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

CS1921

Incident date

June 30, 2019

Location

ريف المهندسين الأول, Rif Al Mouhandessen Al Awal, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.094532, 36.961419 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A confirmed Coalition strike with high-explosive missiles against Al Qaeda at Rif Al Mouhandessen near Aleppo on the afternoon of June 30th is also locally reported to have injured at least two children and two women, and killed a number of foreign AQ-linked fighters. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that the strike was carried out at 4.20 pm, exactly.

According to Step news, a total of seven injured people were evacuated including the two children and two women, in addition to the bodies of three men. Step News added in a later post that the number of casualties had risen to eleven people but did specify the number of dead or wounded or their combatant status.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights initially reported that eight commanders and fighters were killed but in a later post added that the number had risen to nine. According the source, the victims included two Algerians, two Tunisians, one Egyptian and a Syrian commander in addition to 14 wounded who attended a meeting when the building they were in was struck with rocket shelling. The source added that it wasn’t clear whether the shelling was carried out by the International Coalition or by Russian missiles.

Alarabiya reported: “The US-led coalition said Monday its jets carried out strikes in northwest Syria a day earlier that a monitor reported had killed eight extremists, including commanders, from an al-Qaeda-linked group.

‘This operation targeted AQ-S operatives responsible for plotting external attacks threatening US citizens, our partners, and innocent civilians,’ US Central Command said in a statement, using an acronym for Al-Qaeda in Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, earlier said six commanders were among the slain extremists from the Hurras al-Deen group.”

Among those killed militants were Abu Omar, Tunisian, and Abu Dujana, Algerian, leaders of the organization according to Mena Monitor. @jalaysalshuhada reported that Abu Omar was a Tunisian member of the Shura Council and a judge in the internal judiciary of the organization.

Mena Monitor added that among the wounded militants were Abu Yahya al-Masri and Abu Dhar al-Masri.

On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition reported this incident to be “non-credible”, stating that “After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 11
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–9
  • Belligerents reported injured
    8–14

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • A building was struck by a confirmed Coalition strike against Al Qaeda at Rif Al Mouhandessen near Aleppo on June 30th (via Step News).
  • A building was struck by a confirmed Coalition strike against Al Qaeda at Rif Al Mouhandessen near Aleppo on June 30th (via Step News).
  • A building was struck by a confirmed Coalition strike against Al Qaeda at Rif Al Mouhandessen near Aleppo on June 30th (via Step News).
  • A building was struck by a confirmed Coalition strike against Al Qaeda at Rif Al Mouhandessen near Aleppo on June 30th (via Step News).
  • A building was struck by a confirmed Coalition strike against Al Qaeda at Rif Al Mouhandessen near Aleppo on June 30th (via Syria live ua).
  • A building was struck by a confirmed Coalition strike against Al Qaeda at Rif Al Mouhandessen near Aleppo on June 30th (via Syria live ua).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abu Omar, Tunisian member of the Shura Council and a judge in the internal judiciary of extremist organization "Horras Al Din", was alleged killed in a Coalition strike in Aleppo on June 30th (via @jalaysalshuhada).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Video showing bodies of stuck under the rubble caused by a Coalition strike in Aleppo on June 30th (via @jalaysalshuhada).

Geolocation notes

Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 36.09453, 36.96142

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Open incident
  • Stated location
    near Aleppo, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCV1647596357
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 10, 2022

  • Jun. 30, 2019, near Aleppo, Syria, via Airwars report. After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike. 3218/CS1921 37SCV1647596357

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 11
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–9
  • Belligerents reported injured
    8–14

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1922

Incident date

July 4, 2019

Location

شاميكو, Shamikou, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.582778, 40.568889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was reported killed, and another injured, in a collision with a vehicle belonging to the US-led Coalition in Al-Hasakah on July 4th.

Haleb Today TV documented that those wounded and injured were two children, stating that a correspondent from Aleppo Today reported “a child killed and another seriously injured in a traffic accident between the patrol of the International Coalition and a motorcycle on which two children were traveling, near the village of Shomukh rural western Hasaka.”

According to this source, “the correspondent added that the child Hani Al Afin – 12 years old – was killed after the incident, while the child Yasser Abdul-Baki – 15 years – had a concussion, and required the amputation of one of his fingers in addition to various wounds in the body.”

While other sources referred to those harmed in the incident as children, Smart News alleged that “one person died and another was injured in a collision between a vehicle of the International Coalition and a motorcycle west of the city of Hasaka.”

Meanwhile, Syria TV News reported that “a civilian was killed and another wounded Thursday when their motorbike was run over by a vehicle belonging to the International Coalition in the province of Hasaka, northeast of Syria.”

Kurdstreet News and Rojava052 stated that the vehicle involved in the incident was a “French patrol of the International Coalition.”

In its January 2021 monthly civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition determined this event to be ‘non credible’, asserting: “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.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Yasser Abdul-Baki
15 years old years old male injured
Hani Al Afin
12 years old years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Use of objects and other means
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Image caption translation: "A civilian was killed and another was injured in a traffic accident on the Hasaka road. Kurdish media reported that an international Coalition convoy collided with civilians on their motorcycle on the Hasaka road - Ain Issa, killing one of them and injuring the other." (via Jist TV).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a traffic accident on the highway connecting Hasaka (الحسكة) to Ayn Issa (عين عيسى). Some sources mention the junction east of the village of Shamikou (شاميكو) as the location of the incident. The generic coordinates for the village are: 36.582778, 40.568889. Due to limited 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 Shamikou, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFA403497
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 6, 2021

  • Jun. 4, 2019, in Shamikou, 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. 3279/CS1922 37SFA403497

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Use of objects and other means
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1923

Incident date

July 13, 2019

Location

بادية (فليطح) فلطيح, Faltih (Fletih) desert (Badit Faltih), Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

Abed Abdullah al-Numan, a shepherd from the town of Al Tayana, was killed by an alleged Coalition airstrike when he was out working in the Faltih(Fletih) desert (Badit Faltih), north of Deir Ezzor – near the Syrian-Iraqi border, according to local media.

Suriye u.a.d. reported that the victim was killed by a Coalition helicopter, whereas Euphrates post reported he was struck from a Coalition plane.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, who also blamed the Coalition, the plane was “without pilot”.

No other details are known at this time.

In September 2019 the Coalition announced that it had classed this allegation of civilian harm as non-credible. Their monthly civilian casualty report noted, “After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abed Abdullah al-Numan
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • A shepherd called Abed Abdullah al-Numan was out with his sheep when he was struck by an alleged Coalition airstrike on Faltih(Fletih) desert (Badit Faltih), north of Deir Ezzor - near the Syrian-Iraqi border, on July 13th (via Euphrates Post).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Fliteh (فليطح) within the Fliteh Desert (بادية فليطح) in the northern region of Deir ez-Zor Governate (مُحافظة دير الزور‎). 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
  • Stated location
    in Badit Faltih, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV157184
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 26, 2019

  • July 13, 2019, in Badit Faltih, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Between July 2 and July 31, 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted one strike consisting of five engagements against Daesh
targets in Syria. CJTF-OIR engaged five Daesh tactical units.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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

CS1924

Incident date

July 16, 2019

Location

الطكيحي, Al Takihi, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.171318, 40.472238 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources alleged that the International Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) carried out an airstrike that struck the home of ISIS leader Ragheb Hussein al-Hindoura at dawn, and claimed that the airstrike killed between 10 to 15 relatives in the house adjacent to Hassan’s house and wounded others. The dead and wounded relatives were reported as civilians.

According to one source, Hassan refused to surrender to Coalition forces and opened fire, which escalated the situation and prompted the Coalition forces to shell his house after it was besieged by SDF forces, resulting in one member of the SDF killed and two others wounded.

Deir Ezzor 24 reported: “Special sources confirmed that the aircraft of the International Coalition bombed the house of the leader of Da`esh Hassan Ibrahim, killing 15 civilians, and wounded others.”

According to Step News, not 15 but 10 civilians were killed in the attack. The source added that five ISIS members were wounded in addition to two members of SDF.

Euphrates Post however, reported that these allegations were false. The source claimed:

“All the news reported by some media about the killing of two civilians during the raid and aerial landing carried out by the SDF supported by the international coalition forces in the village of Al-Takihi at dawn today is not true. The operation resulted in the killing of the leader of the state organization Ragheb Hussein Al-Hindoura and injury of his wife only and the arrest of two of his father’s brothers and two others who are unknown”.

In response, Deir Ezzor 24 reported that it received new information from military sources that Ragheb Hussein Ahmed al-Ibrahim was a security official for ISIS in several area’s of Deir Ezzor countryside, especially the area known as the Triangle “Al-Bassirah – Ash-Shahil – Al-Tukayhi”. The source added that the member of the SDF killed was named Abdul Hamid al-Faihan.

Orient added: “It is noteworthy that the international coalition forces carried out dozens of landings in the countryside of Deir Ezzor, targeting elements, leaders and cells”.

In September 2019 the Coalition announced that it had assessed this allegation of civilian harm to be non-credible. Their monhtly civilian casualty report noted, “After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.”

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Wife of Ragheb Hussein al-Hindoura
Adult female injured

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 15
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–5

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of ISIS' leaders Ragheb Hussein al-Hindoura was reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Takaihi village in Al Basra on July 16th (via Euphrates Post).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Takihi (الطكيحي), for which the coordinates are: 35.171318, 40.472238

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
    in Al Takaihi, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 26, 2019

  • July 16, 2019, in Al Takaihi, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 15
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–5

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1925

Incident date

July 29, 2019

Location

الزر, Al Zer, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.12527, 40.42864 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Coalition airstrikes on Al Zer killed claimed the lives of a number of people and injured others, although it is unclear whether they were combatants or non-combatants.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that it “learned from a number of reliable sources that helicopters affiliated to the International Coalition targeted a cell of the ‘Islamic State’ organisation that was hiding in Hawijat Al-Busayrah in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, which resulted in the killing of five of the cell’s members of the Syrian nationality amid information about the killing of a sixth non-Syrian member”.

According to Step News, five members were of Syrian nationality, two of them from the village of Zer, and the other three from the village of Saalu in the eastern village of Deir al-Zour.

However, Syrian-regime affiliated source SANA News claimed that “a number of civilians were martyred and other were injured, most of them women and children”.

Baladi also blamed the Coalition for the death of five civilians and named the victims as “Abdul Karim Mohammed al-Wattb, the son of Hussein al-Hindula ,and a young from the town of Zer, whose name is still unknown, as well as two young men from the town of Saalu, west of the town of Al-Mayadin”.

Nabd News reported: “Coalition spokesman Scott Rawlinson told AFP Coalition forces launched a raid on a Daesh near the vision in the rural north of Deir al-Zour. The raid on Sunday night killed five terrorists who played a key role in facilitating attacks in the region against security forces and innocent civilians, according to Rawlinson”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Karim Mohammed al-Wattb
Age unknown male killed
Son of Hussein al-Hindula,
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–5

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village for Al Zer (الزر), for which the coordinates are: 35.12527, 40.42864

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–5

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1926

Incident date

August 1, 2019

Location

قرية بكعة في تل حميس, Baka`a Village in the area of Tal Hamis, Al Hasaka, Syria

Geolocation

36.75514, 41.399094 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians were reported killed by an alleged Coalition action in Baka`a Village, Al Hasaka, on August 1st.

Al Khabour News reported that: “The International Coalition forces, backed by elements of the Democratic Unionist Party (BYD), committed a massacre in which six people, including children and women, were killed in the village of Beka`a in the area of ​​Tal Hamis in the province of Hasaka.”

The Khabour correspondent stated: “Two aircraft belonging to the International Alliance landed in the village of Beka`a, before heavy machine guns and rockets hit several houses in the village [….].The bombing led to the death of an entire Iraqi family, after the collapse of the house over their heads.”

According to this source, Coalition forces “withdrew immediately after the destruction of the house, without retrieving any bodies.”

Meanwhile, NSyria News reported that “the anti-terrorist forces of the Syrian Democratic Forces carried out an aerial landing operation supported by the International Coalition in the countryside of the town of Tal Hamis in northern Syria.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said “that the anti-terrorism forces, with the support of the international Coalition, carried out an air landing near the Syrian-Iraqi border in the town of Tal Hamis in the countryside of the province of Hasaka.

“The Syrian Observatory confirmed that two members of the family of one of the ‘Islamic State’ cells in the region were arrested, in addition to the sources of weapons in their possession.”

In a civilian casualty assessment released July 10th 2021, the Coalition classed this event as ‘non credible’, claiming that “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.”

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • 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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "The operation resulted in the arrest of Sabah Ali Muhammad and Razzaq Ali Muhammad. They found pistols, magazines, hand grenades and electronic devices used in terrorist operations." (via Vedeng News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Baka’a (بكعة) within the area surrounding the town of Tal Hamis (تل حميس). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The coordinates for Tal Hamis are: 36.75514, 41.399094

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
    37SGA141703
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 10, 2021

  • Aug. 1, 2019, in al Hasaka, 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. 3280/CS1926 37SGA141703

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • 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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1317a

Incident date

August 2, 2019

Location

الفردوس, near Raqqa, Syria, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.95178, 39.00444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident previously not tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the death of one civilian near Raqqa.

In its February 2019 report, the Coalition noted the following: “Coalition aircraft conducted two airstrikes and one artillery strike. The airstrikes targeted one ISIS weapons cache and one ISIS command and control facility. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed in each of these strikes.”

It was later clarified to Airwars that this incident of civilian harm was found during the assessment of Airwars allegation CS1317 and had not been previously reported to the Coalition.

It is unclear which strike targeted the ISIS weapons cache and which one targeted the ISIS command and control facility. The other airstrike incident is recorded as CS1317 and the artillery incident as CS1317b.

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
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    1
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV004786
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 28, 2019

  • August 2, 2017, near Raqqa, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conduced two airstrikes and one artillery strike. The airstrikes targeted one ISIS weapons cache and one ISIS command and control facility. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed in each of these strikes.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Near Raqqah, 14 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed nine fighting positions,
two vehicles, a supply cache, a VBIED, a mortar position, an ISIS UAS site, and a generator.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1927

Incident date

August 16, 2019

Location

المانعية, Al Man’iya, Ar Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

“Two unidentified men” were reported killed in a Coalition ground operation in Al-Mananiya, east of Raqqa, on August 16th.

Suriye.u.a.d stated that “two unidentified men [were] killed after being shot by Coalition forces that carried out an airstrike on the village of Al-Mananiya east of Raqqa.”

Meanwhile, Shaam News stated that “Coalition Forces conducted an air-landing operation, targeting two displaced families in the village of Al-Man’iya in the eastern countryside.”

It is unclear at this point whether the men were civilians or belligerents.

Airwars has set a possible civilian casualty range of 0 to two, and is conducting ongoing research.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Man’iya east of the city of Ar Raqqa (الرقة‎). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The coordinates for the city of Ar Raqqa are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV008784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 10, 2021

  • Aug. 16, 2019, in al Man’iya, 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. 3281/CS1927 37SEV008784

Summary

  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2

Sources (2) [ collapse]