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

CS1439

Incident date

September 3, 2017

Location

Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Three men were documented as victims of suspected US-led Coalition airstrikes on Raqqa City.

The specific location of the incident was not reported, though all sources blamed the US-led Coalition. Further information will be added to the entry when it arises.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Al – Abdullah Al – Awad
Adult male killed
Suwaileh Al – Abdullah Al – Awad
Adult male killed
Mahmoud Sweileh Al Abdullah
Adult male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • One of the three victims who died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, posted by RBSS on September 3rd, 2017.
  • One of the three victims who died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, posted by RBSS on September 3rd, 2017.
  • One of the three victims who died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, posted by RBSS on September 3rd, 2017.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Raqqa (الرقة‎), for which the coordinates are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV008784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 2nd – 3rd the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, 19 strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and destroyed five fighting positions, four logistics nodes, three IEDs, two staging areas, a mortar system, a vehicle, and a command and control node.” It also reported that “On Sept. 2, near Raqqah, five strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and suppressed two fighting positions.” And that “On Sept. 2, near Raqqah, 10 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed a fighting position.” And in addition that “On Sept. 2, near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed five fighting positions.”
For September 3rd-4th the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, 21 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed 13 fighting positions, two pieces of ISIS communications infrastructure, two vehicles, a VBIED, a command and control node, and a logistics node." It also reported that "On Sept. 1, near Raqqah, five strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units." And that "On Sept. 2, near Raqqah, five strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and suppressed two fighting positions."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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

CS1641

Incident date

October 17, 2017

Location

الملعب الاسود, Ar Raqqah: Baladi stadium, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.956944, 39.005833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Raqqa RWB reported that three bodies were recovered near Al Mala’ab (the stadium) in Raqqa, though it was unclear at which point during the Raqqa campaign the deaths occurred. According to the report the “initial response team” was unable to identify the names due to “SDF prohibiting filming and getting close to the area“.

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 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.

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 (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
    37SEV005791
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 22, 2020
  • Oct. 17, 2017, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. The report contains insufficient information on time, location, or details to assess its credibility. 3157/CS1641 37SEV005791

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Date of event currently unknown

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 (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1669 RS2705

Incident date

November 8, 2017

Location

Abu Kamal, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.466049, 40.907593 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including one woman died in an airstrike on Abu Kamal, according to local media. Sources mostly attributed the blame to the Coalition, however most reports published during from this period reported Russian and Syrian regime raids. The Centcom Daily Summary reported there were no Coalition strikes in Syrian or Iraq on November 8th 2017. 

Palmyra Revolution Coordination, alleged that the Coalition carried out the attack. Some other sources did not apportion blame.

Smart News Agency blamed the Syrian regime.

In April 2019 the Coalition announced that it had classed this allegation of civilian harm as non-credible, noting: “After 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.”

According to sources the victims killed were internally displaced.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Musa’ab Mousa Eid Al Abdullah al Nijm
Child male killed
Mohammad Ziyad al Hilal
Child male killed
Mrs. Rokaya Ali Alda’as Al Salama
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Musa’ab Mousa Eid Al Abdullah al Nijm, killed in an alleged Coalition strike on Abu Kamal, November 8th 2017. (via Palmyra Revolution Coordination)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Abu Kamal (البوكمال) for which the coordinates are: 34.466049,40.907593

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 Abu Kamal, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU752154
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 25, 2019
  • Nov. 8, 2017, near Abu Kamal, Syria, via Airwars report. After 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 8th-9th the Coalition publicly reported no strikes in Syria.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI267

Incident date

July 16, 2016

Location

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.3240179, 43.77335 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged Coalition strike targeted the house of an ISIL commander named as Abu Hajar, said to be from Diyala province, also reportedly killed his whole family according to a single source.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 15th-17th 2016, no Coalition strikes were publicly reported in the Hawijah area.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS784

Incident date

May 8, 2017

Location

مزرعة الجلاء, Al Jalaa farm, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.150278, 37.887222

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died and several more were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Jalaa farm, according to local sources.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “There is confirmed information about the death of three people of one family including two brothers who were killed due to bombing by warplanes believed to belong to the International Coalition on places in area near al-Jala’a Farm”. Relatives said the men were killed in a strike “on the road opposite Abu al Jahhash.”

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently named three victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Hassan Ali Mohammad al Kinno
25 years old killed
Uday Ahmad al Jassem al Kinno
20 years old killed
Khaled Ahmad Al Jassem al Kinno
22 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (7) [ 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 Al Jalaa Farm, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCA998011
    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 7th-8th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed 13 ISIS barges and two excavators.”
For May 8th-9th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed five weapons storage caches and an ISIS barge.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1114

Incident date

June 28, 2017

Location

كسرة عفنان, Kasrat Afnan, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.909167, 39.037222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were allegedly killed in Coalition airstrikes in the village of Kasrat Afnan, local sources reported.

Sharqiya Voice and Al Hasaka Arabea reported that three males were killed as they returned from inspecting their property in Al Dahmoush village after they believed they may have been damaged in airstrikes there.

Both sources also reported that a drone was responsible for the strikes.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that the men were killed while on motorbikes while travelling in the fields of Kasrat Afnan.

Five of the six sources reporting the incident alleged that the Coalition was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Maher Khamis al Zaher
Adult male killed
Bassil Khamis al Zaher
Adult male killed
Mohammed Rabie al Zaher
Adult male killed

Summary

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

Sources (7) [ 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 Kasrat Afnan, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV035739
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 28th-29th: “Near Raqqah, 13 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units, destroyed 10 fighting positions, two vehicles, a UAS, and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.” It additionally reported that “On June 28, near Raqqah, Syria, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Wednesday 28 June – Tornados supported Syrian Democratic Forces in Raqqa, striking two buildings defended by Daesh extremists…On Wednesday 28 June, two Tornado flights operated over Raqqa. At the north-western end of the city, at least one suicide bomber was known to be waiting inside a Daesh-held building, waiting for an opportunity to attack the SDF as they closed in. The building and the terrorists inside were struck with a Paveway IV. A second such weapon demolished a building in the east, from where heavy fire had been directed at the SDF. This successful strike allowed the SDF to resume their advance.’

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

19 strikes were made by French aircraft in Iraq and Syria in the last week. Most of them were carried out in the battles of Mosul and Raqqah. These strikes were aimed at groups of Daech fighters. The other strikes were carried out in Syria and targeted regrouping and refueling areas used by jihadi fighters. Task Force Wagram carried out 16 artillery strikes in Mosul.

‘CHAMMAL APPRÉCIATION DE SITUATION En Syrie, les Forces Démocratiques Syriennes (FDS) sont engagées dans des combats féroces pour reprendre progressivement le contrôle du centre-ville de Raqqah. À l’Est, arrivés en bordure de la muraille d’enceinte de la vieille ville, les FDS sont ralentis sur les autres axes par les stratégies de harcèlement et d’imbrication de Daech déjà mises en œuvre à Mossoul. Les combattants du groupe terroriste s’appuient par ailleurs sur les rues étroites de la vieille ville pour freiner la progression des FDS. En Irak, le recul de Daech se poursuit. Au nord-ouest de l’Irak, les Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) et la 15e division irakienne poursuivent leurs actions pour consolider leur emprise sur la province de Ninive. Daech de son côté continue de concentrer ses actions de diversion dans la poche de Hawijah. À Mossoul, les Forces de sécurité irakiennes (FSI) continuent leur progression méthodique. Les combattants de Daech sont désormais isolés dans deux poches de résistances distinctes, entre la Médina et le complexe hospitalier. Le 21 juin les djihadistes ont fait sauter la mosquée Al Nouri alors que les FSI s’en approchaient, privant ces dernières d’une prise symbolique. Ils ont également mené plusieurs actions de harcèlement contre les lignes arrière des FSI. Dans les quartiers repris, la sécurisation est lente, progressive et dangereuse pour les FSI. Daech continue de mener des actions sporadiques de harcèlement et tente de maintenir des cellules dormantes. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE CHAMMAL Appui feu – TF Wagram La Task Force (TF) Wagram a appuyé cette semaine les opérations de ratissage de la 15e division irakienne à l’ouest de Mossoul. 16 missions de tir ont été réalisées en appui des unités irakiennes dont : 10 missions de harcèlement 6 missions d’éclairement Depuis le début de son engagement, la TF Wagram a donc conduit plus de 1200 missions de tirs. Appui aérien au Levant Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 31 sorties aériennes dont 29 de reconnaissance armée ou d’appui au sol (CAS) et 2 de recueil de renseignements. 19 frappes ont été réalisées par les avions français en Irak et en Syrie. La majeure partie d’entre elles ont été réalisées dans le cadre des batailles de Mossoul et de Raqqah. Ces frappes visaient des groupes de combattants de Daech. Les autres frappes ont été réalisées en Syrie et ont visé des zones de regroupement et de ravitaillements utilisées par les combattants djihadistes.’

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • "#Chammal: 19 strikes and 16 artillery missions in Iraq and Syria this week." Tweet reporting on the alleged French airstrikes in Syria, 28th June 2017. (via EtatMajorFR)

Summary

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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS035

Incident date

December 21, 2014

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3709658, 37.5179666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilian men were reported killed in an event near the town of Al Bab, after a US aircraft dropped a 500lb bomb on a fleeing ISIL suspect. They were later named by the VDC and Syrian Martyrs.

Social media also reported civilian deaths, with one tweet noting: “At least two civilians martyred in the air strikes conducted by US led Coalition war planes on IS-held Al Bab.” This was accompanied by a graphic photograph apparently showing major damage to the town.

Monitoring site Mugrn News, which also reported two civilian deaths, claimed that both coalition and Assad regime aircraft had been seen in the vicinity of Al Bab on the day, making attribution difficult. And VDC described Fadi al-Kassem being “Martyred during the regime`s army forces rocket shelling.”

However privately, CENTCOM conceded that an American aircraft was responsible for the incident. Following an attack on an ISIL checkpoint a fleeing alleged militant was targeted with a 500lb GBU-49 bomb. According to a report declassified in August 2015, this “re-attack” killed the suspect, damaged a building and also resulted in “2x nearby pax possibly injured.”

A rare full inquiry was ordered into the incident. On July 30th 2015, CENTCOM informed Airwars that this had concluded and found no evidence of civilian casualties: “We have no additional information available to provide at this time. Currently, CENTCOM plans only to release those investigations where the preponderance of evidence supports a finding that Coalition airstrikes resulted in civilian casualties.“ Requests for an expedited release of the report were denied on the grounds that this was not “currently newsworthy.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Listed by the VDC killed
Adult male Listed by the VDC killed
Adult male Listed by Syrian Martyrs, reportedly died from injuries sustained in the strikes killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children3 men)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Video from Centcom: "A video of an airstrike supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. The video depicts impacts occurring Dec. 21 against three ISIL buildings near Aleppo, Syria."
  • Video posted by Halab news network listing name of dead in Aleppo and its surroundings.

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.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children3 men)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS662

Incident date

April 4, 2017

Location

المنصورة, Al Mansoura, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.83917, 38.74288 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Smart News Agency reported the death of three civilians in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Mansoura.

The Violations Documentation Center named a civilian victim of a Coalition airstrike in Mansoura, Raqqa, from and reported he is from the Damascus countryside.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ammar Rahim
Age unknown From Damascus country side killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Ammar Rahim from Damascus countryside was one of the civilian victims of an alleged Coalition airstrike in Mansoura, Raqqa, according to the VDC database posted on April 5th 2017.
  • Ammar Rahim from Damascus countryside was one of the civilian victims of an alleged Coalition airstrike in Mansoura, Raqqa, according to the VDC database posted on April 5th 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
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    Al Mansoura, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 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. (1284)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 3rd-4th, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.”
For April 4th-5th, the Coalition reported: "Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; and destroyed three fighting positions, three vehicles, a mortar system, a rocket system, and an excavator."

Summary

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