US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

Belligerent
US-led Coalition
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

CS116

Incident date

August 19, 2015

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Reports claimed that three civilians (a woman and one or two children) and 8 Daesh fighters were killed following two raids by the Coalition in an area surrounding a sugar factory or grain mill near the city.

Local activist Abu Ibrahim Al Raqawi said of the attack on the mill: “Although it is not a military base, they are under the control of Daesh, and it is used for the production of bread.”

Radio al Kul reported that alongside the slain woman there were two other fatalities, “including a little girl.”

In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event to be ‘non credible’, noting: “ August 19, 2015, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2816/CS116 37SEV008785”.

The Coalition also provided coordinates showing the area it had assessed, accurate to within 100 metres.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    8

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from 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.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Raqqa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV008785
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019
  • August 19, 2015, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2816/CS116 37SEV008785

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 18th-19th 2015, the Coalition reported one strike in the vicinity: “Near Ar Raqqah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL checkpoint. “

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1–2 children1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    8

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS115

Incident date

August 15, 2015

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

A young adult male civilian was reported killed in an afternoon airstrike by the Coalition in Raqqah. He was named on a Facebook memorial page as Mut’ib Khamees Al Jarbou’.

No further details were given of how he had died.

In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event to be ‘non credible’, noting: “August 15, 2015, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2822/CS115 37SEV008785”.

The Coalition also provided coordinates showing the area it had assessed, accurate to within 100 metres.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Mut’ib Khamees Al Jarbou’ (via Raqaa is Being Slaughtered Silently)

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
    in Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV008785
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019
  • August 15, 2015, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2822/CS115 37SEV008785

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

No Coalition strikes were publicly reported at Ar Raqaa between August 14th-16th 2015

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS113

Incident date

August 13–14, 2015

Location

مروح, Marwah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.4969933, 38.3927321 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians, all members of the same family, were killed in an alleged Coalition strike on the Daesh-occupied town of Al Mourouj (or Al Mourwah) according to multiple reports.

Saudi newspaper Asharq al Awsat reported that “six civilians were killed on Friday evening [August 14th] after an international Coalition plane bombed the village of Al Mourwah which is under IS control – around 15 km south of the town of Sareen in the northern Aleppo countryside. Abd Al Malik Al Sheikh, a former member of the council of Free Aleppo, said that the six civilians were documented by name, including children. Dozens of others were wounded, and he noted that the bombing directly targeted civilian homes in the village, which caused great damage.”

In a later report the Syrian Network cited Mr Nael, who it said was an eyewitness to the attack: “International coalition warplanes launched one rocket that destroyed several houses. Not less than 5 houses were damaged and 6 individuals from one family were killed. Their bodies remained under the rubble for hours. ISIL controls our town but its headquarters are visibly clear and the international coalition can target it without killing civilians. We are paying the price of war and the ongoing conflict between ISIL and the coalition-supported Kurdish forces.”

In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event to be ‘non credible’, noting: “August 14, 2015, in Marwah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2808/CS113 37SDA456392”.

The Coalition also provided coordinates showing the area it had assessed, accurate to within 100 metres.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (0–1 children6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
    ISIS

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
    in Marwah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA456392
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019
  • August 14, 2015, in Marwah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2808/CS113 37SDA456392

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 13th-14th 2015, the Coalition reported that “Near Aleppo, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL recoilless rifles, two ISIL vehicles and an ISIL fighting position.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (0–1 children6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
    ISIS

Incident Code

CS114

Incident date

August 14, 2015

Location

تلبيسة, Talbisah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.8420186, 36.711974 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies named Bassam Abd Al Kareem Al Sai’id as a civilian victim of alleged Coalition bombing on Talbissa, Homs.

A second source naming him also as Abu Khaled, says he was from Talbissa, Homs but killed in Raqqa as a result of coalition bombing.

In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event to be ‘non credible’, noting: “August 14, 2015, in Talbisah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2821/CS114 37SBU908579”.

The Coalition also provided coordinates showing the area it had assessed, accurate to within 100 metres.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male From Talbissa, Homs. One source says he was killed in Talbissa and the other notes that he was from Talbissa but killed in Raqqa killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

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
    in Talbisah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SBU908579
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019
  • August 14, 2015, in Talbisah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2821/CS114 37SBU908579

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

No Coalition strikes were publicly reported in Homs governorate between August 13th-15th 2015.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Incident Code

CS112

Incident date

August 13, 2015

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.96169, 39.02662 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two or more US targeted airstrikes aimed at killing 21-year old British cyber terrorist Junaid Hussain instead resulted in the deaths of 3 civilians and the injuring of at least 5 more, a US investigation later concluded.

“On Aug. 13, 2015, near Ar Raqqah, Syria, during strikes against Junaid Hussain, an ISIL cyber-operative, it was assessed three civilians in the vicinity of the strikes were killed and five more were injured,” a press statement noted.

A CENTCOM spokesman later told Airwars that the attack on Hussain had only “resulted in injuries to him that were not fatal.” The botched intelligence-led mission had instead led to significant civilian casualties, a fact which took more than five months to emerge.

The British terrorist actually died in an August 24th airstrike in Syria, as Prime Minister David Cameron told MPs: “The US administration has confirmed that Junaid Hussain was killed in an American airstrike on 24 August in Raqqah.”

Cameron also described Hussain as “involved in actively recruiting ISIL sympathisers and seeking to orchestrate specific and barbaric attacks against the West, including directing a number of planned terrorist attacks right here in Britain.”

No local monitors appear to have tracked any civilian casualties at the time of the August 13th strikes, suggesting the US identified casualties from post-strike surveillance.

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • British cyber terrorist Junaid Hussain. His killing by the US also caused the deaths of at least three civilians in Raqaa on August 13th (image via ISIS propaganda)

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 35.9505639, 39.0094148

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    5
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV024797
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 29, 2016
  • On Aug. 13, 2015, near Ar Raqqah, Syria, during strikes against Junaid Hussain, an ISIL cyber-operative, it was assessed three civilians in the vicinity of the strikes were killed and five more were injured.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Near Ar Raqqah, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Incident Code

CS111

Incident date

August 11, 2015

Location

اطمه, Atimah, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.3093144, 36.6781997 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A US airstrike on a Jaish al-Sunna ammunition depot in the night also killed at least eight non-combatants in the village of Atmeh, it was widely reported. According to accounts, a number of civilian homes were damaged or destroyed in secondary explosions. Graphic images showed significant damage at the scene.

Five young girls were among the dead.

Their mother, older brother and 2-year old sister Nariman [who later died] were hospitalised, while their grandfather complained to local reporter Hadi al-Abdallah “Are these girls terrorists? Are they carrying machine guns? May God take revenge!” Three other victims were named as Latifa Yasin (aged 55), her 21-year old son Yousef Yasin and her 17-year old daughter Fatima Yasin.

The Coalition initially denied that it had carried out the strike, telling Daily Sabah that “CJTF-OIR forces were not conducting air operations in the area“. However in a written statement on August 12th, “further research” led to an announcement that the Coalition had carried out a “deliberate airstrike” in the area. Locals insisted that the town was under the control of Jaish al-Sunna, a Sunni Islamist faction the US has not previously targeted.

CENTCOM issued an extensive denial of civilian casualties from the incident in early September 2015, telling Buzzfeed that: “A credibility assessment based on the evidence available determined that there was no evidence of civilian casualties that occurred as a result of Coalition airstrikes. As a part of the credibility assessment, imagery taken the day after the strike (12 Aug) was used to look for damage to any houses within a one kilometre circle around the target. A collapsed roof would be easily visible on this imagery, but there was no damage noted to any buildings surrounding the target, and there was no evidence of a collapsed roof. Additionally, open source imagery from social media showed a large amount of weapons in the destroyed target building, the only building damaged in the strike. Such weapons storage would not be in a dwelling with children, so it was determined that there were no civilians or children in the target building.”

CENTCOM’s assessment appeared to be based solely on aerial imagery. Buzzfeed contacted rebels on the ground in Atmeh who insisted that homes had been destroyed in the attack, providing photographic evidence to reporters Mike Giglio and Munzer al-Awad.

A United Nations spokesman urged the Coalition to limit the risks to civilians from its actions: “From the beginning of the use of airstrikes by certain countries in Syria, we have called on all those involved to ensure their greatest efforts to avoid any type of civilian casualties.”

In an Amnesty assessment of the event published in October 2016, the human rights group cited eyewitness Talha al-Amouri, a resident of Atmeh and brother-in-law of the six slain children’s mother: “I was about 50m away when the air strike happened… Five missiles fell in total. The first fell 10m away from the house, the second and third fell on and next to the house and the last two fell on the building used by Jaysh al-Sunna. We own the building and Jaysh al-Sunna is using it to produce mortar shells but they don’t pay us rent… We found the women quicker under the rubble; the children took a while to find. The [dead] children [of my brother and sister-in-law] had shrapnel injuries. The neighbours had no such injuries but their heads had exploded.”

Concluding that the US was indeed responsible for the civilian deaths, Amnesty stated: “The attack appears to have been directed at a military target, and to have struck and destroyed it, but to have also destroyed neighbouring homes and killed nine civilians within them. As such, the attack may have been disproportionate. The existence of two civilian homes a mere 15m from the military target should have necessitated precautions necessary to minimize risk of loss of civilian life and destruction of civilian objects.”

A CENTCOM spokeswoman noted at the time that ”We are aware of the reports surrounding Atmeh and are looking into them.“

However CENTCOM later told Buzzfeed that it had concluded “there was no evidence of civilian casualties as a result of coalition airstrikes.” [see above]. And responding to a query from Airwars, Centcom stated on October 27th 2015 that “After careful review and based on the best available evidence” it had found that “allegations of civilian casualties by the Coalition were unfounded and deemed not credible.”

The Coalition formally announced its findings on Atimeh four years later. In its monthly civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of the same year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event as ‘non credible’, noting: “Previously Assessed Non-Credible Report: As part of our CIVCAS process in order to maintain transparency and accuracy, we constantly review our tracker to ensure proper release of information. We saw this case had not been previously listed so it is being listed now.  1. August 11, 2015, in Atimah, Syria, via self-report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action. 68 37SBA923201″.

It also classed Airwars’ own assessment of the event as a duplicate of the above, noting: “2. August 11, 2015, in Atimah, Syria, via Airwars report. The Coalition actions identified in this allegation are duplicates of those in allegation 68 (Not Credible, published in this report). 2809/CS111 37SBA915208”.

The incident occured at 20:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (11)

9 years old female daughter of son of Mr. Mo'wiya al Amouri. killed
8 years old female daughter of son of Mr. Mo'wiya al Amouri. killed
6 years old female daughter of son of Mr. Mo'wiya al Amouri. killed
5 years old female daughter of son of Mr. Mo'wiya al Amouri. killed
4 years old female daughter of son of Mr. Mo'wiya al Amouri. killed
2 years old female daughter of son of Mr. Mo'wiya al Amouri, died two weeks after the date of the strike from her injuries killed
5 years old male son of Mr. Mo'wiya al Amouri injured
Adult female injured
55 years old female displaced from Areeha killed
17 years old female Latifa's daughter killed
21 years old male Latifa's son and an armed opposition member from al Fateh Army. He was visiting his family for treatement after he was injured in Sahl al Ghab killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (6–7 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–12
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • A family photo showing 6 of 7 children killed in a likely US airstrike August 11 2015 (SN4HR)
    A family photo showing 6 of 7 children killed in a likely US airstrike August 11 2015 (SN4HR)
  • The Al A'mouri home, where five kids were killed in an alleged coalition strike, and to the right the al Sunna Army HQ [Via: SN4HR report 10th September 2015]
  • A report by journalist Hadi al Abdallah interviewing the grandfather of the 5 children killed in the alleged coalition bombing. Subtitled in English
  • Footage showing the aftermath of the alleged coalition raid on Atimah, Idlib. [Via: Baladi News Network 11th August 2015]
  • The exact location of the shelled house. [Via: SN4HR report 10th September 2015]
  • The two locations that were shelled, one civilian home and Al Sunna Army military HQ [Via: SN4HR report 10th September 2015]
  • A series of photos showing the shelled house of Mo'wiya al Amouri. [Via: SN4HR taken by local activist Ahmad Zarour on 6th September 2015]
  • A series of photos showing the shelled house of Mo'wiya al Amouri. [Via: SN4HR taken by local activist Ahmad Zarour on 6th September 2015]
  • A series of photos showing the shelled house of Mo'wiya al Amouri. [Via: SN4HR taken by local activist Ahmad Zarour on 6th September 2015]
  • A series of photos showing the shelled house of Mo'wiya al Amouri. [Via: SN4HR taken by local activist Ahmad Zarour on 6th September 2015]
  • A series of photos showing the shelled house of Mo'wiya al Amouri. [Via: SN4HR taken by local activist Ahmad Zarour on 6th September 2015]
  • More images of both Al Amouri house and Al Sunna Army Headquarters following the shelling. [Via: SN4HR report 10th September 2015]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic: The bodies of the Al Amouri children killed in the shelling. [Via: SN4HR report 10th September 2015]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic: Survivors -but injured- from al Amouri family [Via: SN4HR report 10th September 2015]
  • An interview by the journalist Hadi al Abdallah with a leader in Jaish al Sunna explaining what happened.

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
    in Atimah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SBA923201
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019
  • Dec 5, 2019
  • Previously Assessed Non-Credible Report: As part of our CIVCAS process in order to maintain transparency and accuracy, we constantly review our tracker to ensure proper release of information. We saw this case had not been previously listed so it is being listed now. 1. August 11, 2015, in Atimah, Syria, via self-report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action. 68 37SBA923201

  • Duplicate Reports: The following reports were found to be duplicates of previously assessed Coalition actions. 2. August 11, 2015, in Atimah, Syria, via Airwars report. The Coalition actions identified in this allegation are duplicates of those in allegation 68 (Not Credible, published in this report). 2809/CS111 37SBA915208

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

A confirmed US airstrike, with a CENTCOM spokeswoman noting at the time that ”We are aware of the reports surrounding Atmeh and are looking into them.“

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (6–7 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–12
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS110

Incident date

August 3, 2015

Location

الحسكة, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.5044792, 40.74354 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A number of sources named a 17-year old civilian, Ibrahim Al Hamdo Al Shabo Al Khateib, as having been killed in a Coalition strike. There were no further details.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

17 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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

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-Hassakah, Syria
    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

Heavy Coalition strikes were reported in the vicinity for August 2nd-3rd 2015: “Near Al Hasakah, six airstrikes struck an ISIL large tactical unit and three ISIL small tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL mortar system, four ISIL bunkers and an ISIL resupply vehicle.”

Summary

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

Incident Code

CS109

Incident date

August 1, 2015

Location

ميادين, Al Mayadin, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.016667, 40.444167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A 13-year old boy described as a child soldier with ISIL’s Cubs of the Caliphate – later named as Mohammad al A’afr Al Harmoush – was reported killed in a Coalition strike at Al Mayadeen.

In its July 2017 casualty report, the Coalition classed the even as non credible on grounds of having conducted no strikes in the vicinity: “Aug. 1, 2015, near Mayadin, Syria, 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.

The victims were named as:

13 years old male He is classed by VDC as a member of ISIS killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Euphrates post tweets that the child Mohammad Al Harmoush, 13 years old, was killed in Bokros by coalition strike. They add that daesh had recruited him to their ranks. 1st August 2015
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 Mayadin, Syria
    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

Two Coalition strikes were reported in Dayr ez Zawr governorate for July 31st-August 1st 2015: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two airstrikes destroyed two ISIL buildings and two ISIL vehicles.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition