à soutenir le personnel comme les matériels dengagés. La logistique en opérations recouvre douze domaines spécialisés : 07 sont principalement dédiés au profit du personnel, 05 le sont au profit des matériels. Dans le domaine de l’acheminement, en trois ans, 24 000 passagers ont transité par voie aérienne vers le théâtre. 15 000 tonnes de matériels ont été projetées de France, la moitié par voie aérienne et l’autre par voie maritime, avec une recherche permanente d’équilibre entre la nécessaire réactivité et les coûts induits. Dans le domaine du soutien carburant, 12 000 pleins (avitaillement) ont été réalisés au sol, 14 000 en vol (ravitaillements) au profit de l’ensemble des aéronefs français engagés. Ces forces sont parfaitement interopérables grâce aux réseaux classifiés établis entre 700 ordinateurs reliés sur le théâtre et avec la métropole, par le biais de 50 stations satellitaires.’

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • For July 5th-11th, France reports 4 strikes – 2 in Iraq and 2 in Syria (Raqqa) and 15 artillery strikes in Mosul. (via EtatMajorFR)

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (0–3 children0–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS261

Incident date

July 13, 2016

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5269242, 37.9559288 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reported killed in Manbij, either by Coalition aircraft or more likely, as a result of a Daesh-boobytrapped vehicle.

As Lens Young Manbij reported, “Al Haj Mahmoud Sarmini, his wife and daughter Alaa Sarmini, 4 years old, were killed near al Fatah station. We don’t know whether it was an IS booby trap or air raids that targeted their home on Wednesday.

Others put the age of Mr Sarmini and his wife at 86 and 72, suggesting that Alaa was their grandchild or great grandchild.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Al Haj Mahmoud Sarmini
86 years old male killed
Al Haj Mahmoud Sarmini's wife
72 years old female killed
Alaa Sarmini
4 years years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA047425
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2020
  • July 13, 2016, in Manbij, Syria via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3009/CS261 37SDA047425

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 12th-13th, the Coalition reported that “Near Manbij, eight strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed eight ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]