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

CI767

Incident date

June 17, 2017

Location

Mosul, Old city, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.38777, 43.20617 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on September 29th 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment on social media claims of civilian harm “near Mosul, Iraq”. According to the Coalition report, “113. June 17, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq,via social media report: The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.“

The Coalition shared the location of this assessed strike with Airwars. The location was stated as the Old City area of Mosul.

No additional details are presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • 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
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3189123600
    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
Official source

For June 16th-17th the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, three strikes [1 Australian] engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed 15 fighting positions, two supply caches, a mortar team, and a VBIED; damaged seven fighting positions; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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

CI799

Incident date

July 2, 2017

Location

سوق الشعارين, Mosul, Sha'areen, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3438061, 43.1318843 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that three named civilians were killed – with others injured and still trapped in rubble – after their home was struck in the Sha’areen market area of Old Mosul.

The Nineveh Librate Facebook page initially noted “The martyr and nurse Nabil Younis Said (Abu Saif) who died with his son’s wife. And a 5-month-kid. Under the rubble in Mosul, they were martyred in the market of Sha’areen.” The site begged civil defence officials to attend and look for survivors.

Remarkably, Mr Said was later rescued from the site according to Sawef Ateka: “Nabil Younis al-Hayali was rescued from the rubble of his house in Mosul. Oh God, bring all our innocent people out of there.”

A relative, Amona Rashid, also reported the death of her neice: “Aisha, the 10-year old daughter of my aunt Najaka, was killed at the market of the Sha’ariyans. May God have mercy on them.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nabil Younis Said
Adult male also known as Abu Salif killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 women1 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
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Aisha, a 10-year old girl reported killed in Old Mosul on July 2nd 2017
  • Image of Nabil Younis Said
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 Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF323236
    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
Official source

For July 1st-July 2nd the Coalition publicly reported: “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and a sniper team; destroyed 13 fighting positions, eight IEDs, three medium machine guns, and a supply cache; damaged 11 fighting positions; and suppressed four sniper teams and two ISIS tactical units.” It additionally reported that “On July 1, near Mosul, Iraq, one strike destroyed an ISIS-held building and damaged four supply routes.”

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 women1 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
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI863

Incident date

October 4, 2017

Location

التنك, Al Qaim, al Tanak, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.377233, 41.003981 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one named civilian male was reported killed in the Tanak neighbourhood of al Qaim. While some sources blamed the US-led Coalition, others implied that Iraqi aircraft or artillery might have been responsible.

According to his family and local reports, an adult man died as a result of air and/ or artillery strikes on the al Tanak area.

The Arabic Centre for Human Rights also referred to dead and injured civilians in the Qaim al Arab area of the town.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ihab Ahmad Sayed Ali al-Rawi
Adult male Via Qaem news killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A picture of Ihab Ahmad al-Sayyed Ali al-Rawi, killed following a coalition or Iraq forces on Al Qaim, al Tanak (via Al Qaim News)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Tanak (حي التنك) in Al Qaim. The generic coordinates for this neighbourhood are: 34.377233, 41.003981. Satellite imagery available to Airwars from between June and October 2017 shows structural damage to two buildings in the area, the coordinates for these two buildings are: 34.3829312, 41.0106969 and 34.38124, 41.0122472.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Tanak (حي التنك)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

  • Satellite imagery available to Airwars from between June and October 2017 shows structural damage to two buildings in the area.

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Microsoft

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 3rd-4th 2017, the Coalition stated that “Near Al Qaim, two strikes destroyed an ISIS-held building and a weapons cache.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI881

Incident date

June 30, 2020

Location

بين أبو زوير وحدود حي الحديثة, Between Abu Zuwair and the Al Haditha district border, Saladin, Iraq

Geolocation

35.030418, 42.790203 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians were reported killed in Abu Zuwair, Baiji in Iraq on June 30th, 2020 when a US-led coalition drone bombed them after they carried wreckage of a US-led coalition drone that had crashed earlier on that day. Local reports said that the raid resulted in killing up to four shepherds and the destruction of the drone wreckage that they carried and their vehicle.

@firas1alhashmy reported that the US drone (MQ-1C Gray Eagle) crashed and then a number of shepherds who gathered around were killed after they were attacked by another US drone.

@MaithamAlhmdy tweeted that ” A US plane crashed in Abu Zuwair, in the depth of Baiji Island. The plane was captured by shepherds near the demarcation border with the district. Another drone chased after the shepherds and bombed their vehicle. The shelling destroyed the vehicle, killing the citizens immediately.”

@Mustafa__Kurde said that the drone crashed after carrying out an airstrike on Jabal Makhoul. “An American drone crashed in Abu Zuair area between Baiji  and Haditha, northwest of Salah al-Din, after carrying out an air strike on Jabal Makhoul.”

Yesiraq.com said that Al-A’alam Iranian TV Channel said that US drone that crashed was targeted and downed by the Iraqi resistance. Al-A’alam said “A US plane was shot down by Iraqi resistance fires in the Abu Zuwair area in the depth of Baiji Island in Salah al-Din.”

@sumeri129 said that the American airstrike came as revenge for the downed drone. “An American drone crashed, west of Baiji, followed by an American retaliatory raid targeting shepherds , who were killed. ”

Sotaliraq said that after some local shepherds caught the drone, they were bombed. They were killed as a result and Pickup vehicle was destroyed.

While most sources said those killed were sheep herders, @DrJohnHanaDahle said that those killed were found to be members of the Popular Mobilization Forces.

In the third of their September 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.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (2–4 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This image might not be linked to this incident.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck between Abu Zuwair (ابو زوير) and the Al Haditha (حديثة) district border.  to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Abu Zuwair are: 35.030418, 42.790203.

  • Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck between Abu Zuwair (ابو زوير) and the Al Haditha (حديثة) district border.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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
    38SKD986786
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 14, 2020

  • Jun. 30, 2020, in Abu Zuwair, Iraq, 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. 3201/CI881 38SKD986786

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (2–4 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI008

Incident date

October 8, 2014

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

According to an unidentified international news agency cited in Foreign Policy, there were unconfirmed reports of possible civilian casualties at Mosul after coalition aircraft heavily targeted the city – though the agency was unable to verify further given the security situation: “We were never able to confirm it.”

Perhaps linked to the above, CENTCOM noted internally that it had received reports from an unnamed journalist on October 17th that “there may have been CIVCAS on a strike conducted on several vehicles in Mosul.”

Investigators concluded that the allegation might be linked to a confirmed strike by an unspecified Coalition Task Force that day. However, based on operational reports and “no reports of alleged CIVCAS arising from this strike” it was subsequently decided that “No further inquiry required.”

According to a reporter for Rudaw still in the city (who made no mention of civilian casualties) the coalition airstrikes began at 8pm local time: “The bombing targeted the strongholds of the organization Daesh, one of them the police culture center in Alnarkal neighborhood east of the city of Mosul, while missiles also targeted a gathering of militants near University Bridge Tunnel in the cultural district of the town.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
    Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015

  • A reporter alleged there may have been CIVCAS on a strike conducted on several vehicles in Mosul, IZ on a list of 7 alleged CIVCAS allegations he was tracking. The allegation corresponds with a strike conducted by TF on 8 Oct 2014. No operational reports were received about alleged CIVCAS from this strike. > No further inquiry required.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

COALITION-ASSESSED CASUALTY INCIDENT

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI041

Incident date

February 18, 2015

Location

حديثة, Haditha, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.1460894, 42.3802758 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources in Haditha reported that up to 15 civilians were killed and an unknown number were injured after an alleged coalition airstrike hit Albu Haiyat mosque at midday prayers. Al Iraq News stated that among those killed were captured “members of the Iraqi security forces who are were being guarded at the mosque.”

However an internal CENTCOM review concluded that “nearest coalition strike to Haditha was 34km and was not within close enough proximity to be considered credible.”

The Iraqi Spring Media Centre named ten of those it said were killed.

Others reported that 12 of those killed were brothers and cousins from the same clan, the Sbahnas – the eldest aged 90.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (10)

Suleiman Moslih Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed
Ali Suleiman Moslih Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed
Hamdi Suleiman Moslih Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed
Nima Suleiman Moslih Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed
Adnan Bedewi Ali Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed
Udei Bedewi Ali Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed
Salah Salim Muslih Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed
Abdul Same’e Abid Salih Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed
Yasir Rafe’e Bedwi Ali Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed
Omar Rafe’e Bedwi Ali Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 15
  • (1–10 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • 27-year old engineer Yassir Rafeh, killed in a reported coalition airstrike at Haditha, February 17th 2015.
  • Images of those alleged killed in the strike (via deleted Facebook page)
  • Supposed aftermath of the attack (source deleted)

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
    Haditha, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015

  • Open source media. Mosque in Haditha, 15 CIVCAS. No Coalition strikes within 34 km. Non credible.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 15
  • (1–10 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI073

Incident date

June 11, 2015

Location

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.323967, 43.772852 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Reports claimed that a second major airstrike in a matter of days struck the town of al-Hawijah south of Kirkuk, killing many non-combatants at the marketplace and a nearby bridge. A related peshmerga offensive against Islamic State was reported in the area. Video images show the devastated market area, with many areas left burning.

Almost all sources either did not attribute the airstrike to any one party, or blamed Iraqi security forces.

Shafaq News claimed that 50 died when aircraft “targeted Daesh near Hawija market,” though like some sources it did not describe the status of those killed. Al Jazeera was clear that those targeted were non-combatants: “According to witnesses the majority of the victims were killed in the popular market, which was packed with people during the bombing.”

In a United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq report issued in January 2016, UNAMI noted: “On 11 June, an airstrike reportedly hit an ISIL target near a market in Hawija, Kirkuk. According to a source, 10 civilians were killed and wounded in the incident. Other reports mentioned more than 60 civilians killed and over 80 wounded. UNAMI/OHCHR was unable to verify the exact number of casualties nor who was responsible for the airstrike.”

 

The incident occured around dusk.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 60
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–80
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the alleged incident (via deleted Facebook page)
  • Aftermath of the alleged incident (via deleted Facebook page)
  • Aftermath of the alleged incident (via deleted Facebook page)

Geolocation notes (4) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the strike targeted a busy “market”, referred to as the “Great Hawija market,” by BaghdadTV in Hawijah (الحويجة), Kirkuk. Worldakhbar referred to two sites as the “popular market (سوقاً شعبياً) and bridge in the city centre and the regions of Alhsaaa and Aldnades (جسر التحدي وسط المدينة ومنطقتي الحصايا والدناديش).” Possible location of the strike (based on geolocation of images below) is: 35.323967, 43.772852

  • The marketplace at Hawija, uploaded to Facebook on June 11, 2015 by Iraqi Spring ‎احداث الحويجة الان‎ [link dead]. Possible location of the camera: 35.323967, 43.772852 (see below for analysis)

    Imagery:
    Iraqi Revolution Facebook page

  • Satellite image taken April 26, 2016, showing the features in the image above, with possible structural damage visible in the bottom right corner (yellow box)

  • Composite stills from an Al Jazeera video showing the immediate aftermath of the incident, uploaded on June 11, 2015

    Imagery:
    Al Jazeera

  • Composite stills from an Al Jazeera video showing the immediate aftermath of the incident, uploaded on June 11, 2015

    Imagery:
    Al Jazeera

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-Hawijah, Iraq
    Nearest population center

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

Three coalition strike were reported near Kirkuk for the period June 11th-12th 2015: “Near Kirkuk, three airstrikes struck three ISIL tactical units, destroying three ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL motorcycle.”

Unknown Assessment:

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

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 60
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–80
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI106

Incident date

September 18, 2015

Location

الصينيه, Senjah, Salah al-Din, Iraq

Geolocation

34.9346024, 43.4121323 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A mass casualty incident was reported in Iraq, with at least 43 civilians killed and a further 68 injured, after aircraft were said to have bombed the Senyah region north west of Bayji. The target appeared to have been a former Iraq Army logistics base, while those killed were living nearby in tin shacks.

Locals urged Iraq’s Prime Minister to open a federal inquiry into the morning strike. Naim al-Gaood, a local tribal leader, told al-Sumaria News: “The warplanes of unknown nationality bombed stores and buildings west of Bayji and north of Salah al-Din, killing [and injurng] about 150 civilians, mostly children, women and the elderly.” He said that among the dead and injured were 50 people from the tribe of Albu Nimr, and demanded that Iraq’s Prime Minister “open an urgent investigation into the identity of the planes that bombed those buildings where displaced families and other clan members of the Albu Nimr tribe had sought safety; and to seek compensation for the victims and the dead.”

In its July 2017 monthly report, the Coalition said it had not conducted strikes in the area on the day: “Sep. 18, 2015, near Al Senyah, 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. ”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    43 – 58
  • Civilians reported injured
    68–70
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ 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:20:"no_coalition_strikes";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Al Senyah, 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

For September 18th-19th 2015, the Coalition reported that “Near Bayji, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed one vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    43 – 58
  • Civilians reported injured
    68–70
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]