US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

Belligerent
US-led Coalition
Country
Iraq
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
2984 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

CS1580a RS2591

Incident date

October 4, 2017

Location

معبر مائي بين هجين و العباس, Water Crossing linking Hajeen with Al A'bbas town, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.6897222, 40.83 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between ten and 30 civilians were killed, including four named men, and “dozens” more were injured, following a continuation of airstrikes on the river crossing, however this time the crossing linking Hajeen with Al A’bbas town. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. Most sources blamed Russian warplanes for the raids, however others blamed the Syrian regime and US-led Coalition.

According to local media, the civilians struck were mostly displaced women and children. It was reported by multiple sources that a father and son were killed on the outskirts of Hajeen after their prayers.

The intensity of the shelling meant it was difficult to retrieve injured and dead civilians from the rubble.

Cluster bombs and 12 missiles were used on the vicinity.

Overall, between 100 and 150 civilians were killed by bombing on multiple water-crossings on this day.

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

Hassen Nahar al Werdi
Adult male killed
His son Ahmad Hassan al-Wardi
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Ayyam Farih Al - Hussein Al - Issa.
Adult male killed
Bassil Freih Al - Hussein Al - Issa.
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 30
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (48) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with Al A'bbas town, 4th October 2017. (via Hajin City)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with Al A'bbas town, 4th October 2017. (via Hajin City)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with Al A'bbas town, 4th October 2017. (via Abu Kamal)
  • The exact moments an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with Al A'bbas town, 4th October 2017. (via Ahmed al-Obeidi)
  • News bulletin reporting on an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with Al A'bbas town, 4th October 2017. (via Al Jazeera)
  • "# Deir al-Azur dozens of martyrs targeting Russian aircraft cluster bombs of the words of civilians less than # Al-Ashra to the south-east bank of the Euphrates River" (via JinaShashaah)
  • News bulletin reporting on an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with Al A'bbas town, 4th October 2017. (via Radio Alwan)
  • Hassen Nahar al Werdi and his young son Ahmad Hassan al-Wardi, killed in an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with Al A'bbas town, 4th October 2017. (via Abu Abdullah)
  • Hassen Nahar al Werdi and his young son Ahmad Hassan al-Wardi, killed in an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with Al A'bbas town, 4th October 2017. (via Dirzalzor 24)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with Al A'bbas town, 4th October 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • Ayyam Farih Al - Hussein Al - Issa and Bassil Freih Al - Hussein Al - Issa, killed in an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with Al A'bbas town, 4th October 2017. (via Almayadee)
  • Ayyam Farih Al - Hussein Al - Issa and Bassil Freih Al - Hussein Al - Issa, killed in an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with Al A'bbas town, 4th October 2017. (via Euphrates post)

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
    37SFU669400
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 22, 2020

  • Oct. 4, 2017, near Hajin, 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. 3151/CS1580a 37SFU669400

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 30
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (48) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS477 RS1881

Incident date

February 7, 2017

Location

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.93062, 36.63393 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A major airstrike on Idlib city killed up to 30 civilians and injured up to 300 more. Reports blamed both Russia and the US-led Coalition for the attack. The Coalition has expressly denied any involvement – though a unilateral US action remains possible.

The attack – which reportedly involved both airstrikes and missiles – caused massive casualties. However attribution was accused. Most blamed Russia – including Idlib Media Center, LCCSY, Halab Today, Step News, Shaam News, Idlib Media Centre, the Syrian Network and Al Araby.

Others said both the Coalition and Russia were responible – including Syria News, Baladi News, the Syrian Observatory and Al Jazeera. All for Syria was alone in blaming the Assad regime – though a later report went on to blame Russia and the Coalition – while the White Helmets did not attribute responsibility.

Complicating attribution, Russia later denied any role in the attack.

A later video by Halab Today referred to destruction caused by both “Russian and Coalition” warplanes.

Syria News Desk also reported that the warplanes were “believed to belong to Russia and the Coalition”.

Step reported: “Our correspondent pointed out that among the Russian raids were two raids by the international coalition which targeted Sheikh Abu Al Qassem al Muhajer who is a member of Haiat Tahrir al Sham [formerly Fatah al Sham Front] injuring him. He was rescued from under the rubble.”

Baladi went further, reporting that “We received from the observatories the information which is semi confirmed that there was coordination between the coalition and Russian planes. This was what the observatories confirmed.”

Alaraby reported that Russian warships and warplanes were responsible.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that “it is not known whether they were Russian warplanes or warplanes of the international coalition, or if they were a combination of both.”

In its May 2017 report the Coalition denied responsibility: “Feb. 7, 2017, near Idlib, Syria, via social media report: No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties. The closest strike to the report of possible civilian casualties was 90 km away.”

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Sham Fakher Abd al Razzak Fadil
Child killed
Tasnim Fakher Abd al Razzak Fadil
Child female killed

Family members (5)

Raghad Hassan Abd al Rahman
Age unknown female killed
Hala Hassan Abd al Rahman
Child female killed
Jana Hassan Abd al Rahman
Child female killed
Hussein Dibo Abd al Rahman
Age unknown male killed
Nour Hassan Abd al Rahman
Age unknown

Family members (2)

Amal Mohammad Ali Mheir
Age unknown female From Binnish killed
Jamila Mohammad Ali Mheir
Age unknown female From Binnish killed

Family members (2)

Lana Mohammad Gharir
Age unknown female killed
Jana Mohammad Gharir
Age unknown female killed

The victims were named as:

Hanan al Omar Moussa
Child female killed
Rim Mouayid Martini
Age unknown female killed
Leila Al A’ri
Age unknown female Muslim al Zeir's wife killed
Mouna Hajj Othman
Age unknown female killed
Bassel Koki
Child male killed
Ibrahim al Zeir
Child male killed
Souad Arab
Age unknown female Muslim al Zeir's mother killed
Arij al Zeiz
Age unknown female Muslim al Zeir's daughter killed
Alaa Mheimid
Age unknown female killed
Mohammad Jamal Gharir
Age unknown male killed
Noura Abd al Dayem
Age unknown female killed
Mohammad Maher Shihab
Child male killed
Moayid Bin Wahid Martini
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 30
  • (12–15 children10–11 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–300
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (64) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (30) [ collapse]

  • Destruction from the air strike (via LCCSY)
  • Destruction from the air strike (via LCCSY)
  • Destruction from the air strike (via LCCSY)
  • Destruction from the air strike (via LCCSY)
  • Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
  • Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
  • Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
  • Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
  • Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
  • Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
  • Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
  • Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
  • Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)
  • Destruction in the residential buildings in Al Qousour neighbourhood(via Idlib Media Center)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civil Defence workers at the scene of the strike (via Syria Civil Defence Idlib )
  • Destruction due to the air strike (via Syria Civil Defence Idlib )
  • Civil Defence workers at the scene of the strike (via Syria Civil Defence Idlib)
  • Translation: My daughters murdered by Putin’s airstrikes - saying googdbye to her two daughter [Tasnim and Sham] after Russian raids on the city of Idlib.
  • Aftermath of the air strike (via All4Syria)
  • Aftermath of the air strike (via All4Syria)
  • Aftermath of the air strike (via All4Syria)
  • Aftermath of the air strike (via All4Syria)
  • Aftermath of the air strike (via All4Syria)
  • Aftermath of the air strike (via All4Syria)
  • Rescue workers at the scene (via Idlib White Helmets)
  • Translation: The signs of raids by warplanes on the city of Idlib.
  • Translation: Pulling the wounded and martyrs from under the rubble after warplanes bombed Idlib last night. Mother calling out to her daughter Sham, says "oh my oldest girls, the love of your father." The civil defence are asking her to come out and take her daughters out.
  • Translation: Civil defence teams continue to look for those missing under the rubble following the violent raids on Idlib.
  • Translation: Idlib - martyrs and wounded in intense Russian raids on the city’s neighbourhoods.
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 Idlib, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 30, 2017

  • No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties. The closest strike to the report of possible civilian casualties was 90 km away.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 6th-8th the Coalition reported no strikes in Idlib governorate. However unilateral US strikes are no longer reported by CJTFOIR.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 30
  • (12–15 children10–11 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–300
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (64) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI727

Incident date

May 21, 2017

Location

الموصل: غرب, Mosul, West, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.346741, 43.118997 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that seventy civilians were killed or injured as a result of artillery and missile shelling on several neighborhoods in West Mosul. While two sources said it was the work of the Iraqi government, @Sonawa1 mentioned ‘shelling’ in general.

Presently no further details are known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 30
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–40
  • 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 (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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near west Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018

  • The report contains insufficient information of the time location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For May 20th-21st: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed 12 fighting positions, eight medium machine guns, four rocket-propelled grenade systems, an ISIS fuel truck, a vehicle, an ISIS trailer, an ISIS staging area, and an artillery system; and damaged 18 ISIS supply routes and a fighting position.”

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 – 30
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–40
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS813

Incident date

May 13, 2017

Location

شنينة, Shanina, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.0089089, 39.0964794 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 30 civilians including seven children died and between 23 and 45 more were injured in a major casualty event on a refugee camp in Al-Hashem and Shanina, according to local sources. While most reports blamed the US-led Coalition, one also mentioned Kurdish artillery.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently published “pictures of the martyrs and wounded, mostly children, as a result of the bombing of coalition forces and the artillery of the Kurdish militias on the area of Hashem and the outskirts of the town of Shanina north of the city of Al-Raqqa.”

Ahmad al Hamad was named as a victim of a Coalition raid by Al Ragga Truth.

Death counts varied. According to Shaam, three civilians died, while Syrianpc put the death count at four: “a man, his wife and their son, in addition to the martyrdom of ‘Abdullah Muhammad al-Fayyad, 14 years old, and the injury of his entire family”.

Zaman Alwasl reported that “Islamic State media published testimony of a doctor from a hospital in Raqqa, who confirmed the killing of seven children and wounding of 30 more children, along with 15 women, in an aerial bombardment and US artillery strikes on the villages of Shanina and Mazra’at al-Rashid in the northern Rifqa.”

Al Ragga Truth, also attributing the event to Coalition jets, put the death toll as high as 30 – all members of the family of Abu al Hana from al Bu Hmeid.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, seven children died in the strike. Although it is important to note that this report pinpointed the date of the incident at May 12th, whereas most other sources mention May 13th as the date of the airstrike.

An Amnesty International report released in August, 2017 also identified May 12th as the date of the incident. According to the report, a series of air strikes killed 31 family members in Shannina, targeting “simple agricultural structures” where Internally Displaced Persons were sheltering. Relatives who had survived the airstrike stated to the Amnesty researchers that the bombardments started at 8pm and continued until 4am.

One of the survivors told Amnesty International: “The bombs killed many children, small children aged few months to six years.” The survivors had identified some of the victims of the airstrike, but only mentioned the first names to the field researchers: Iman, her husband and their four-year-old son Haitham; her mother-in-law Noura; Fadda along with six children; one of them was a baby boy born four days earlier and not yet named; Fadda’s sister and husband and three of their four children; Sumaya; Jamal along with his two daughters, and his mother Fatima, his brother Mousa and his two-year-old son Mahmoud; Mohammed and his son and daughter, aged four and six; Amina and her husband and their little girl, and Amina’s sister, Shaha, and her husband and their two young children; Mohammed Nasser, aged 60.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Iman
Adult male Mother killed
Haitham
4 years old male Son killed
Noura
Adult female Mother-in-law of Iman killed

Family members (4)

Jamal
Adult male Son killed
Fatima
Adult female Mother killed
Mousa
Adult male Son killed
Mahmoud
2 years old male Mousa's son killed

Family members (2)

Amina
Adult female Shaha's sister killed
Shaha
Adult female Amina's sister killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad al Hamad
Age unknown male killed
Abdullah Muhammad al-Fayyad
14 years old male killed
Abu al Hana
Adult male killed
Fadda
Adult female killed
Sumaya
Adult female killed
Mohammed
Adult male killed
Mohammed Nasser
60 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 30
  • (7–14 children7 women5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    23–45
  • 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, Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child allegedly killed in the strike (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children allegedly killed in the strike (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child allegedly injured in the strike (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child allegedly injured in the strike (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another child allegedly killed in the strike (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another child allegedly injured in the strike (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children allegedly killed in the strike (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another child allegedly injured in the strike (via RBSS)

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 May 12th-13th the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions, a front-end loader, an ISIS crane, and a house-born improvised explosive device.”

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 30
  • (7–14 children7 women5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    23–45
  • 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, Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1720

Incident date

February 2, 2018

Location

البحرة, Al Bahra village, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.74226, 40.76953 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources reported the death of eleven civilians and seven or more wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Bahra village, northwest of the town of Hajin.

A tweet from @BassamJaara was the only source with an estimated tally of more than 30 casualties, claiming that: “More than 30 people, mostly children and women, were killed by US air strikes on the village of Al-Bahra northwest of the Hajeen city of Deir Al-Zour yesterday.” A tweet by @CkmKZSiHpiYW0c1 mentioned “dozens” of civilians were injured by an “aerial bombardment of international coalition”.

Most other sources however, reported instead eleven slain and seven injured civilians – with some reports specifically mentioning “US airstrikes”.

According to a number of local reports, the strikes hit a hospital in the rural town. This was later also noted by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, which said that the airstrikes rendered the makeshift hospital inoperable.

In February 2019, the Coalition assessed this event to be non-credible. Their report noted: “After review of all available strike records it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

In May 2019, the Coalition appear to have re-assessed this allegation, still resulting in a non-credible assessment. Their report noted, “after a review of all available strike records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 30
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–24
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Photo of the alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Bahra (via Ahmad Al Shbli).
  • The aftermath of the alleged Coalition airstrike on a hospital in Al Bahra (via Ahmad Al Shbli).
  • A stills image from an ISIS proaganda video said to show Coalition strikes on al Bahra February 2nd 2018
  • Image from the SNHR published by Bellingcat showing the aftermath of an alleged coalition attack on a hospital in al-Bahra in Deir Ezzor on February 2nd, 2018.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Other
  • Stated location
    near al-Bahra, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU619458
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2019
  • Feb 28, 2019

  • Feb. 2, 2018, near al-Bahra, Syria via Airwars report. After review of all available strike records it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.

  • Feb. 2, 2018, near al-Bahra, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available strike records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For February 2nd the Coalition reported: “On Feb. 2 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of 16 engagements against ISIS targets.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 30
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–24
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1375

Incident date

August 16, 2017

Location

شارع معتز, West of Mu'Taz Street, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9508, 39.01558 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 30 civilians including women and children died and dozens more were wounded in a Coalition airstrike on the area west of Al-Mu’taz Street in Raqqa, according to local media. The Coalition later confirmed having unintentionally injured two civilians in this strike.

All sources attributed the event to the US-led Coalition, with a number reporting that an apartment building was struck after “Maghrib prayers”, according to the Euphrates Post.

Multiple members of four families were reportedly killed, with Step News and other sources saying that 25 people from one family died. Death counts varied. Sound and Picture put the toll at 17, while Elwehda said that 11 children and five women were among those killed. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that there had been up to 13 child victims among the 25 who died.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently put the total number dead at around 30. According to Euphrates Post, the strike “targeted a building behind Abu Hussein Sironx where there were 30 people from four families, two of whom were taken out. The rest remained under the rubble.”

In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, Amnesty stated that “Eleven members of the Al-Rahil family – five women, three children and three men, were killed when the home they were sheltering in was destroyed in a coalition air strike. Another female relative was killed in in a neighbouring house.”Kraiem, a survivor of the strike gave a testimony to Amnesty stating that “After the strike I was looking for my son in the dark. I pulled a survivor out the rubble, it was Yassir, Khaled’s son. Then I found the body of my little boy. One of the women had been cut in half. Aydan was headless.”

Field notes of the investigation mention that “the house that was hit is known as Beit al Shamas – which is Kraim’s sister Fadda’s house. In mid-July, IS had sent them to the area, after ordering them and all their neighbours in their area on the outskirts of the city in northern Raqqa to leave, saying it was a ‘military area’.”

“Kraim and the others believe that Jihad Sueilem’s house, across the street, was impacted by shrapnel from this strike. The only person to die in Jihad Sueilem’s house was Yassir’s older sister,  Lana Ali al-Njem, who was in the kitchen when something appears to have come through the window. After inspecting the scene, we felt that whatever killed Yassir’s older sister must have come from something else, maybe a separate strike.” The incident reporting this death can be found here: CS1375b.

“Kraim was in the house at the time it was hit. He heard shooting outside so put his head out to have a look. That was when he heard an airplane above. After the strike there was no light but he had a torch. He was looking for his son in the dark. He pulled a body out but then boy said “I’m Yassir, Khaled’s son”. He found his son and saw that he had suffered a head wound. One of the women had been cut in half. Aydan was headless.”

In October 2017, the Coalition conceded it had caused civilian harm in what may be this this strike: “(14.) Aug. 15, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via self-report. During a Coalition strike that engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally injured.”

Airwars is still seeking clarification on this event. In their monthly civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition has indicated that the credibility of Amnesty’s civilian harm allegation is in the process of being assessed.

The incident occured at approximately 12:15 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Yasser Ali Najem
40 years old male a neighbour killed
Hussein Ali al Najem
38 years old male Yasser's brother killed
Malika Ali -Najem
55 years old female Yasser's sister, widow, no children killed
Dalia Ali Najem
27 years old female Yasser's sister killed
Fatima Hassan al-Gatt
73 years old female Yasser's mother killed

Family members (3)

Qotaiba Abdelkareem al Rahil
3 years old male Kraim’s son killed
Reem Abdelrahman al Rahil
6 years old female Kraim’s daughter killed
Rubaa Mohammed al Ahmad
35 years old female Kraim’s wife killed

Family members (1)

Idan al-Abbu
Age unknown male killed

Family members (2)

Aydan al Abo al Issa
70 years old male killed
Hurriya al Rahil al Khaleel (
65 years old female Aydan's wife killed

The victims were named as:

Hafez Khalaf al Shuaib
42 years old male his boy survived killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 30
  • (6–13 children5–6 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Reem and Qutayba Kareem al Rahil killed along with their mother, in an alleged Coalition airstrike on an apartment building in Mu’taz Street in the center of Raqqa city, Aug 15th (via SN4HR)
  • Fatima Hassan al-Gatt (via RBSS)
  • # Raqqa massacre against the family of "Najem" because of the bombing of the international coalition aircraft on "Street Moataz" in the city of Al-Rigga before a few days Martyrs: 1 - Yasser Ali Najem .. 2 - Hussein Ali Najem 3 - Malika Ali -Najem, F 4 - Dalia Ali Najem, F 5 - and their mother Fatima Hassan al-Gatt
  • Members of the Najem family, Dalia and Malak (via Amnesty International)
  • Fatima Hassan Al Qat (via Amnesty International)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

  • Before strike. (via Amnesty)

    Imagery:
    Amnesty International

  • After strike. (via Amnesty)

    Imagery:
    Amnesty International

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:

  • 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 injuries conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017

  • (14.) Aug. 15, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via self-report. During a Coalition strike that engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally injured.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 14th-15th the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, 27 strikes engaged 19 ISIS tactical units; and destroyed 59 fighting positions, two heavy machine guns, a mortar system, an IED, and a logistics node.” It additionally reported that “On Aug. 14, near Raqqah, Syria, 32 strikes engaged 20 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 18 fighting positions, three IEDs, three heavy machine guns, three command and control nodes, a logistics node, an anti-aircraft artillery system, and an IED factory.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

In the past week, (11th-18th) France conducted 27 sorties, including 22 armed reconnaissance and ground support (CAS), 1 refueling outlet and 4 intelligence gathering sorties by Atlantic 2 or Rafale patrols. Two strikes were carried out in the Raqqah region of Syria. They helped support the Syrian democratic forces in their offensive to retake the city.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, A Raqqah, la progression des forces démocratiques syriennes se poursuit. Au sud de la ville, la manœuvre de tenaille, amorcée il y a 15 jours, s’est achevée en fin de semaine dernière. Elle a permis de réaliser la jonction des fronts est et ouest. Depuis, les forces démocratiques syriennes ont relancé une offensive vers le centre de la ville mais elles font face à une défense acharnée des combattants de Daech. En Irak, Les forces de sécurité irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations dans l’objectif de libérer, à terme, le nord de l’Irak. Actuellement, elles focalisent leur effort sur l’encerclement de la ville de Tall Afar. Les combattants de l’organisation terroriste réalisent un travail de valorisation de leurs positions défensives pour se préparer aux combats à venir alors que les populations tentent de fuir la ville. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Les soldats de l’opération Chammal poursuive leur mission d’appui au profit des unités irakiennes engagées contre Daech. Cette semaine, sur le théâtre, les aéronefs ont réalisé 27 sorties aériennes dont 22 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), 1 sortie de ravitaillement ainsi que 4 sorties de recueil de renseignement par Atlantique 2 ou patrouille de Rafale. Deux frappes ont été conduites dans la région de Raqqah en Syrie. Elles ont permis d’appuyer les forces démocratiques syriennes dans leur offensive pour reprendre la ville. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 13 missions de tir en appui de la 15e division à l’ouest de Mossoul vers Tal Afar. En particulier, les artilleurs ont fourni des feux de harcèlement et d’éclairement pour interdire aux combattants de Daech de mener des actions au sol ou de réaliser des tirs indirects contre les positions irakiennes. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève 1330 frappes, 2102 objectifs détruits et 6946 sorties. ‘

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For Aug 9-15th, France report 2 strikes in Raqqah, Syria – and 13 artillery missions in Mosul.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 30
  • (6–13 children5–6 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI833

Incident date

August 21, 2017

Location

تلعفر, Tal Afar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

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

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

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

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

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tal Afar (تلعفر), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.375659, 42.451536. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018

  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

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

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1782

Incident date

July 21, 2018

Location

بين بلدة السوسة والظهرة في البادية, Al Soussa/al Dahra, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.528889, 40.9675 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that up to thirty civilians were killed and injured when Coalition airstrikes allegedly targeted several locations between al Soussa and al Dahra.

Most sources stated that the civilians were struck when they were trying to escape the village of al Soussa and move towards the al Dahra area in al Badia, rural Deir Ezzor. ISIS had reportedly allowed some civilians to flee.

According to Deir Ezzor 24, this happened when Coalition aircraft were “targeting several locations for Daesh in the town of Al-Soussa”. All sources identified the Coalition as the culprit.

Baladi News later noted that “dozens of civilians, including women and children” were killed and injured in the attack. This was reiterated by Syrian state media SANA, which added that “scores of families from al-Soussa have been fleeing the airstrikes of the Coalition that have been targeting their homes for days.”

Al Soussa Youth reported that one of the civilians killed was identified as Hamid Al Zaidan from al Habatra, whose recovered body had been brought to his family. According to the report, the other bodies “can’t be reached.” Two days after the event, both al Soussa Youth and Step News Agency reported a tally of 30 civilians killed, while mentioning that these were still not recovered from the site.

Two days after the incident, Mena Monitor News stated that the SDF “found eight bodies of civilians in the town of Soussa in the eastern suburb of Deir al-Ghazur, which were killed by an air strike by the international coalition coalition two days ago”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hamid Al Zaidan
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    24 – 30
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of Hamid Al Zaidan (via al Soussa Youth)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the villages of Al Baghouz and Al Soussa, for which the coordinates are: 34,528889, 40,9675

  • The villages Al Soussa and Al Baghouz

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near al-Soussa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU805225
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 25, 2018

  • July 21, 2018, near al-Soussa, Syria, via Airwars. After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition publicly reported that on July 21st 2018: “Near Abu Kamal, three strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, and destroyed three
Daesh vehicles and one Daesh line of communication."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    24 – 30
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]