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

CS485

Incident date

February 11, 2017

Location

حمرة بويتية, Hamra Bouwaitiya, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.93771, 39.12475 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported the deaths of seven civilians following US-led Coalition raids on a number of villages surrounding Raqqa.

According to Smart News “a medical source, confirmed the arrival of seven dead civilians to the hospital and 14 wounded, including women and children in a critical condition, due to targeting by coalition aircraft the villages of “Hamra Bouwaitiya, Al A’nnadiya and Al Raqqa al Samra in the eastern Raqqa countryside.”

No additional details or sources are presently known.

The incident occured between 12:00 am and 10:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    14
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Smart News mentions the villages of Al A’nnadiya (العنادیة), Hamra Bouwaitiya (حمرة بویتیة) and Al Raqqa al Samra (الرقة السمرة), all in “Eastern Raqqa countryside”. The coordinates for Al A’nnadiya (العنادیة) are: 35.968333, 39.094167. The coordinates for Hamra Bouwaitiya (حمرة بویتیة) are: 35.933056, 39.128611. The coordinates for Al Raqqa al Samra (الرقة السمرة) are: 35.9327067, 39.0910721.

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 Hamra Bouwaitiy, Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 30, 2017

  • 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

For February 10th-11th the Coalition stated: “Near Ar Raqqah, 10 strikes engaged four ISIL tactical unit; destroyed three tactical vehicles, three fighting positions, two vehicles, an ISIL headquarters, a tunnel system, and a weapons storage facility.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    14
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI470

Incident date

February 19, 2017

Location

المدينة القديمة, Mosul, Old City, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34075, 43.126911 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a further incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition said in its July report that an allegation on social media of civilian casualties at Old Mosul had been assessed as Not Credible.

According to the report “Feb. 19, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, 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 approximately a kilometer away. After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient information available to determine if civilians were present or harmed in strikes in that area.”

Coalition officials said the alleged event took place in the vicinity of 36.343614, 43.122010 near the al Noree al Kaber mosque in Old Mosul. Airwars has been unable to identify any social media report for the day relating to such an incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3146923698
    Military Grid Reference System

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 approximately a kilometer away. After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient information available to determine if civilians were present or harmed in strikes in that area.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 18th-19th the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Mosul, nine strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and an ISIS staging area; destroyed four ISIS headquarters, four watercraft, three engineering equipment pieces, three command and control nodes, two artillery systems, a vehicle, an excavator, a fighting position, an ISIS-held building, and an ISIS support facility; damaged nine supply routes and three tunnels; and suppressed 11 mortar teams, and an artillery team.”

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS530

Incident date

February 24, 2017

Location

حصيبة, Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died in an airstrike on Abu Kamal, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of the US-led Coalition or Iraqi warplanes.

RFS Media said that the Coalition carried out a strike, though added that there was so far no reports of civilian casualties. Euphrates Post reported “intense flights by the international coalition and Iraqi planes in the skies of Deir Ezzor”. It put the death toll at two non-combatants with four more wounded.

But a later report pointed towards Iraqi planes only, and quoted Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, saying that “Our Iraqi Air Force struck Daesh sites inside Syria and in particular the city of Abu Kamal”. Almidanco and Deirfree also blamed strikes by Iraqi planes.

Akil al Ramid published a video showing “scenes of F16 Iraqi planes launching raids on Hasiba and al Bukamal inside the Syrian border”.

Other sources didn’t identify the planes responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Iraqi air force strikes on strongholds urging in Albu Kamal
  • Translation: Video broadacsted by the coalition shwos Iraqi warplanes targeting ISIS targets around Abo Kamal.
  • Translation: DeirEzzor, Abo Kamal: shelling in Al-Hajjanah quarter in AL Sukariya town in Deir Ezzor by Iraqi warplanes accoring to source.
  • Translation: Coalition warplanes target Al-Hajjaba in ABo Kamal with many raids and no reports of civcas.
  • Photo showing intense flights by the international Coalition and Iraqi planes in the skies of Deir Ezzor (via Euphrates Post)
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 Abu Kamal, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU7565016027
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017

  • 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

For February 23rd-24th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed six oil tanker trucks.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

[France reports carrying out 34 sorties in the last week – and 11 strikes destroying 19 ISIL targets. In Iraq, the six strikes were concentrated in the Mosul region. They targeted mortar positions, combatant groups, a logistics depot and a command center. In Syria, two ground troop support missions were carried out in the Raqqah and Deir Ezzor areas against artillery pieces and an armored vehicle, loaded with an explosive device (SVBIED). The intervention of a Rafale patrol, after detection and guidance of the ATL2, led to the destruction of 2 clandestine oil wells in the south-east of Raqqah. In the region of Palmyra, two planned strikes were carried out and enabled the neutralization of a military storage site and a vehicle-bomb manufacturing site (VBIED).Task Force Wagram carried out 28 missions]

CHAMMAL APPRÉCIATION DE SITUATION Point de situation sur les opérations au 02 mars 2017 En Syrie, à Al Bab, les forces d’opposition soutenues par la Turquie ont pu saisir la ville après le retrait de Daech de la ville. En périphérie, les forces armées syriennes et les FDS tentent d’accentuer ce repli progressif des combattants de Daech vers l’Est. Si ce repli dessine un renforcement probable de Raqqah par les combattants exfiltrés, la menace d’actions asymétriques reste présente. En Irak, Daech poursuit ses actions de harcèlement, notamment dans l’Anbar, par l’intermédiaire d’embuscades, de tirs de mortiers ou d’attaques par drones. Dans la région de Mossoul, l’encerclement progressif de l’agglomération perturbe le ravitaillement de Daech même si l’étendue de la zone ne permet pas de garantir l’étanchéité du dispositif. Dans la partie occidentale de la ville, le recul de Daech se poursuit. Près du Tigre, après la reprise de l’aéroport, les forces de police fédérale et l’ICTS continuent leur progression coordonnée vers le nord. Dans la périphérie ouest de Mossoul, les forces irakiennes avancent vers la prison de Badush et la crête d’Astanah. La résistance se durcit à mesure que le cercle se resserre et que les forces irakiennes s’approchent des zones urbanisées. A l’Est de la ville, Daech maintient ses actions de harcèlement par tirs indirects. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE CHAMMAL Appui aérien au Levant Point de situation sur les opérations au 02 mars 2017 Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 34 sorties aériennes dont 32 de reconnaissance armée ou d’appui au sol (CAS), et 2 de recueil de renseignement. 11 frappes ont été réalisées par les avions français, elles ont permis la destruction de 19 objectifs. En Irak, les 6 frappes se sont concentrées dans la région de Mossoul. Elles s’inscrivent dans le cadre de l’appui des troupes irakiennes engagées dans l’offensive visant à reprendre la partie ouest de Mossoul. Elles ont ciblé des positions de mortier, des groupes de combattants, un dépôt logistique ainsi qu’un centre de commandement. En Syrie, 2 missions d’appui des troupes au sol ont été conduites dans la région de Raqqah et de Der Er Zawr contre des pièces d’artillerie, un véhicule suicide, blindé, chargé d’engin explosif (SVBIED). L’intervention d’une patrouille de Rafale, après détection et guidage de l’ATL2, a par ailleurs permis la destruction de 2 puits de pétrole clandestins dans le sud-est de Raqqah. Dans la région de Palmyre, 2 frappes planifiées ont été réalisées et ont permis la neutralisation d’un site de stockage de matériel militaire et d’un site de fabrication de véhicules piégés (VBIED). Appui feu – TF Wagram Cette semaine, le détachement de la Task Force (TF) Wagram déployé au nord de Mossoul a fourni un appui important aux troupes engagées au sol, avec un effort marqué à l’ouest de la ville. Les 28 missions réalisées comprennent 21 de neutralisation, destruction ou harcèlement contre des positions de combattants, des pièces de mortier ou contre des tentatives d’infiltrations en bordure du Tigre. 7 missions d’éclairement ont également été effectuées pour interdire l’utilisation du terrain par Daech. La reprise de l’offensive sur Mossoul-Ouest a marqué un tournant dans la physionomie de l’activité de la TF. Au cours des 3 dernières semaines, l’intensification des missions confiées à la TF et la proportion croissante de missions de neutralisation ou de destruction sont significatives. Cette évolution de l’activité est couplée aux progressions sur le terrain des forces de sécurité irakiennes, elle souligne l’importance et l’efficacité des appuis fournis par la partie française.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI498

Incident date

March 1, 2017

Location

لجامع عمر الاسود في حي الفاروق, Mosul, Omar al-Aswad mosque, Farouk, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.338001, 43.128728 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that up to 80 civilians were killed or injured after Coalition or Iraqi airstrikes targeted the Omar mosque area in al-Faruq neighborhood in western Mosul.

The mosque was used as a shelter by displaced families, according to the Niniva Media Center.

Reuters cited three local witnesses, noting that “The Omar al-Aswad mosque, in the al-Faruq district of the old city center, was hit by an airstrike, three residents in the same area told Reuters by phone. Neighboring houses were damaged or collapsed because of the blast, they said without giving a precise estimate of the casualties as their moves are restricted by the militants.”

Urgent Mosul news reported that “this morning warplanes targeted Omar Black Mosque in al-Faruq area on the right side [with] several missiles, which led to the death of more than 50 civilians and the destruction of homes adjacent to the mosque.

Residents had also reported this to Reuters, said Mosul MNN. “They added that the neighboring houses were damaged or collapsed because of the blast, without giving precise estimates of the number of dead and injured because the regulation restricts their movements. A spokesman for the Coalition led by the United States said he did not know that an attack targeted a mosque. For his part, the Iraqi military officer told the media that the battle continues, and that forces [may be] targeting elements of Daesh wherever they may be, but [he] declined to mention targeting this particular mosque.”

One resident of al-Faruq neighbourhood (pictured below), was named as killed in the raids.

In its July 2017 casualty report the Coalition appeared to deny responsibility for the attack, noting: “March 1, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”

The coordinates supplied to Airwars – 36.344546, 43.121074 – were less than 400m from Farouk though were also less than 1000m from Sha’aren, scene of another alleged event that day.

Airwars is presently querying this incident with the Coalition.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Thanon Alaa Younis
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    50 – 80
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF318236
    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
Official source

For February 28th-March 1st, the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed nine mortar systems, six fighting positions, five VBIED facilities, three supply caches, three ISIS-held buildings, three VBIEDs, and an improvised weapons factory; damaged six supply routes; and suppressed 14 mortar teams and two ISIS tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    50 – 80
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI518

Incident date

March 7, 2017

Location

المنصور, Mosul, Al Mansour, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.319488, 43.114521 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

There were reports that children and women were killed or injured due to different kinds of shelling and airstrikes on Mansour neighborhood in West Mosul.

@shvm_90 said in a Tweet: “Heavy shelling and brutal air and artillery aimed at reviving #right side [of Mosul] and the strongest was on #Mansour neighborhood and the fall of victims from children and women”

Amnesty International field researchers interviewed survivors, later sharing their notes with Airwars: “We tried to find any way to survive in our house. We found some desks from a school, and we burned them for the heat. We used to make bread using the fire. These were very hard days for us, full of hunger and fear. We just sat there, hearing the sound of the mortars and the airstrikes. Shrapnel was falling through the air like rain. We sat together, all of us, huddled together, near the wall, waiting for a bullet to come through the wall and kill us.

We were on the ground floor of the house, moving between two rooms, for 14 days. We knew the glass would fly in the house if our house was hit, so we used wood, metal, anything we could to cover the windows. We slept on the floor, on a few cushions. It felt like the explosions never stopped.

We weren’t as afraid of the airstrikes, because the airstrikes were targeting specific locations. What we were afraid of was the mortars, because they were striking everywhere.

On 7 March, there was a mortar attack on our house. Usually everyone was inside, but at that time, XXXX and XXXX were outside. [XXXX – 16 years old; XXXX – 15 years old. They left their tent and joined the interview at this point, and showed us their injuries – XXXX had an injury from the shrapnel on her head, which was visible, and XXXX said that she had shrapnel on her back.]

XXXX: We were outside, chatting in the garden. It was a sunny day. Suddenly there was a strong explosion. I think it was a mortar.

Different interviewee: “We heard something hitting the roof. There were two floors in the building, and the top floor collapsed, and the fence outside was destroyed.”

Separate interviewees told Amnesty the following: “On 7 March, around 2pm in the afternoon, there was a big attack on our neighbour’s house. Their house is about 50 meters away from our house. A family of injured people ran to our house. They had injuries on their heads, their faces, their legs. There was blood everywhere. All of the injuries were from shrapnel. Some of us tried to help them, because we knew a little bit of first aid.

Second interviewee

There was a big attack on 7 March. We were staying in al-Mansour, in a house with 40-50 other people – four or five families. Six IS fighters were using the house. They were standing in the front of the house when the attack came. Around 2pm, I heard the sound of the planes, and then the rockets came. There were two rockets, and they destroyed three houses near to the house we were in. The houses were collapsed. I was probably 50 meters away from the strikes. There were two big explosions, and dust, sand, and shrapnel was everywhere. We didn’t go to the collapsed buildings, because we expected there might be another attack – that had happened before. Some of the people from the attack came into our house. One person later died, from the injuries he had from the shrapnel. Another person had an injury on her jaw.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 10
  • (2 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The location of the alleged incident
  • Photos of the aftermath
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 Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 6th-March 7th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed nine fighting positions, five VBIEDs, four vehicles, three roadblocks, two mortar systems, two tactical vehicles, two rocket-propelled grenade systems, a supply cache, an artillery system, a sniper position, a UAV launch site, and a VBIED factory; damaged 23 vehicles, 10 supply routes, and a tunnel; and suppressed two mortar teams.”

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
    2 – 10
  • (2 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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

CI535

Incident date

March 13, 2017

Location

الموصل: غرب/الجانب الأيمن, Mosul, West / Right side, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.336843, 43.117979 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local residents and press source said that up to 25 civilians were killed, mostly children and women, and 117 wounded due to an ongoing battle in downtown (Central) and Western Mosul. Both shelling and Coalition airstrikes were reported.

Local residents and press sources said that airstrikes had heavily targeted the July 17, Rifai, Shifa, Bab Sinjar, New Mosul (near Yaqatha mosque), Hermat, Farouk and al-Jawsaq neighbourhoods in the West of Mosul. Many civilians were reportedly killed (30) or injured (58–117) and many were still under the rubble.

While Iraqyoon blamed the Coalition, most sources mention both airstrikes and artillery shelling, without specifying who carried out the raids. It was reported that the number of civilian casualties resulting from the strikes on homes near Yaqatha Mosque in New Mosul was still unknown yet.

Ninawa media centre launched an appeal, stating: “Appeal to the leadership of the Liberation of Nineveh operations. Indiscriminate shelling intensifies [in] the neighbourhoods under ISIL control at the right side (the old city and western neighbourhoods), the level of victims rises to a scary level. Indiscriminate shelling does not affect the Daesh gangs but kills children, women, young people and destroys houses of the residents. We urge you on behalf of the people of Mosul”

Witnesses also reported a strike in al-Jawsaq neighbourhood. Reportedly, the Coalition bombed an ISIL car, thereby also wounding Thamer Abu Reem – who lost his legs in the bombing – and killing three of his daughters (of 2 years and 14 years and unknown age). Mr. Abu Reem had said while crying: “I know that the pilot did not know that my daughters were there”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Thamer Abu Reem
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    25 – 30
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    58–117
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A local source reported that Thamer Abu Reem was severely injured and lost three daughters in a strike on Al Jawsaq neighbourhood (via Mosul Ateka)

Geolocation notes

Airwars assessment uses the coordinates for West Mosul (الموصل: غرب/الجانب الأيمن), for which the midpoint is: 36.336843 43.117979

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 30, 2017

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 12th-13th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units, an ISIS staging area and an ISIS sniper team; destroyed 16 fighting positions, five VBIEDs, four mortar systems, two rocket-propelled grenade systems, two supply caches, two VBIED factories, and a vehicle; damaged 22 supply routes; and suppressed 14 ISIS mortar teams, two ISIS tactical units, and an ISIS sniper team.”

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
    25 – 30
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    58–117
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI555

Incident date

March 18, 2017

Location

الجوسق, Mosul, Jawasaq, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3280482, 43.1503701 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an event previously unknown to Airwars, the Coalition said that no civilians were harmed on March 18th at Mosul, Jawasaq.

The Coalition’s November 2017 casualty reported said: “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.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 30, 2017

  • 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

For March 17th-18th the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed 56 ISIS vehicles, 25 fighting positions, five rocket-propelled grenade systems, two medium machine guns, two mortar systems, and an ISIS VBIED; and suppressed 20 ISIS mortar teams and four ISIS tactical units.”
For March 18th-19th it noted: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed 14 fighting positions, four vehicles, two rocket-propelled grenade systems, a medium machine gun, and an artillery system; damaged 14 supply routes; and suppressed five mortar teams and three ISIS tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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

Incident Code

CI569

Incident date

March 21, 2017

Location

باب لكش, Mosul, Bab Laksh, behind Watan school, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.339728, 43.132471 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A local source said that twenty civilians, including women and children, were killed by airstrikes and/ or indiscriminate shelling on the area behind Watan school in Bab Laksh neighbourhood in West of Mosul, on the evening of March 21st-22nd.

A family member later posted: “My wife moved to God (passed away) – the daughter of Professor Saleh Khalil Al Arif as well as her mother, her uncle’s wife and her niece by airstrikes on their home in Bab Lakash near Mosul secondary school for girls on Monday March 21 2017.“

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20
  • (1 child3 women)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Bab Laksh, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 30, 2017

  • 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

For March 21st-22nd it noted: “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed 11 tunnels, 10 fighting positions, three mortar systems, a rocket-propelled grenade system, an artillery system, and a heavy machine gun; damaged 12 supply routes, three fighting positions, three tunnels, and a vehicle; and suppressed four ISIS tactical units.”

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
    20
  • (1 child3 women)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]