US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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

Incident Code

CS028

Incident date

November 11, 2014

Location

الشنان, Shanan, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.9661197, 40.5534553 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Syrian Martyrs website claimed that a civilian male died in a coalition airstrike on the village of al Shanan near Dayr az Zawr. He was later named as Rashed Hamdan Al Abd Al Jassem.

According to the Facebook page of local activist Abu Mohammad Al Dairi, al Jassem was one of 12 casualties from “international coalition raids on one of the oil fields in the eastern countryside a few days ago.

We have an incident listed on November 7th [CS023] in which three male civilians were reported killed in a coalition raid on Al Tanak oil field in Deir Ezzor. There is a chance these two incidents are linked.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Listed by Syrian Martyrs killed

Summary

  • 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]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of this incident are slightly conflicting: the strike happened either in As Shanan or in the oil fields in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. The coordinates for the midpoint of As Shanan are: 34.9661197, 40.5534553

  • The village of As Shanan, West of the oil fields in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor

    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 Shanan, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU418703
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Four coalition strikes have been confirmed in the area between November 10th-12th 2014: “Three airstrikes northeast of Dayr Az Zawr damaged an ISIL crude oil collection facility. Near Dayr Az Zawr, one airstrike struck a small ISIL unit and damaged an ISIL vehicle.”

Summary

  • 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

CS027

Incident date

November 11, 2014

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5269242, 37.9559288 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A number of sources cited SN4HR (in a report now lost) as claiming that two unnamed civilian males and one ISIL militant were killed in a coalition airstrike at Manbij, near Aleppo.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Manbij, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA065429
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

No coalition airstrikes were officially reported in Aleppo governorate between November 10th-12th 2014.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS026

Incident date

November 11, 2014

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

According to some sources, a civilian man was killed alongside two militants in an alleged coalition airstrike on Islamic State’s headquarters town of Ar Raqqah. The slain civilian was identified as a resident of Ma’ar Shoureen in Idlib. Two ‘Daesh militants’ were reportedly killed with him, one named as Mohammad Said Al Kaddour Nasser.

In contrast, Raqaa is Being Slaughtered Silently and VDC said all three men were civilians, though said their deaths were the result of an Assad regime airstrike. The site described the third unnamed man as “a driver from the town of Jarjanaz in Al Raqqa.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Listed by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–3 men)
  • 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 Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of one of the alleged victims (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of one of the alleged victims (via RBSS)

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 Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

No coalition airstrikes were officially reported at Ar Raqqah between November 10th-12th 2014.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–3 men)
  • 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 Regime

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS024

Incident date

November 8, 2014

Location

الخريطة, Khareeta, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.47132, 40.0090642 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilian men were reported by a number of sources as having been killed in a coalition airstrike.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Syrian Martyrs killed
Adult male Syrian Martyrs killed

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 (9) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Khareeta (الخريطة), Deir Ezzor, for which the coordinates of its midpoint are: 35.47132, 40.0090642

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 Khareeta, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV915257
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The coalition has confirmed ten airstrikes in the vicinity of Dayr az-Zawr between November 7th-10th 2014, noting: “Eight airstrikes southeast of Dayr Az Zawr damaged several structures of an ISIL oil collection facility which was used to trans-load oil for the black market. Two airstrikes east of Dayr Az Zawr damaged an ISIL oil collection point.“

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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS021

Incident date

November 7, 2014

Location

دير الزور‎, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3353632, 40.1380348 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilian men were reported by a single source to have been killed in a coalition strike on the city of Dayr az Zawr. They were named by the VDC.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Listed by VDC, resident of Raqqah killed
Adult male Listed by VDC, resident of Raqqah killed
Adult male Listed by VDC, resident of Raqqah killed
Adult male Listed by VDC, from Eastern Al Dashisha killed
Adult male Listed by VDC, from Eastern Al Dashisha killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (5 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • 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
    a:1:{i:0;s:20:"no_coalition_strikes";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Deir Az Zor, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The coalition has confirmed ten airstrikes in the vicinity of Dayr az-Zawr between November 7th-10th 2014, noting: “Eight airstrikes southeast of Dayr Az Zawr damaged several structures of an ISIL oil collection facility which was used to trans-load oil for the black market. Two airstrikes east of Dayr Az Zawr damaged an ISIL oil collection point.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (5 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS022

Incident date

November 7, 2014

Location

سعلو, Sillu, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.141173, 40.363297 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two non-combatant males were reported killed in a coalition airstrike on the village of Sa’alo.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Listed by VDC killed
Adult male Listed by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The coalition has confirmed ten airstrikes in the vicinity of Dayr az-Zawr between November 7th-10th 2014, noting: “Eight airstrikes southeast of Dayr Az Zawr damaged several structures of an ISIL oil collection facility which was used to trans-load oil for the black market. Two airstrikes east of Dayr Az Zawr damaged an ISIL oil collection point.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS023

Incident date

November 7, 2014

Location

near At-Tanak Oilfield, Syria, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

In its January 25th 2018 civilian casualty report, the Coalition reported that a civilian casualties allegation near At-Tanak is currently being assessed: “#1 Nov. 7, 2014 near At-Tanak Oilfield, Syria via regional human rights organization report.”

Further research by our Syria team indicated that this incident was in fact previously known to Airwars, but had not been linked to this specific location. At the time, a single source, the Violations Documentation Center, claimed that two male civilians, from the same family, were killed during a coalition airstrike on the village of Al Zir.

This source was initially archived as separate incident S021. Further research found more than a dozen of other sources corroborating the death of the two victims, all stating the airstrike took place near al Tanak oil field in al Sha’itat desert. Subsequently, Airwars merged the two separate events into incident S023a on February 22nd, 2018.

On the 10th and 11th of November, a couple of sources reported the death of one civilian male Abd Al Kader Ibrahim Al Saleh. We initially had this as a separate incident that took place on November 10th S025 but further research revealed this as the same incident. Syrian Human Rights committee specified that he died “due to injuries sustained in a coalition airstrike on al Tanak oil fields” a few days earlier.

On the 11th another male civilian Rashed Hamdan Al Abd al Jassem was reported killed in alleged coalition raids on ‘one of the oil fields in the eastern countryside a few days ago’. We have this listed as a separate incident [CS028] but there is a chance these two incidents are linked.

When Deir Ezzor Under Fire reported on the incident, they stated that it happened “an hour ago”, indicating that the airstrike allegedly took place around 11pm local time. Most sources identified the “International Alliance” or the US-led “Arab-International Alliance” as the culprit.

In their February 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 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 incident occured at 23:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Family members (1)

Adult male killed

Family members (1)

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 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 (25) [ 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
    37SFU681648
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020
  • Nov. 7, 2014, near At-Tanak Oilfield, Syria via Syrian Network for Human Rights 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. 1815 37SFU681648

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The coalition has confirmed ten airstrikes in the vicinity of Dayr az-Zawr between November 7th-10th 2014, noting: “Eight airstrikes southeast of Dayr Az Zawr damaged several structures of an ISIL oil collection facility which was used to trans-load oil for the black market. Two airstrikes east of Dayr Az Zawr damaged an ISIL oil collection point.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 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 (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS020

Incident date

November 6, 2014

Location

موقة, Muqah, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.499025, 36.639595 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Syrian Martyrs website claimed that up to four unnamed children under the age of 10 died in a coalition airstrike on Mouka – described as one girl and two or three boys.

In contrast, the VDC lists three unidentified bodies (two adult males and one female child) noting that they were Martyred due to the regime air forces’ shelling.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3–4 children2 men)
  • 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 Regime

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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Muqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The only coalition airstrikes officially reported for November 5th-7th 2014 took place at Kobane in Aleppo governorate, and at Tal Abyad (Ar Raqqah governorate.) Additional strikes targeted the area around Sarmada to the west of Aleppo.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3–4 children2 men)
  • 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 Regime

Sources (2) [ collapse]