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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Incident Code

CI484

Incident date

February 25, 2017

Location

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 sources said that 27 civilians were killed, including women and children, and 63 were injured by Coalition airstrikes and artillery bombing on several neighborhoods at the right side of Mosul.

Sawif Ateka published a photograph of an unnamed little girl who it said died in shelling on the Al-Zinjili neighbourhood.

In its June casualty report, the Coalition confirmed that “During a strike on an ISIS VBIED, it was assessed that five civilians were unintentionally killed.” However the coordinates provided to Airwars – 36.324100, 43.127258 placed this event at Wadi Hajar (Arabic: وادي حجر) neighbourhood in Mosul. Given that this location is 4.6km from Rifai, and 3.3 from Zinjili, it may refer to a separate incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    27
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    63
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Picture of one of the supposed victims (via Sawif Ateka)
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF306246
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 24th-25th the Coalition publicly reported: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and an ISIS sniper unit; destroyed nine fighting positions, eight mortar systems, five ISIS-held buildings, four command and control nodes, three VBIED facilities, three tactical vehicles, two vehicles, two artillery systems, two anti-air artillery systems, a rocket-propelled grenade system, a UAV storage facility, a front-end loader, a VBIED staging area and a supply cache; damaged 12 supply routes and four ISIS-held buildings; and suppressed 22 mortars and an artillery system.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    27
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    63
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI055

Incident date

April 3, 2015

Location

الوائلية, Al Waelyiah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Abdarahman Alloizi MP, a deputy in the Iraqi parliament, claimed that as many as 26 civilians from one family died, when the coalition struck a house near Mosul, in the village of Al Waeliyah.

No additional details are presently known.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    26
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Waelyiah (الوائلية), “West of Mosul”, Nineveh Province (the Arabic spelling is only an approximation as the original Arabic language source has been taken offline). The coordinates for Mosul are: 36.34585235, 43.09857692

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The coalition has confirmed a major strike in the vicinity of Mosul for April 3rd-4th 2015: “Near Mosul, an airstrike struck one large ISIL unit, one ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL machine guns, an ISIL bulldozer, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL rifle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    26
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI543

Incident date

March 14, 2017

Location

المحطة, Mosul, Al Mahatta, 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 told journalists of the French newspaper Mediapart that 26 people were killed after an airstrike reportedly carried out by an “American-built F-16” targeted an ISIL combatant who was sitting on the roof of their house. A young girl was also severely injured.

The report by Mediapart.fr [in translation] reads: “In the neighbourhood of Mahatta, close to the station, 26 civilians paid the price with their lives, killed by an airstrike on Tuesday 14th, around 4pm in the afternoon.

Amad, Mahmoud, Youssef, Marwan, Abdullah Fatah, his wife, his mother are the five direct witnesses interviewed by Mediapart, refugees in some houses south of the city.

It was the men of the 2nd Division of the Special Iraqi Forces who asked for this strike which then killed 26 civilians in a house in Mahatta.

Stunned, Khalef Khudair, 50 years, spreads out the identity cards of the 18 members of his family killed by the attack on the floor of a house where he took refuge. “It was Tuesday 14 March, between 4pm and 4.15pm, he explains. A man from ISIL was posted on our roof. I was in a room with two other people. Two enormous missiles fell on the house. The room next to it, where all the others were, was completely destroyed.” After he blacked out, until people took him out of the rubble.

A neighbour, Ahmed Abu Ahmed, 41, says he saw everything: “The ISIL fighter had installed a heavy PKC machine-gun on one of the roofs. The Special Iraqi Forces first tried to come to him, but he succeeded in repelling them. Then two missiles fell, one right after the other.” As a former policeman, Ahmed Abu Ahmed is convinced that it is an F-16 aircraft – an American-built bomber, which carried out the strike. He rushed to search in the rubble until nightfall.

At first count, there were nineteen bodies. But the next day, neighbors hear a voice that came from under the ruins: “Mamma! Dad !” Ahmed Abu Ahmed searched again and found a little girl, legs broken, wounded in the head, and carried her to an ambulance. The excavations continued and seven more bodies are identified, putting the toll at twenty-six dead. The relatives of the victims claim only one thing: to be allowed to bury the corpses, which they had to leave behind, when the Iraqi forces evacuated them from the area.

In its July 2017 casualty report the Coalition appeared to rule itself out of the incident, noting that “March 14, 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.”

Coordinates supplied to Airwars by the Coalition (36.339149, 43.109260) placed the assessment at the al Roubah area of Mosul, around 800m from the station indicating that this was the most likely claim being assessed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    26
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Khalef Khudair, 50, shows the IDs of relatives killed in an airstrike in Mahatta, on the 14 of March 2017 © Jérémy André
  • The little girl brought to the ambulance on the 15 of March, allegedly taken out of the rubbles of her house, in Mahatta, hit by an airstrike on the 14 of March © Jérémy André
  • Another picture of the little girl © Jérémy André
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
    38SLF3031523225
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 2, 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.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 13th-14th: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed 27 fighting positions, three rocket-propelled grenade systems, two VBIEDs, an artillery system, a mortar system, a heavy machine gun, a road block, a vehicle and a VBIED factory; damaged 12 supply routes; and suppressed five ISIS mortar teams and two ISIS tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    26
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1829

Incident date

November 10, 2018

Location

هجين, Hajin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.68972, 40.82999 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and 26 civilians died in alleged US-led Coalition airstrikes on the town of Hajin on November 10th, 2018, according to local sources. An unknown number of others was injured.

Sources claimed that many of the victims were women and children. Sana News put the death toll at four, reporting that “the US-led coalition carried out airstrikes on residential buildings in Hajin city 110 km east of Deir Ezzor city, claiming the lives of two children and two women, and wounding others.”

Syrian Unified Observatory reported 10 killed civilians, also stating most of them were women and children. According to Sound and Picture, 26 civilians died in the airstrikes while attempting to flee the ISIS-held area. Local SDF forces had attempted and failed to negotiate with ISIS an evacuation corridor from the town around this time. 

On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition deemed this incident credible and assessed that “Coalition aircraft conducted a strike on ISIS terrorists in a building. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally wounded due to their proximity to the strike”, which differs from the toll of civilian casualties given by other sources.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 26
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to 34.6897222, 40.83 to the nearest village.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 10th, the Coalition publicly reported: "On Nov. 10 in Syria, coalition military forces conducted 23 strikes consisting of 36 engagements against ISIS targets.
Near Hajin, 23 strikes destroyed two command and control centers, one IED facility, one logistic facility, five buildings, four tunnels, two staging areas, six supply routes, one fighting position and one UAS launch site."

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

From Nov 7th – 13th, France reports that the three CAESAR guns carried out 49 ‘fire’ missions from the Iraqi territory – 35 illumination, 14 destruction. Aircraft conducted 18 sorties and 1 strike in support of forces on the ground in Syria.

‘CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie L’opération pour reprendre la poche d’Hajine dans la moyenne vallée de l’Euphrate, lancée le 10 septembre, marque actuellement un temps d’arrêt. Les forces démocratiques syriennes se réorganisent et consolident leurs positions avant de relancer leur offensive. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak En Irak, les opérations de sécurisation des forces de sécurité irakiennes (FSI) se poursuivent, avec un renforcement à la frontière irako-syrienne. Si Daech a perdu ses capacités militaires, l’organisation terroriste conserve une capacité de nuisance, notamment dans la région du plateau d’Hawija. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Le dispositif français déployé au Levant n’a pas évolué de manière significative. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate La Task Force (TF) Wagram appuie l’offensive des forces démocratiques syriennes contre Daech dans la région d’Hajine. Les trois canons CAESAR ont réalisé, depuis le territoire irakien, 49 missions de tir (35 éclairement, 14 destruction – bilan du 7 au 13 novembre inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 2101 missions de tirs. Les Task Forces Monsabert et Narvik poursuivent leurs missions de formation La TF Monsabert poursuit sa mission d’instruction de la 6ème division irakienne. Elle conseille l’état-major de cette division et, ponctuellement, les brigades qui lui sont subordonnées. Ainsi, du 5 au 11 novembre, un groupe d’instructeurs s’est rendu au poste de commandement de la 24ème brigade pour former pour former 20 stagiaires irakiens aux techniques du combat urbain. La TF Narvik forme et conseille les membres de l’Iraki Counter Terrorism Service (ICTS). Elle dispense actuellement des instructions au combat débarqué et au recueil de renseignement. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des opérations Au sein de la coalition, les aéronefs français basés en Jordanie et aux Émirats arabes unis poursuivent leurs actions contre Daech. Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 18 sorties aériennes (bilan du 7 au 13 novembre inclus) et conduit 1 frappe, en appui des FDS en Syrie. Bilan total de l’action du pilier appui aérien depuis le 19/09/14 : 8636 sorties / 1479 frappes / 2278 objectifs neutralises.’

Dutch Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For November 7th-13th, the Dutch MoD reported that Dutch F-16s supported ground troops during 8 missions in the fight against ISIS. Weapons were deployed in 3 missions near Deir Ezzor governorate, Syria. Targets were ISIS warehouses and fighting positions.

‘In het weekoverzicht van 7 t/m 13 November laat MinDef weten Nederlandse F-16’s te hebben ingezet ter ondersteuning van grondtroepen in de strijd tegen IS. Tijdens 8 missies werden 3 wapens ingezet boven Deir al Zour, Syrie. IS Opslagplaatsen en gevechtsposities zijn vernietigd.’

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 26
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1596

Incident date

October 8, 2017

Location

التوسعية, Ar Raqqah: Tawwassoui'ya neighbourhood, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.959225, 39.002158 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 26 civilians were killed, including a family of six, in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqah’s Al Tawsuya neighbourhood, according to local media. Despite initial uncertainty of the date, Amnesty reported that the strike occurred on the 8th October 2017. 

In a private message to Airwars, RBSS said the victims died on October 6th. On October 14th, the Syrian Human Rights Committee also named Hamed Obeid Al-Nasser, Hamam Hamid Obaid Al-Nasser and Hamida Abdo Noufal as killed in Coalition bombing, though reporting that the they died on October 13th.

Despite this, on 8th October “At least 26 people, including at least 11 children and five women, were killed by an air strike which destroyed the building they were sheltering in.”

The owner of Qunaitir Building, Ali, told Amnesty International in a testimony that “The victims were all displaced residents who had been forced to flee their homes. They were all sheltering in the basement, but unfortunately it was not enough to protect them.”

He added to his testimony later that “Only the four kids died in this strike and that Aziza Obeida al-Nasser died a month earlier and he buried her in nearby garden. Aziza’s husband disappeared when he went back home to get stuff near Mafraq al-Jezra. One daughter, child, of Aziza survived.”

Seven members of the of Abu Ali al Bariachi family were also killed in the strike. The daughter survived but it is unclear where she went.

In their original assessment of the incident, the Coalition deemed the incident non-credible on the grounds that “The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility” in June 2018. In a second review of the incident 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 at 17:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Hamed Obeida al-Nasser
57 years old male (Abu Ala’) killed
Hamida Abdo Naufel
50 years old female Hamed's wife killed
Hammam
9 years old male Hamed and Hamida's son killed
Ilaf
10 years old female child of of Aziza Obeida al-Nasser (Hamed’s sister) killed
Rihana
6 years old female child of of Aziza Obeida al-Nasser (Hamed’s sister) killed
Nawras
8 years old male child of of Aziza Obeida al-Nasser (Hamed’s sister) killed
Mustafa
4 years old male child of of Aziza Obeida al-Nasser (Hamed’s sister) killed

Family members (6)

Moh Jbein
45 years old male killed
Shadia Jbein
42 years old female Moh's wife killed
Boushra
15 years old female Moh and Shadia's child killed
Bashar
17 years old male Moh and Shadia's child killed
Abboud
11 years old male Moh and Shadia's child killed
Ibrahim
10 years old male paralysed, Moh and Shadia's child injured

Family members (3)

Abdelkhalaq al-Abqaa
48 years old male killed
Adel Hakim
52 years old male Abdelkhalaq's brother killed
al-Abded
46 years old male killed

Family members (3)

Umm Zeid
Adult female one of her sons was mentally disabled killed
Umm Zeid son
12 years old male killed
Umm Zeid son
6 years old male killed

The victims were named as:

Anas Barazi
42 years old male killed
Mohammed Ousama al-Khabour
17-18 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    26
  • (11 children5 women10 men)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Abdul khaliq Al-Abaka, a victim of alleged US-led Coalition strikes on the city of Raqqah, 8th October 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Mohammed Anwar al-Jabeen, his wife and four children, victims of alleged US-led Coalition strikes on the city of Raqqah, 8th October 2017.
  • Mohammed Anwar al-Jabeen, ictim of alleged US-led Coalition strikes on the city of Raqqah, 8th October 2017.

Geolocation notes

Initial reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Tawassiya (التوسعیة) in the city of Raqqa. The generic coordinates for this neighbourhood are: 35.9633318, 38.9806321. The incident likely occurred in the South East of Al Tawassiya (التوسعیة) area, as this is where the fighting was concentrated at the time. In a more recent Amnesty findings it was reported that Qunaitir Building was struck, Between 20/17/09/29 and 2017/10/10 only some damage can be seen to the building. By 2017/10/05 to 2017/10/10 clear damage can be seen. Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 35.95922, 39.00215

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, Other
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV0019479425
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 10, 2022
  • Jun 28, 2018

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

  • Oct. 8, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International 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. 2713/CS1596 37SEV0019479425

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Awaiting exact date

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    26
  • (11 children5 women10 men)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI192

Incident date

February 18, 2016

Location

الرطبة, Ar Rutbah, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.036997, 40.285862 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 26 civilians were reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike in the vicinity of Ar Rutbah, in Anbar province. A video released by Daesh-linked Al A’amaq showed an apparent ‘double-tap’ strike when the location was again bombed shortly afterwards.

The Yagen agency reported that “aggressive Coalition strikes killed ten civilians and wounded 25 others, including women and children.” Al Araby placed the death toll at 26 civilians killed, including 9 children.

Al Araby cited Colonel Mohammad Obeid, from the Anbar Operations Command: “Yes, we received information talking about the killing of civilians, air raids carried out by the international coalition, western Anbar”, noting that he also described the incident as “unfortunate.”

Imad al-Dulaimi, the exiled mayor of the town, was also reported as saying three missiles struck Ar Rutbah which between them led to the death and injury of 30 civilians: “It has become irrational, demolishing a home… and killing our people for just a handful of these armed men.”

Some names of the victims and the injured have been published via Dhafer Storey Facebook account along with the aftermath images.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Omer Subhi Hamid Faraj
Age unknown (via Dhafer Storey FB account) killed
Ahmed Minawer
Age unknown male (via Dhafer Storey FB account) killed
Saoddy Bin Abu Shakoor
Age unknown male His family also reported killed killed
Salah Jubyer Kaddouri Agnyen
Age unknown male (via Dhafer Storey FB account) killed
Bin Majeed Auda Alwar
Age unknown male His brother also was injured in the incident injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 26
  • (9 children6 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    25
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • A picture shows the destruction in Ar Rutbah, which killed at least 26 civilians in alleged Coalition strike on February 18 2016
  • The images of the aftermath of the airstrike by an alleged coalition in Ar Rutbah city, west of Anbar. The airstrike hit precisely in the military neighbourhood near the football stadium (via Dhafer Storey FB account)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 17th-18th the Coalition reported a number of airstrikes in Anbar, though none publicly at Ar Rutbah.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 26
  • (9 children6 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    25
  • 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

CI392

Incident date

January 5, 2017

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources told Mosul Ateka that 26 civilians from four families were killed when their home was bombed by Coalition strikes.

There are no additional accounts of this alleged incident at the moment.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    26
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • 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
    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
  • Sep 29, 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 January 4th-5th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, seven strikes engaged four ISIL tactical units; destroyed five ISIL-held buildings, four fighting positions, four mortar systems, two weapons caches, a supply cache, a communications tower, a vehicle, a command and control node, and a rocket and unmanned aerial vehicle factory; damaged 27 supply routes; and suppressed two mortar teams.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    26
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1827

Incident date

November 9, 2018

Location

هجين, Hajin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.67595, 40.87086 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that between 11 and 26 civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Hajin, in what some sources described as “a massacre”. 

In June 2019 the Coalition accepted responsibility for just one death in this event, with their monthly civilian casualty report noting: “Near Hajin, Syria, via media report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh facility. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed due to their proximity to the strike.” Officials confirmed to Airwars that this matched our event CS1827.

Airstrikes were carried out in Hajin and Al Shaafa on the same day according to locals, and most sources reported on a combined number of civilian casualties as a result of airstrikes in both places. Zaman al Wasl News reported the death of 11 civilians, but did not specify the number of  casualties in each location.

Smart News and Al Haal added that air and artillery strikes were allegedly carried out by both the Coalition and the regime. The Coalition itself later complained of multiple strikes by an unnamed party (presumably the regime) into the Hajin Pocket. According to Al Haal’s named source, 18 civilians died in addition to six members of ISIS and dozens of wounded. 

This particular airstrike in Hajin allegedly targeted “Mohammed al-Latta’s shops, on al Ishreen Street”, a site which reportedly housed ISIS families and weapons. 

Reuters reported that the Syrian government protested to the United Nations about an air strike by the US-led coalition against Islamic State which it said killed 26 civilians in Hajin – to which the Coalition’s spokesman replied that the alliance had “successfully struck and destroyed an ISIS (Islamic State) observation post and staging area in Hajin, void of civilians at the time”. 

Sana News described the event as a “massacre” that claimed the lives of two children and two women, who were reported to be of the same family by the Syrian Network for Human Rights.Euphrates Post named five victims, all from the same family.

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

In May 2020, in its annual civilian harm report to Congress, the Pentagon declared this as a US event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Mariam Al Abd Al Mukhlef Al Mulla
Adult female killed
Hiba Al Abd Mukhlef Al Mulla
Adult killed
Obeida Mahmoud Al Sharif Al Mulla
Child killed
Esraa Sharif al-Mukhalif Al Mulla
Age unknown killed
Son of Shahwan Abd Al Mukhlef Al Mulla
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 26
  • (2–3 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • 'The martyrdom of Mrs. Israa Sharif Al-Mukhlif Al-Mulla, who was injured by the bombing of the international coalition of Hajin city a few days ago, raising the number of five martyrs from one family. The martyrs were originally from the city of Al Boulil in the countryside of Deir Ezzor.'
  • Pictures of destroyed houses, targeted in an alleged Coalition airstrike (via Euphrates Post, posted on November 12th 2017).
  • Pictures of destroyed houses, targeted in an alleged Coalition airstrike (via Euphrates Post, posted on November 12th 2017).
  • Table from DoD's annual civilian harm report to Congress, May 2020, listing additional US civilian harm events in Iraq and Syria conceded for 2018.

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest village at 34.6897222, 40.83

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
    Killed by strike blast
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Hajin, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU714387
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 27, 2019

  • Nov. 9, 2018, near Hajin, Syria, via media report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh facility. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed due to their proximity to the strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For November 9th, the Coalition publicly reported: On Nov. 9 in Syria, coalition military forces conducted 19 strikes consisting of 46 engagements against ISIS targets.
Near Hajin, 19 strikes engaged 15 tactical units, and destroyed six buildings, three tunnels, two command and control centers, one observation point, one vehicle borne IED, three supply routes and two weapons caches.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

From Nov 7th – 13th, France reports that the three CAESAR guns carried out 49 ‘fire’ missions from the Iraqi territory – 35 illumination, 14 destruction. Aircraft conducted 18 sorties and 1 strike in support of forces on the ground in Syria.

‘CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie L’opération pour reprendre la poche d’Hajine dans la moyenne vallée de l’Euphrate, lancée le 10 septembre, marque actuellement un temps d’arrêt. Les forces démocratiques syriennes se réorganisent et consolident leurs positions avant de relancer leur offensive. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak En Irak, les opérations de sécurisation des forces de sécurité irakiennes (FSI) se poursuivent, avec un renforcement à la frontière irako-syrienne. Si Daech a perdu ses capacités militaires, l’organisation terroriste conserve une capacité de nuisance, notamment dans la région du plateau d’Hawija. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Le dispositif français déployé au Levant n’a pas évolué de manière significative. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate La Task Force (TF) Wagram appuie l’offensive des forces démocratiques syriennes contre Daech dans la région d’Hajine. Les trois canons CAESAR ont réalisé, depuis le territoire irakien, 49 missions de tir (35 éclairement, 14 destruction – bilan du 7 au 13 novembre inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 2101 missions de tirs. Les Task Forces Monsabert et Narvik poursuivent leurs missions de formation La TF Monsabert poursuit sa mission d’instruction de la 6ème division irakienne. Elle conseille l’état-major de cette division et, ponctuellement, les brigades qui lui sont subordonnées. Ainsi, du 5 au 11 novembre, un groupe d’instructeurs s’est rendu au poste de commandement de la 24ème brigade pour former pour former 20 stagiaires irakiens aux techniques du combat urbain. La TF Narvik forme et conseille les membres de l’Iraki Counter Terrorism Service (ICTS). Elle dispense actuellement des instructions au combat débarqué et au recueil de renseignement. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des opérations Au sein de la coalition, les aéronefs français basés en Jordanie et aux Émirats arabes unis poursuivent leurs actions contre Daech. Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 18 sorties aériennes (bilan du 7 au 13 novembre inclus) et conduit 1 frappe, en appui des FDS en Syrie. Bilan total de l’action du pilier appui aérien depuis le 19/09/14 : 8636 sorties / 1479 frappes / 2278 objectifs neutralises.’

Dutch Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For November 7th-13th, the Dutch MoD reported that Dutch F-16s supported ground troops during 8 missions in the fight against ISIS. Weapons were deployed in 3 missions near Deir Ezzor governorate, Syria. Targets were ISIS warehouses and fighting positions.

‘In het weekoverzicht van 7 t/m 13 November laat MinDef weten Nederlandse F-16’s te hebben ingezet ter ondersteuning van grondtroepen in de strijd tegen IS. Tijdens 8 missies werden 3 wapens ingezet boven Deir al Zour, Syrie. IS Opslagplaatsen en gevechtsposities zijn vernietigd.’

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 26
  • (2–3 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (28) [ collapse]