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

CS975

Incident date

June 13, 2017

Location

ذيبان‬, Ziban, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.0108763, 40.5045318 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died and several more were injured when an alleged Coalition airstrike hit a water crossing in Ziban town, according to local media.

Sana reported that the crossing was “used by residents to reach their agricultural land on the banks of the river”. All sources blamed the Coalition.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Ziban, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU377757
    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 June 12th-13th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, seven strikes destroyed five ISIS oil tanks, three ISIS well heads, a tactical vehicle and an ISIS tank.“

For June 13th-14th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed nine ISIS oil storage tanks, two ISIS well heads and a vehicle.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1674

Incident date

November 14, 2017

Location

الحوايج, Al Jawaij, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.0528105, 40.4941326 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died in an airstrike on al Jawaij town, according to local media – though it was unclear who was to blame.

Deir Ezzor noted “clashes between the forces of SDF and the organization [IS] in the town of Hawayj”. That suggested that any airstrikes may have been by the Coalition.

Additionally, Smart News reported that “Syrian Democratic Forces took control of the town of Al-Hawayj (45 km east of Deir al-Zour) east of Syria after clashes with the Islamic State.”

In June 2019 the Coalition announced that it had assessed this allegation of civilian harm to be non-credible, noting “After a review of all available strike records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Suleiman Al-Ghalab
Age unknown male named by Sharqiya Voice who blamed "the bombing by warplanes”. They didn’t identify the aircraft responsible. killed
Ahmed Ali Al-Hamoud
Age unknown male named by Sharqiya Voice who blamed "the bombing by warplanes”. They didn’t identify the aircraft responsible. killed
Ali Adel Al-Rabee
Age unknown male named by Sharqiya Voice who blamed "the bombing by warplanes”. They didn’t identify the aircraft responsible. killed

Summary

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

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Hawaij (الحوايج), for which the coordinates are: 35.0528105, 40.4941326

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
  • Stated location
    near Deir ez-Zor, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU363799
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 27, 2019
  • Nov. 14, 2017, near Deir ez-Zor, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available strike records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 14th-15th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed three explosive hazards, two fighting positions and a command and control center.”

Summary

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

Incident Code

RS688 CS186

Incident date

February 27, 2016

Location

محيميدة, Mahimideh, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.44294, 40.08619 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were killed in an airstrike on Mahimideh according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the US-led Coalition was responsible.

Euphrates post named two fatalities including an unidentified victim. It said that Russia was responsible.

However, Al Jazeera and Lebanon360 alleged this was a Coalition strike, killing one non-combatant and wounding several more.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Suleiman Saleh Al A’antar
18 years old male named by Euphrates Post killed
Hassan al Yassin
Age unknown named by Euphrates Post killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

No strikes were reported in the vicinity for February 26th-28th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS930a ISSY001a

Incident date

June 7, 2017

Location

الشجرة, Al Shajra, Dara'a, Syria

Geolocation

32.773896, 35.882991 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that alleged airstrikes struck a building in Al Shajra town which several sources referred to as an “Islamic Court” while others described it as the headquarters of the “Islamic Army of Khalid Bin Al-Walid” – a faction that has been accused of being associated with the “Islamic State”. Sources were conflicted as to whether the Coalition or Israel was responsible for the airstrikes.

Four airstrikes were reported to have launched eight “rockets” after midnight. The same airplanes allegedly continued and struck the town of Joomla, near the Jordanian-Israeli border.

Three leaders of the “Army of Khalid Bin Al-Walid” were reported killed in the attack, including the General Commander Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, military commander Abu Uday al-Homsi and Abu Dujana al-Adlabi. Between ten and 20 other people were reported killed but it is unclear how many of these were combatants.

According to the Daraa Martyrs Documentation Office, among the fatalities were three women. Additionally, the Shaam News Network reported that the event resulted in the deaths of a number of “martyrs” and wounded civilians.

According to Almadon news, civilians were informed to evacuate areas controlled by the “Khaled bin al-Walid Army” within 72 hours, and warned that imminent shelling could target the area.

Shaam News reported a statement by the “Army of Khalid Bin Al-Walid” that it “did not hear the sounds of aircraft hovering in the air and did not monitor any move to fly in the western countryside before or after the target, indicating that the targeting may have been a long-range missile, or perhaps the targeting has been inside a bombing operation.”

In their June 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.

While the majority of sources attributed the strikes to the Coalition, a tweet from @omar_alharir, an independent journalist in Syria, and Enab Baladi News blamed Israel for carrying out the airstrikes.The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center also wrote that according to Enab Baladi, “the day before the attack, the army of Khaled bin Al-Olid executed a group of senior activists on charges of collaborating with Israel and assassinating the commanders of the organization”.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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, Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    13–20

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, leader of the "Khalid bin al-Walid Army", was reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on al Shajra town on June 7th 2017 (via Enab Baladi).
  • Smoke circling up after an alleged Coalition airstrike targeted the town of al Shajra on June 7th 2017 (via @AbozaidMohammed).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Shajra (الشجرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.773896, 35.882991. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    36SYB699299
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 24, 2020
  • June 7, 2017, in Ash Shajra, 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. 3105/CS930a 36SYB699299

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

No Coalition strikes reported.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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, Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    13–20

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS064

Incident date

April 26, 2015

Location

متراس, Mitras, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.62906, 38.29076 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Reported Coalition airstrikes at 11 am on the village of Mitras killed three civilians, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights.  These were identified as an adult male, a teenager and a child.

This event bears a resemblance to an April 19th incident at the same location (CS063) in that the victims are from the same family. The victims in this incident were the brother and nephew of the victim in incident CS063.

In July 2017 the Coalition classed the event as non credible on grounds of available evidence of civilian harm: “April 26, 2015, near Mitras, Syria, via Airwars report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

The incident occured at 11:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

40 years old male killed
17 years old male Hassan's son killed

The victims were named as:

6 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Hassan Al Ibrahim Al Dimmo, killed at Mitras on April 26 (via SN4HR)
  • Ibrahim Haasan Ibrahim al Dimmo, killed in reported Coalition strike April 26 (via SN4HR)
  • An image of Hassan al Dimmo's house before the shelling (via SN4HR)
  • An image of Hassan al Dimmo's house after the shelling (via SN4HR)
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
    a:1:{i:0;s:21:"insufficient_evidence";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mitras, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

A number of strikes were reported in the wider vicinity: “Near Kobani, four airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying five ISIL fighting positions and ISIL heavy machine gun.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS224

Incident date

June 3, 2016

Location

صوران, Sawran, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.26343, 37.37414 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three named civilians includng a woman and her daughter were killed in a reported Coalition airstrike at Sawran.

According to the Syria Network: “Fixed-wing international coalition forces used heavy machine guns to target a civilian car on the road between Souran town and Ihtemlat town which resulted in the killing of three individuals including a woman and a female child.

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, 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:

Age unknown male killed
Adult female killed
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ 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
    37SCA416477
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • June 3, 2016, in Sarwan, 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. 2968/CS224 37SCA416477.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition reports for June 2nd-3rd “Near Manbij, 10 strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL cave entrances, two ISIL caves, and an ISIL-used bridge.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS271

Incident date

July 18, 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

A single source reported the deaths of three named young children and the injuring of five more family members, in a fresh alleged Coalition casualty event at Manbij.

In the second of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that the allegation provided insufficient information on the timing and location of the strike to make a determination.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

6 years years old male killed
8 years years old male killed
4 years years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ 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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA065429
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • July 18, 2016, in Manbij, Syria, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 3016/CS271 37SDA065429

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 17th-18th 2016, the Coalition reported: “Near Manbij, 11 strikes struck eight separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 22 ISIL fighting positions.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI336

Incident date

November 13, 2016

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, East, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.368483, 43.184281 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A father told the Norwegian Refugee Council that 3 family members were killed and mother and 2 children were badly burnt when their home in Eastern Mosul was shelled.

No additional details are presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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
    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
  • Aug 4, 2017
  • The report contained insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 12th-13th, the Coalition reported “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units; destroyed four mortar systems, four ISILheld buildings, a VBIED, a weapons cache and a fighting position; and damaged a vehicle.”

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]