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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US-led Coalition
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Incident Code

CS108

Incident date

July 30, 2015

Location

البوكمال, Abu Kamal, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Five members of one family including three children were killed in a reported 1.30am Coalition strike on the Syria-Iraq border, according to two sources.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted the following: “Suspected US-led coalition warplanes carried out several raids after midnight on places around Aysha hospital and other places around the city of al- Bokamal to the east of Deir Ezzor, leading to the death of a man, his wife and one of their children, while others were wounded.”

The Syrian Network published a later investigation, citing an eyewitness it named as Mr. Alaa: “I woke up at the sound of an explosion at about 1:30 a.m…. I went to the building’s roof to see what happened, and I was able to estimate the shelling location. It was near the cement factory and I heard the people’s screams. I went directly to the shelling location and saw great destruction. One of the rockets fell in the middle of a road next to a 2 story building, while the other fell in the middle of that house. Blood and body parts were scattered on the walls and on the road. The victims were transported to the hospital and I tried to enter it too but ISIL’s members prohibited us due to the fear of another airstrike. I heard that 5 individuals from Hasso family were killed in the shelling.”

In its civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year, the Coalition assessed this event as ‘not credible, asserting: “July 30, 2015, in Abu Kamal, 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. 2807/CS108 37SFU752155”.

Officials published a location for the event to within 100 metres of where they had remotely assessed the incident.

The incident occured at 01:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Rihad Jasem Al Barghash
45 years old female Ahmad Mohamad Al Hasso’s wife killed
Mohamad Ahmad Mohamad Al Hasso
21 years old male killed
Ritaj Khodor Al Hasso
4 years old female killed
Batoul Rabee’ Al Hasso
5 years old female killed
Wisal Rabee’ Al Hasso
12 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    17
  • 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

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Child victim of a reported Coalition strike at Bukamal, Syria on July 30 2015 [Via: SN4HR report of 11th August 2015. Logo on image is of ISIL-affiliated media]
  • Mapping by the Syrian Network for Human Rights showing the proximity of Al Hassou family home where five members of the family were killed, to likely Coalition target

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child victim of a reported Coalition strike at Bukamal, Syria on July 30 2015 [Via: SN4HR report of 11th August 2015. Logo on image is of ISIL-affiliated media]
  • Image of injured child from the strike at al Bukamal, Syria on July 30 2015. [Via: SN4HR report of 11th August 2015. Logo on image is of ISIL-affiliated media]

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 Abu Kamal, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU752155
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • July 30, 2015, in Abu Kamal, 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. 2807/CS108 37SFU752155

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Heavy Coalition airstrikes were reported at Dayr az Zawr for July 30th-31st 2015: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, 17 airstrikes [1 Canadian at Bukamal] struck eight ISIL staging areas, three ISIL bridges, four ISIL checkpoints, an ISIL training area and an ISIL logistics site.“

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    17
  • 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

CS107

Incident date

July 28, 2015

Location

كفرهند, Kafr Hind, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.08287, 36.42899 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A US targeted air strike (possibly by drone) aimed at four al-Nusra Front suspects traveling in a vehicle also killed up to 10 civilians including six children. The US has admitted three deaths in the event.

Reporting at the time was somewhat confused. Some sources said a vehicle was wrongly targeted killing four civilians. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted ‘the reported death of civilians who happened to be in the area during the airstrike’ on a senior al-Nusra figure. Activists named two militants killed as Abu Jalmoud Aalkamdasi and Abu Obeida Al Yemeni.

Following an investigation, the Syrian Network concluded that the strike had killed eight civilians: “The [ISIL] vehicle was near a fuel shop and hence a fuel tank exploded and 8 civilians were killed including 6 children.”

Exactly one year after the event, CENTCOM released the following statement: “On July 28, 2015, near Idlib, Syria, during a strike on a senior Khorasan Group advisor, it is assessed that three civilians were killed and one vehicle destroyed when their vehicle appeared in the target area after the Coalition aircraft released its weapon.”

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

The incident occured at 15:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Rahman Mohamad Ali al-Faraj
14 years old male killed
Ahmad Mohamad Ali al-Faraj
16 years old male killed
Ahmad Mousa Alloush
16 years old male killed
Mohammad Ali al-Atrash
21 years old male killed
Ali Bashar Kassab
9 years old male killed
Shahed Hamdou
5 years old male Displaced from al Kintar town in Jisr al Shoughour suburbs killed
Firas Hamdou
8 years old male Displaced from al Kintar town in Jisr al Shoughour suburbs killed
Moustafa Houran
28 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (6 children2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Map showing the exact location of the strike. [Via: SN4HR August 11th, 2015 report]
  • Ten civilians reportedly died when this fuel station was caught in a US airstrike on July 28 2015 (via SN4HR)
  • Aftermath of a US targeted strike in Syria on July 28 which killed at least 4 civilians (via Shaam News)
  • Smoke rising from the location of the strike. [Via: SN4HR August 11th, 2015 report]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic: An image of one of the bodies charred as a result of the alleged coalition strike in Kafr Hind. [Via: SN4HR August 11th, 2015 report]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic: unidentified body parts charred as a result of the strike on Kafr Hind. [Via: SN4HR August 11th, 2015 report]
  • Image of the Al Nusra Front car that was burnt and destroyed in the strike. [Via: SN4HR August 11th, 2015 report]
  • Image of the al Nusra Front car that was hit in the strike, killing 4 al Nusra operatives in addition to up to 10 civilians standing by. [Via: SN4HR August 11th, 2015 report]
  • Video showing the aftermath of the strike on the Al Nusra car in Kafr Hind. [via : Bilalo Bilal youtube account]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest village as 36.08387, 36.4262

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
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Stated location
    near Idlib, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SBV685962
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 28, 2016

  • On July 28, 2015, near Idlib, Syria, during a strike on a senior Khorasan Group advisor, it is assessed that three civilians were killed and one vehicle destroyed when their vehicle appeared in the target area after the Coalition aircraft released its weapon.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The US has confirmed an airstrike targeting al-Nusra on July 28th 2015: “Separately, on July 28 near Salqin, Syria, U.S. military forces conducted one airstrike against a network of veteran al-Qaida operatives, sometimes called the “Khorasan Group,” who are plotting external attacks against the United States and our allies. The airstrike struck a tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (6 children2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS106

Incident date

July 25, 2015

Location

البوكمال, Abu Kamal, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

A single source, the Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies, reported that Ahmad al Awad had died in what was described as a Coalition strike at Bukamal.

While single source, a Coalition attack was confirmed in the vicinity in daily reports at the time.

In its civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year, the Coalition assessed this event as ‘not credible, asserting: “July 25, 2015, in Abu Kamal, 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. 2805/CS106 37SFU752155”.

Officials published a location for the event to within 100 metres of where they had remotely assessed the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad al Awad
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 (3) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Abu Kamal, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU752155
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • July 25, 2015, in Abu Kamal, 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. 2805/CS106 37SFU752155

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No Coalition strikes were reported in the vicinity for July 24th-26th 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

CS105

Incident date

July 25, 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

Four civilians were reported injured in fresh coalition airstrikes on the outskirts of Raqaa. Images distributed by Raqaa is Being Slaughtered Silently featured an injured boy, among other victims, receiving treatment after the event.

These photographs were subsequently removed, though are archived by Airwars.

In July 2017 the Coalition said it had classed the event as non credible based on available information: “July 25, 2015, near Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

Based on reports at the time Airwars continues to assess this event as likely – though has requested additional Coalition clarifications.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child being treated in the local hospital following an alleged Coalition strike July 25th 2015 (via ISIL-affiliated media published on Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
  • Treatment at the local hospital following an alleged Coalition strike July 25th 2015 (via ISIL-affiliated media published on Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
  • Injured at the local hospital following an alleged Coalition strike July 25th 2015 (via ISIL-affiliated media published on Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
  • Injured at the local hospital following an alleged Coalition strike July 25th 2015 (via ISIL-affiliated media published on Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
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 Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Strikes in the vicinity were confirmed for July 24th-25th 2015: “Near Ar Raqqah, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL excavator and an ISIL bridge.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS104

Incident date

July 23, 2015

Location

ﺣﻠﺐ, Nahiyat Sereen near Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.206137, 37.140688 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A reported Coalition airstrike at 3.45pm killed up to seven civilians including two children, at Nahiyat Sereen near Aleppo.

One young victim, Mohammad Jassen Al Abou Rakan, was decapitated in the incident, with graphic images of his body widely distributed on social media.

Islamic State later published a propaganda video of the event, including interviews with eyewitnesses and rescuers. One man told the camera: “Civilians coming here to get bread are getting killed. What is this? Where are civilians supposed to go? Are they supposed to go to the wilderness to save themselves? Damn them.“

Another man described the buildings reportedly hit in the raid: “Today the coalition planes came to continue what the criminals from the PKK had started. More than 4 or five missiles were fired at once destroying many houses. The house of Hajj Ali and the house of the son of Hajj Ali; the house of Ali Al Hassani; the house of Mohammad Al Hajrashi; and a big number of civilian shops. All the victims are civilians that have nothing to do with what is happening at all.“

The Syrian Observatory also reported activity by Turkish aircraft in the region on this date.

In its civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year, the Coalition assessed this event as ‘not credible, asserting: “July 23, 2015, in Aleppo, 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. 2806/CS104 37SCA328084”.

Officials published a location for the event to within 100 metres of where they had remotely assessed the incident.

The incident occured at 15:45:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Jassem Al Abou Rakan
Child male son of Jassem Al Abou Rakan killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 targets
    Al Qaeda/HTS, ISIS

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Warning: EXTREMELY GRAPHIC PHOTOS. Series of tweets from Nasser al Tamimi wIth photos showing the aftermath of the strikes on Sareen in Aleppo, 24th July 2015

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Warning: EXTREMELY GRAPHIC PHOTOS. tweets from Nasser al Tamimi with a photo of a man holding the body of his headless child. Described as a man in the IS-controlled areas with his decapitated child as a result of air raids. 23rd July 2015

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of a decapitated child's body tweeted by @abomuslim121212 [account now suspended]. Photo labelled in Sareen and tweeted on 23rd July 2015

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Tweet from @nasertamimi with very graphic photos of man holding decapitated body of child allegedly as a result of aerial bombardment in IS-held areas. 23rd July 2015

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Tweet from @nasertamimi with very graphic photos of man holding decapitated body of child allegedly as a result of aerial bombardment in IS-held areas. 23rd July 2015

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More graphic photos of the body of a decapitated child in Sareen as a result of 'Saudi and Western bombardment' tweet by Adam the Syrian Tweets on 23rd July 2015. [Account now suspended]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More graphic photos of the body of a decapitated child in Sareen as a result of 'Saudi and Western bombardment' tweet by Adam the Syrian Tweets on 23rd July 2015. [Account now suspended]
  • Photo of the alleged bombardment of Sareen, Aleppo. Tweeted by Adam the Syrian Tweets on 23rd July 2015. [Account now suspended]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of an injured child as a result of the alleged bombardment of Sareen, Aleppo. Tweeted by Adam the Syrian Tweets on 23rd July 2015. [Account now suspended]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Nahiyat Sereen near Aleppo (ﺣﻠﺐ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.206137, 37.140688. 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Aleppo, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCA328084
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • July 23, 2015, in Aleppo, 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. 2806/CS104 37SCA328084

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No coalition strikes were publicly reported in the vicinity of Sereen between July 22-24th 2015.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 targets
    Al Qaeda/HTS, ISIS

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS103

Incident date

July 18–24, 2015

Location

الرقة‎, Al Sabahiah area of West Raqqa, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

An alleged coalition strike on an Islamic State checkpoint in a suburb of west Raqaa reportedly killed 22-year old Omar Huwaidi Al Mueissat when a missile hit the family house.

His 17-year old brother Ali Huwaidi al Mueissat was also reported to have been severely injured in the incident, suffering a broken pelvis and wounds to the abdomen and chest.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered placed the event in the Al Sabahiah area of West Raqqa.

Reports placed this incident somewhere between July 18th and 24th.

In its civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year, the Coalition assessed this event as ‘not credible, asserting: “July 18, 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. 2804/CS103 37SEV008785”.

Officials published a location for the event to within 100 metres of where they had remotely assessed the incident. After Airwars pointed out that the event had taken place in the Al Sabahiah area of West Raqqa, the Coalition agreed to again review the case.

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition again assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Omar Houwaydi Al Moubsat
22 years old male his surname is written as "Al Mueissat" in RBSS post killed
Ali Houwaydi Al Moubsat
17 years old male Omar's brother. He suffered a broken pelvis and wounds to the abdomen and chest. his surname is written as "Al Mueissat" in RBSS post injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Omar Huwaidi Al Mueissat, aged 22, reportedly killed in a coalition strike at Ar Raqaa, July 18 2015 (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
    37SDV982782
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • July 18, 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. 2804/CS103 37SEV008785

  • July 18, 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. 2804/CS103 37SDV982782

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The coalition has confirmed strikes in the vicinity for July 24th-25th 2015: “Near Ar Raqqah, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL excavator and an ISIL bridge.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

CS102

Incident date

July 16, 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

Coalition aircraft allegedly destroyed an “ISIS-owned digger,” killing a man local monitoring group Raqaa is Being Slaughtered Silently described as a civilian driver: “Coalition planes targeted a drilling vehicle belonging to Daesh which is used for digging berms in the area of Tal Al Bayi’a. This led to the burning of the vehicle, and to the death of the driver.”

The combatant status of such individuals in the eyes of the coalition remains unclear. However in one Facebook entry a man naming himself as Abd Al Kareem Mohammad said that the victim was a family member, and a non-combatant: “IS threatened him and forced him to work with them. The poor man has just had his first baby boy born twenty days ago. Don’t judge people from their appearances. Some people have very little choice.”

In a related incident, Buzzfeed cited an eyewitness to a nearby Coalition strike on an ISIL checkpoint. As the 28-year old mother of three fled with her children, she reported seeing the body of a neighbor who’d been driving across the bridge carrying groceries. She complained to the news site: “We used to feel safe when we saw the American airstrikes. Now my daughters are afraid to go to the school, because they say there is ISIS and there is American airstrikes.”

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that 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.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ 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
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV008784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • July 15, 2015, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars 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. 2803/CS102 37SEV008784

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition has confirmed it destroyed an excavation vehicle and a checkpoint in the vicinity on July 15th-16th 2015: “Near Ar Raqqah, five airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units, an ISIL structure and an ISIL checkpoint and destroyed an ISIL excavator and two ISIL vehicles.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS101

Incident date

July 13, 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

The Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies website named Ala’a Abou Abdallah from Deir Ba’alba, Homs as having been killed by Coalition bombing in Raqqa on July 13th.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee also named Ala’a as having been killed.

No additional public details could be found relating to this event.

In its civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year, the Coalition assessed this event as ‘not credible, asserting: “July 13, 2015, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 2800/CS101 37SEV008785”.

Officials published a location for the event to within 100 metres of where they had remotely assessed the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ala’a Abou Abdallah
Adult male Originally from Deir Ba’alba, Homs 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
    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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

  • July 13, 2015, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 2800/CS101 37SEV008785

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reported one strike at Raqaa for July 12th-13th 2015: “Near Ar Raqqah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.”

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
    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