US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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

Incident date

April 4, 2015

Incident Code

CI056

LOCATION

فايده, Fadhiliya, Nineveh, Iraq

Five Kurdish non-combatants, all from the same family, died in a reported Coalition strike on the village of Fadhiliyah, near Mosul. A major field investigation by the Guardian later identified the dead. Three family members survived the attack though were injured. Rahim, an eyewitness and relative, told the Guardian: “We wrapped the dead in blankets

Summary

First published
April 4, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(1 child2 women2 men)
Civilians reported injured
3
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 belligerent
US-led Coalition
Known target
ISIS
Named victims
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

April 3, 2015

Incident Code

CI055

LOCATION

الوائلية, Al Waelyiah, Nineveh, Iraq

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.  

Summary

First published
April 3, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
26
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

March 28, 2015

Incident Code

CI054

LOCATION

تل عفر, Tall Afar, Nineveh, Iraq

According to an internal CENTCOM document, according to a self-reported night time incident involving an American aircraft may have caused civilian casualties: “US F-16 may have unintentionally struck the nearest collateral object (NCO) and unintentionally struck a car that moved into the FOV [field of view.]“ The outcome of any investigation at the time the

Summary

First published
March 28, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
Civilians reported injured
0–1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

March 25, 2015

Incident Code

CI053

LOCATION

الفلوجة‎, Fallujah, multiple neighbourhoods, Al Anbar, Iraq

Local residents reported that seven civilians died in a coalition airstrike on Fallujah, with 22 more injured. There were claims that a number of neighbourhoods were hit, including in the west and south of the city. A resident of Fallujah of unknown status, named as Shawki Al-Abdal Saidi, put out a press statement claiming that

Summary

First published
March 25, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7
Civilians reported injured
22
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident

Incident date

March 19, 2015

Incident Code

CI052

LOCATION

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq

In an event previously unknown to Airwars, an internal CENTCOM review of a Coalition strike on an ‘ISIL weapons assembly area’ at Hawijah identified a possible issue. According to the report, “ISR imagery showed that an unintentional potential ClVCAS may have occurred. Unidentified and unexpected personnel were seen IVO [in the vicinity of] the detonations.

Summary

First published
March 19, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 2
Civilians reported injured
0–2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

March 13, 2015

Incident Code

CI051

LOCATION

الحضر, Hatra, Nineveh, Iraq

A US airstrike ‘likely’ killed four civilians when a pair of vehicles was hit during an attack on a reported ISIL checkpoint, a CENTCOM investigation later concluded. After a later investigation by the Washington Post found that eleven civilians actually died – including five children, four women and two civilian drivers – the Coalition raised

Summary

First published
March 13, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
11
(5 children4 women2 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 9, 2015

Incident Code

CI050

LOCATION

تل كيف‎, Telkaif, Nineveh, Iraq

Eight civilians including three women were claimed by NINA to have been killed in a coalition airstrike on Telkaif, 20km north of Mosul. A dozen militants also reportedly died in the attack.  

Summary

First published
March 9, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

March 6, 2015

Incident Code

CI049

LOCATION

الفلوجة‎, Fallujah, al Karma General Hospital, Al Anbar, Iraq

An alleged coalition air strike on Garma hospital in east Fallujah reportedly killed one doctor and injured five other medical staff. According to Al Sumaria TV, one source stated that “the bombing of the hospital was due to the presence of armed men belonging to Daesh inside.” However the Iraqi Spring site attributed the attack

Summary

First published
March 6, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
5
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident

Incident date

March 5, 2015

Incident Code

CI048

LOCATION

برطلّة, Bartalah, Nineveh, Iraq

According to NINA, a source in the forensic medicine department of the local hospital reported that numerous civilians died “in bombing by the international coalition aircraft [which] targeted a stronghold of the Islamic State in Bartalah north of Mosul.” Among 16 alleged civilian victims were five children and two women, whose bodies were said to

Summary

First published
March 5, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
16
(5 children2 women)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

March 3, 2015

Incident Code

CI047

LOCATION

الجمهورية, Fallujah, Jamhouriya, Nineveh, Iraq

Aircraft bombed a primary school and a hospital in the Jamhouriya neighbourhood of Fallujah, reportedly killing up to 12 civilians and injuring 9. Local media reported that children were among the dead, including 11-year old Suhaib Jassem Batawi. According to Arabi21, the attack was the work of the Iraq Air Force and had killed three

Summary

First published
March 3, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian infrastructure
School
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 12
(1–3 children)
Civilians reported injured
4–9
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

February 28, 2015

Incident Code

CI046

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Algiers, Al Faisaliah, flowers, and July neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

Sources in Mosul claimed that Coalition airstrikes hit a residential neighbourhood in the city, “killing 17 civilians, including six children, and wounded another 23 who were taken to hospitals in Mosul.” According to BasNews, Daesh/ Islamic State appeared to have recently shifted its headquarters and military positions “into residential neighborhoods,” a move which had likely

Summary

First published
February 28, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
16 – 24
(6 children)
Civilians reported injured
23–24
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 26, 2015

Incident Code

CI045

LOCATION

القائم, Al Qa'im, Al Anbar, Iraq

According to Reuters, a coalition airstrike which killed 17 Islamic State militants also caused the deaths of 9 non-combatants: “The hospital source in al-Qaim, a town on the Euphrates River, said nine civilians were killed and 29 militants were wounded in the strike by the U.S.-led coalition which is bombing Islamic State targets in Iraq

Summary

First published
February 26, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 12
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 25, 2015

Incident Code

CI044

LOCATION

الرطبة, Ar Rutbah, Al Anbar, Iraq

According to Reuters, a Coalition airstrike caused significant casualties in Ar Rutbah: “Coalition planes bombed al-Rutba district, 385 km west of Baghdad, killing six Islamic State militants and 11 civilians, according to a source in the local hospital.” ARA News placed the civilian death toll from coalition strikes at Rutba at 10. In July 2017,

Summary

First published
February 25, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
10 – 11
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 24, 2015

Incident Code

CI042

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, al-Zohour, al-Tahrir, al-Bunook [also known as Al Massaref] and al-Muthanna neighborhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

Reported Coalition airstrikes on multiple targets in eastern Mosul – said to be occupied by Islamic State forces – allegedly killed 14 civilians, including women and children. According to NINA, medical forensic teams in Mosul “received 14 dead bodies belonging to civilians, [who] were killed in al-Zohour, al-Tahrir, al-Bunook [also known as Al Massaref] and

Summary

First published
February 24, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
14
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 24, 2015

Incident Code

CI043

LOCATION

الكرمة, Garma, near Fallujah, Al Anbar, Iraq

Seven civilians from one family – including young children – were killed and 8 injured when a house was allegedly struck by a coalition aircraft. However other sources attributed the attack to an artillery assault by the Iraq Army. The dead were later named by the Iraqi Spring Centre. Seven additional people were named as

Summary

First published
February 24, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7 – 20
(2 children4 women1 man)
Civilians reported injured
7
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
14 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

February 18, 2015

Incident Code

CI041

LOCATION

حديثة, Haditha, Al Anbar, Iraq

Local sources in Haditha reported that up to 15 civilians were killed and an unknown number were injured after an alleged coalition airstrike hit Albu Haiyat mosque at midday prayers. Al Iraq News stated that among those killed were captured “members of the Iraqi security forces who are were being guarded at the mosque.” However

Summary

First published
February 18, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
12 – 15
(1–10 men)
Civilians reported injured
2–4
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
10 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

February 17, 2015

Incident Code

CI039

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Cultural area, Nineveh, Iraq

According to NINA, citing a security source, nine members of a family – including women and children – died after coalition warplanes “bombed a house at dawn in the Althaqafiyah residential complex area in the north of Mosul, suspected of being taking a den or a hideout by Daash terrorists.”  

Summary

First published
February 17, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9
(3 children2 women)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 17, 2015

Incident Code

CI040

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, multiple neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

According to a single source, local eyewitness claimed one unnamed civilian was killed and five others were severely injured after the coalition allegedly bombed several areas in Makhmoor, south of Mosul  

Summary

First published
February 17, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
5
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 8, 2015

Incident Code

CI038

LOCATION

الموصل‎, 100km South of Mosul on ‘Road 1’, Nineveh, Iraq

An alleged coalition airstrike struck a vehicle on the road between Mosul and Baghdad, which was carrying Jordanian mosque janitor Ahmed Abdul Aqi [sometimes Baqi], his wife and daughter. All three died in the incident. The driver of the car Ahmed al Azzawi (pictured below) also died according to his family. In a detailed report

Summary

First published
February 8, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
(1 child2 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Unknown
Named victims
4 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

February 3, 2015

Incident Code

CI036

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Kisik Junction, Nineveh, Iraq

An internal post-strike review for CENTCOM of full-motion video revealed a “possible child entering a targeted bunker and then disappearing out of the field of view (FOV) approximately 19 minutes before Strike.” The dynamic strike, conducted by a French Mirage 2000 using a Bu-49 bomb, killed an estimated five enemy fighters. Claims that a child

Summary

First published
February 3, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 28, 2015

Incident Code

CI035

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Centre, Nineveh, Iraq

Citing a police source in the city, NINA claimed that nine civilians were killed and seven injured in an international coalition airstrike: “The source said that ‘the international coalition targeted the homes of civilians which resulted in the killing and injuring of dozens of civilians’… He pointed out that ‘the bodies of the martyrs arrived

Summary

First published
January 28, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9
(1 child3 women)
Civilians reported injured
7
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 26, 2015

Incident Code

CI034

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, South, Nineveh, Iraq

Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad reported two alleged Coalition airstrikes, killing five and injuring two civilians called Mohammed Mohammed Ahmed and Ebtehalf Mohammed Yosef. The first attack took place at 7.40 AM local time on the highway close to the town of Umm al-Dheban at that time. The second airstrike was at 8.40 AM local time

Summary

First published
January 26, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 24, 2015

Incident Code

CI033

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

The previously-secret CENTCOM file also noted reports by redacted “prominent anti-ISIL Twitter users” that “civilians are being killed in the bombardment.” With so few details to go on, CENTCOM concluded that there was “insufficient evidence to determine date and time of any specific allegation.”

Summary

First published
January 24, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 23, 2015

Incident Code

CI032

LOCATION

الرمادي, Ramadi, Al Anbar, Iraq

An internal CENTCOM report cited a Tweet on January 23rd as claiming that 6 members of one family had been killed in a Coalition strike in Anbar province. The identity of the tweeter was redacted in a publicly-released version of the file, though they were described as “Pro-ISIL… reported coalition airstrikes killed 6 family members

Summary

First published
January 23, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 22, 2015

Incident Code

CI031

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

An internal CENTCOM report cited a Tweet by an Iraqi “self proclaimed freelance journalist” (identified as Mr Zyad al-Senjary) who had posted a photograph of “a partially-destroyed house and claimed 2 children were killed and several Iraqis injured in a UAV [drone] strike.” An initial CENTCOM inquiry identified 32 total Coalition engagements in Nineveh for

Summary

First published
January 22, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 children)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 22, 2015

Incident Code

CI030

LOCATION

خزيمة, Aski Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

An internal CENTCOM report identified concerns of civilian fatalities raised by local Nineveh MP Abd al Rahman al-Luwayzi. According to the MP, “Arab families, fleeing the area of Aski Musil were targeted by coalition aircraft, killing or wounding ‘scores of civilians.” The town is situated on the banks of the Tigris River to the north

Summary

First published
January 22, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 21, 2015

Incident Code

CI029

LOCATION

الكسك, Kisik Junction, Nineveh, Iraq

A Canadian airstrike at Kisik Junction was alleged to have killed between 6 and 27 civilians, according to an internal CENTCOM report. The source was an English-speaking peshmerga fighter, who had passed on his concerns to Coalition Special Forces based in Iraq. The Canadian attack had targeted “an ISIL sniper/ HMG [havy machine gun] position

Summary

First published
January 21, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6 – 27
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 11, 2015

Incident Code

CI028

LOCATION

القيارة, Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq

A single source claimed that a coalition strike on the town of Qayyarah near Mosul killed and injured “dozens.”  

Summary

First published
January 11, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
24
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 2, 2015

Incident Code

CI027

LOCATION

الفرحانية, Villages of Al-Farhaniya and al-Subaihat, Salah Al Din, Iraq

An airstrike by an unspecified belligerent reportedly killed 12 civilians including women and children, and wounded an additional 23. The deaths occurred during an Iraqi government offensive against Islamic State.

Summary

First published
January 2, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
12
Civilians reported injured
23
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
View Incident

Incident date

December 26, 2014

Incident Code

CI025

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Al Wehda, Nineveh, Iraq

Local residents reported that an “international airstrike” involving three missiles had struck houses killing and injuring civilians. NINA claimed that five women from one family were among the dead.  

Summary

First published
December 26, 2014
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7
(5 women)
Civilians reported injured
4
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident