US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Civilians in the ruins of Mosul city. (Maranie R. Staab)

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Incident Code

CI801

Incident date

July 4, 2017

Location

الميدان, Mosul, Medan, Nineveh, Iraq

Airwars assessment

On January 13th, a local monitor reported the deaths of three civilians and 3 injured after their home in Medan, Old Mosul was shelled by an unknown source on July 4th.

Mohammed Satter Rejab explains that his mother, sister and her husband were killed in an airstrike and he was himself injured along with his sister and father.

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 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:

Mohammed Satter Rejab
Adult male injured

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF323240
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 24, 2020

  • July 4, 2017, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. The report contains insufficient information of the time, location, or details to assess its credibility. 3108/CI801 38SLF323240

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 3rd-4th the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed 21 fighting positions, six medium machine guns, three rocket-propelled grenade systems, and an artillery system; and damaged five fighting positions.” It additionally reported that “On July 3, near Mosul, Iraq, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed eight fighting positions, four weapons caches, three heavy machine guns, a rocket-propelled grenade system, and a barrier wall; damaged five ISIS supply routes; and suppressed a sniper team.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI833

Incident date

August 21, 2017

Location

تلعفر, Tal Afar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.375659, 42.451536 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that more than 30 civilians were killed in an aerial bombardment on Tal Afar, west of Mosul, Nineveh.

A single source, Omara Al Halbusi, blamed the US-led Coalition for the attack, which he claimed destroyed houses and the civilians inside.

The other sources tracked by Airwars did not specify any particular faction as the culprit, referring to shelling, aerial bombardment and artillery.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A picture shows the artillery of the US army located at the base of Kharez, Zamar area northwest of Mosul; bombed the villages of Tal Afar (via Omar Alhlboci)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tal Afar (تلعفر), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.375659, 42.451536. 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 Tal Afer, Iraq
    Nearest population center

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
Official source

For August 20th-21st the Coalition reported “Near Tal Afar, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed five rocket-propelled grenade systems, four tunnel entrances, four fighting positions, four VBIEDs, two tactical vehicles, two weapons caches, two supply caches, a command and control node, a medium machine gun, and an anti-tank weapon; damaged five supply routes; and suppressed 32 mortar systems.” It additionally reported that “On Aug. 20, near Tal Afar, Iraq, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven fighting positions, three staging areas, two IEDs, two pieces of ISIS oil equipment, a rocket-propelled grenade system, and a vehicle; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.” And that “On Aug. 20, near Tal Afar, Iraq, one strike suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI865 RS2613

Incident date

October 8, 2017

Location

Al Qaim, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.3957715, 40.9943684 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to many reported, two brothers were killed in Al Qaim or al Hari in Syria, near the Iraqi border. Reports were contested: one source implied that Iraqi aircraft may have been responsible, while a number of sources identified Russia as the culprit, one source attributed the attack to the Coalition and others did not apportion blame. The Coalition itself has reported airstrikes in the vicinity at the time.

The Euphrates Post reported that the two brothers were killed as a result of an air strike targeting the city of Al-Qaim in Iraq today.

It is important to note that a number of sources reported that the brothers were killed in a village southeast of Abu Kamal, either by Coalition or Russian aircraft. A tweet by @Yousef339y noted: Russian occupation aircraft bombing the village of Hari on the border with Iraq.

Additionally, an adult man was reported killed in the same attack as the Al-Zein brothers.

The Violations Documentation Center in Syria stated that the three civilians were killed by international coalition forces.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mohammed Nasser Al-Zein
Child male Via Lawhat Bukmalna‎ FB account killed
Ahmed Nasser Al-Zein
Child male Via Lawhat Bukmalna‎ FB account killed

The victims were named as:

Anwar Hajem
Adult male Via Asaad Al Sattam killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces, Russian Military

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A picture of Mohammed Nasser Al-Zein, killed following an alleged coalition or Iraq forces strike on Al Qaim, Anbar (via Lawhat Bukmalna)
  • A picture of Ahmed Nasser Al-Zein , killed following an alleged coalition or Iraq forces strike on Al Qaim, Anbar (via Lawhat Bukmalna‎)
  • Another picture of Ahmed Nasser Al-Zein , killed following an alleged coalition or Iraq forces strike on Al Qaim, Anbar (via Mohamed Sharif al-Khabour FB)
  • A picture of Anwar Hajem al-Satem, killed following an alleged coalition or Iraq forces strike on Al Qaim, Anbar (via Asaad Al Sattam)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Qaim (القائم), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.3957715, 40.9943684. Due to the 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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near al Qaeim, Iraq
    Nearest population center

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
Official source

For October 7th – 8th the Coalition reported “Near Al Qaim, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a headquarters and a vehicle.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces, Russian Military

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI010

Incident date

October 17, 2014

Location

عوينات, Awinat, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.68037, 42.39686 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to news agency NINA, a “US air strike on the village of Aouinat northwest of Mosul killed five civilians, according to a source in forensic medicine in Mosul.” The Al Rafidain website (in a report dated ten days after the event) placed the death toll higher at between 10 and 20, saying two houses had been destroyed by the coalition.

The quarterly UN Report for Iraq also noted that “Air strikes carried out on 17 October north of Mosul allegedly killed at least 26 civilians.” These were only generally attributed to Iraqi security forces and their allies – which might include “US-led coalition airstrikes.” However, the Guardian later reported that following an agreement with the international coalition, Iraqi aircraft were not carrying out airstrikes north of Mosul.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention Aouinat / Tal Awinat (تل عوينات) village, north west of Mosul. The coordinates of the village: 36.68037, 42.39686  

  • Aouinat ( تل عوينات )

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    a:1:{i:0;s:20:"no_coalition_strikes";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Awinat, Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SKF671625
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The coalition has confirmed five airstrikes to the west of Mosul Dam (itself north west of the city) on October 17th-18th 2014: “Five airstrikes occurred west of the Mosul Dam and damaged an ISIL building and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL HMMWV and struck three small ISIL ground units.“

Summary

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

Incident Code

CI043

Incident date

February 24, 2015

Location

الكرمة, Garma, near Fallujah, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.405, 43.913056 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians from one family – including young children – were killed and 8 injured when a house was allegedly struck by a coalition aircraft. However other sources attributed the attack to an artillery assault by the Iraq Army.

The dead were later named by the Iraqi Spring Centre.

Seven additional people were named as severely injured in the event.

In a later report, Baghdad TV claimed that as well as ‘a family of six’ killed in the strike, an additional 14 civilians had died after a total of seven homes were struck.

Local elder Sheikh Mohammed Jumaili demanded that “the federal government open an extensive investigation into the bombing of the coalition flights of civilian targets and homes within the area, despite the absence in the region of any armed groups.”

However, an internal CENTCOM assessment concluded that “The nearest coalition strike IVO [in vicinity of] Al-Kharmah was a single Hellfire missile targeting a Da’ish DsHK weapon 3.5km SW of Al-Karmah, IRQ on 23 FEB 15.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Khudhir Mohammad Farhan Al-Juboori
Adult male Listed by Iraqi Spring Centre, father killed
Ahmad Khudhir Mohammad Farhan
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Centre, son killed
Ahlam Abid Nasir
Adult female Listed by Iraqi Spring Centre, mother killed
Najla’a Kareem Hussein Al-Jumeili
Adult female Listed by Iraqi Spring Centre, mother killed
Rimas Sadiq Mohammad
Age unknown female Listed by Iraqi Spring Centre, daughter of Najla’a Kareem Hussein Al-Jumeili killed
Iman Sadiq Mohammad
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Centre, daughter of Najla’a Kareem Hussein Al-Jumeili killed
Taha Khalil Ibrahim
Age unknown female Listed by Iraqi Spring Centre killed

The victims were named as:

Kareem Mahdi Salih Al-Halbousi
Adult male Listed by Iraqi Spring Centre, school headmaster injured
Mohammad Tha’ir Al-Mara’awi
Adult male Listed by Iraqi Spring Centre, food supply agent injured
Hakima Khalifa Awad
Age unknown female Listed by Iraqi Spring Centre injured
Ala’a Raid Khairallah
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Centre injured
Hamid Mohmoud Salim
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Centre injured
Hamid Khalaf Awad
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Centre injured
Ahmad Thair Abdullah
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Centre injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 20
  • (2 children4 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Islamic State propaganda issued in the wake of the alleged coalition airstrike

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Islamic State propaganda issued in the wake of the alleged coalition airstrike
  • Islamic State propaganda issued in the wake of the alleged coalition airstrike
  • Islamic State propaganda issued in the wake of the alleged coalition airstrike
  • Islamic State propaganda issued in the wake of the alleged coalition airstrike
  • Islamic State propaganda issued in the wake of the alleged coalition airstrike

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Islamic State propaganda issued in the wake of the alleged coalition airstrike

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Islamic State propaganda issued in the wake of the alleged coalition airstrike
  • Islamic State propaganda issued in the wake of the alleged coalition airstrike
  • Islamic State propaganda issued in the wake of the alleged coalition airstrike
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:5:"other";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    al-Qaim, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015

  • Open source media report that the hospital source in al-Qaim, a town on the Euphrates River, hospital said nine civilians were killed and 29 militants were wounded in the strike by the U.S.-led coalition. Some of the wounded were taken across the border to Syria for treatment. / OSINT RPT record via CHOPS. Target identified as an insurgent meeting house/staging house, and was not a hospital.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 20
  • (2 children4 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI075

Incident date

June 24, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Rifai and Hermat, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Iraqi news agency NINA claimed that multiple Coalition airstrikes on the city of Mosul killed 23 people and injured a further 21.

Citing an ‘anonymous security source’ the news agency reported that “Around 23 civilians were killed, including ten women and eight children, and 21 injured in the coalition bombing” which included the neighbourhoods of Rifai and Hermat. The source also claimed that “The bombing did not damage any Daash sites, and caused great resentment among the people of Mosul.”

In contrast, Erem News cited a Kurdish ministry source as saying that “international coalition aircraft bombed a secret camp belonging to Daesh near Bartallah east of Mosul, which led to the deaths of 20 of their leaders – most of them Syrians and Afghans.”

In July 2017, the Coalition assessed the event as non credible on grounds of available evidence of civilian harm: “Jun. 24, 2015, near Mosul, Iraq, 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 local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    23
  • (8 children10 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    21
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    a:1:{i:0;s:21:"insufficient_evidence";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    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
Official source

Airstrikes were confirmed in the vicinity for June 24th-25th 2014: “Near Mosul, three airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, an ISIL fighting position and land features denying ISIL a tactical advantage, destroying an ISIL vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    23
  • (8 children10 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    21
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI108

Incident date

September 20, 2015

Location

جزيرة الخالدية, Khalidiya island, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.4301462, 43.5243986 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged Coalition strike at Khalidiya island, to the east of Ramadi, reportedly killed seven civilians including two cildren. Thirteen people were also reported injured, described as ‘mostly women and children.’

A Coalition report issued in December 2016 stated the following: “After a thorough review of the facts and circumstances of each alleged civilian casualty report, CJTF-OIR assessed that the following [12] reports received in October are non-credible. Non-credible means that at this time there is not sufficient evidence available to determine that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in alleged civilian casualties.

1. Sept. 20, 2015, near Ramadi, Iraq: Insufficient evidence available to determine credibility.”

A different perspective was offered in July 2017 however, with the Coalition noting that “Sep. 20, 2015, near Ramadi, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”

Given these apparently contradictory positions and confirmed strikes in the vicinity that day, Airwars is seeking additional information from the Coalition.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ 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.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For September 19th-20th 2015, the Coalition reported that “Near Ramadi, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL buildings.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI140

Incident date

November 16, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 7 and 12 civilians were reported killed following an alleged Coalition strike on the Directorate of Agriculture in Mosul. A further 28 to 39 people were reported injured. The incident took place in the Al Faisaliah area of eastern Mosul, and according to reports, most if not all of those killed had no links to Daesh. An ISIL propaganda video showed some victims in their vehicles, with others including children taken to a local hospital.

In a separate event, five to eight civilian prisoners and three Daesh guards were reported killed and a further 30 people injured, after the Coalition allegedly bombed a detention facility at government offices in Badush, to the west of the city. One eyewitness told a Daesh film crew that there were two strikes at the location: “While I was sitting inside my home taking breakfast at 9.30 am [inside the mosque compound] I heard the sound of planes and the first missile hit this place. The smoke and dust was very heavy. Then the second missile hit again the same place at 10 a.m and you can see the destruction which resulted of this bombing.”

One victim has since been named as Saad Abu Mohammed, a local surveyor.

Major General Abdullah al-Jubouri, commander of Iraq Army operations in Nineveh, later urged the international coalition to exercise greater precision in hitting targets.

In July 2017, the Coalition classed the event as non credible on grounds of no strikes in the near vicinity: “Nov. 16, 2015, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”

However, given that the Coalition declared strikes in Mosul on the day, Airwars is seeking additional information – and has now classed this event as contested.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Saad Abu Mohammed
Adult male Surveyor killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 18
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    28–39
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Missile fragment reportedly found at scene of a lethal Mosul airstrike, November 16 2015 (via NRN)
  • One of 40 vehicles destroyed in an alleged Coalition strike at Mosul which killed up to 17 civilians (via NRN)
  • Another image of the aftermath of the attack (via Shabkt Alami Nineveh)
  • Another image of the aftermath of the attack (via Shabkt Alami Nineveh)
  • Another image of the aftermath of the attack (via Shabkt Alami Nineveh)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the people supposedly killed in the strike (via Shabkt Alami Nineveh)
  • Saad Abu Mohammed (via Mosul Kadema)
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 Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition has confirmed a single strike at Mosul for November 16th-17th 2015: “Near Mosul, one strike struck an ISIL weapons cache.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 18
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    28–39
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]