US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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

Incident Code

CS125

Incident date

September 13, 2015

Location

معدان, Ma'adan, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.751769, 39.61639 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 15 Islamic State fighters, including two aged under 16, were reported killed by a Coalition airstrike 10km west of Ma’dan. The teenage boys were said to be members of the ISIL youth movement ‘Cubs of the Caliphate.’ One report said that a checkpoint was targeted.

In their May 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that after a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • (0–2 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV442584
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2020
  • Sept. 13, 2015, in Ma’adan, Syria via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, the alleged civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action. 2830/CS125 37SEV442584

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition has confirmed a strike at the location for September 13th-14th 2015: “Near Mar’a, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • (0–2 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI104

Incident date

September 14, 2015

Location

الرطبة, Ar Rutbah, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.036997, 40.284076 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The marketplace in Ar Rutbah was hit in an alleged Coalition airstrike according to reports, killing up to five people and injuring eight more.

An adult male and a young male child were pictured among the dead.

Iraqi Revolution for example reported that “heavy shelling targeted Rutba focused on the market and fuel station and bread ovens; and there are dozens of dead and wounded civilians.”

Photographs published on local sites showed some of the strikes and people fleeing; and a number of destroyed buildings and bodies, some with severed limbs.

In its monthly civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of the same year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event as ‘non credible’, noting: “September 14, 2015, in Ar Rutbah, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2819/CI104 37SFS203560”.

The Coalition published a location for the assessment identifying to within 100 metres the area where it had focused its review.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (2 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Reported Coalition strike on Ar Rutbah, Sept 14 2015 (via Rutbah News)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child allegedly injured in the attack and his lost body parts (via Iraqi Revolution)
  • Aftermath of the strike (via Iraqi Revolution)
  • Aftermath of the strike (via Iraqi Revolution)
  • Aftermath of the strike (via Iraqi Revolution)
  • Aftermath of the strike (via Iraqi Revolution)
  • Aftermath of the strike (via Iraqi Revolution)
  • Aftermath of the strike (via Rutbah News)
  • Aftermath of the strike (via Rutbah News)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Man allegedly killed in the strike (via Rutbah News)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Ar Rutbah, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFS203560
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019
  • September 14, 2015, in Ar Rutbah, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2819/CI104 37SFS203560

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

No Coalition strikes were publicly confirmed in the direct vicinity for September 14th-15th 2015, though it was noted that “Near Ramadi, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL house-borne IED, an ISIL VBIED, five ISIL buildings, an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL motorcycle.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (2 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS126

Incident date

September 16, 2015

Location

جديد عقيدات, Jadid Akidat, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.24999, 40.36017 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians were reported killed and 10 injured in either a Coalition or Assad regime airstrike.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “Six civilians were killed including children while no less than 10 others were wounded by the aerial bombardment by the U.S led coalition warplanes in Jadid Akidat in the eastern countryside of Der-Ezzor this morning.”

The monitoring group later added that a woman was among the dead. Smart News also reported the deaths and injuries of “a number of civilians.”

Qasioun instead described an afternoon Coalition targeted strike on a vehicle, and made no mention of civilian casualties. And the Syrian Press Centre attributed the raid to Assad regime aircraft, stating that “Regime warplanes targeted houses in the village of Jadid Akidat which led to the wounding of five civilians. They also targeted in another raid the head quarters of Al Zakat (Islamic tax) belonging to IS which led to the death of 3 IS members.”

In its monthly civilian harm assessment report for November 2019 – published on January 2nd 2020 – the Coalition classed this event as ‘non credible’, noting: ”September 16, 2015, in Jadid Akidat, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2831/CS126 37SFV237016″.

The Coalition provided geolocates, indicating to within 100 metres the area on which it had focused its assessment.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–13
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Euphrates post tweet that violent explosions rock al Jofra field and Jadid Akidat village due to alleged coalition raids. 14th September 2015
  • Euphrates Post tweets that regime planes target a pick up car in Jadid Akidat killing 4 Daesh members. 16th September 2015
  • Euphrates Post tweet the death of Abu al Baraa, a finance officer from ISIL in warplane shelling which killed 8 and injured 13. 16th September 2015

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Jadid Akidat, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV237016
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 2, 2020
  • September 16, 2015, in Jadid Akidat, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2831/CS126 37SFV237016

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Only one Coalition strike was reported for Syria for September 16th-17th 2015: “Near Ar Raqqah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–13
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI105

Incident date

September 17, 2015

Location

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.3240179, 43.77335 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A reported evening airstrike by a drone or other Coalition aircraft at Hawijah was said to have killed five civilians and injured a further seven or more people.

Al Amaaq, the media wing of ISIS, reported the “Killing [of] five civilians and wounding of seven others in the bombing by a US aircraft in the evening at Hawija southwest of Kirkuk.”

A video at the time – since deleted by YouTube – showed destruction in the town.

Iraqi Revolution accused the Coalition of “targeting innocent people in southern Kirkuk, Hawija and the martyrdom and wounding dozens of civilians.”

The Coalition itself confirmed a strike in the immediate vicinity for September 17th-18th 2015, noting: “Near Al Huwayjah, one airstrike with inconclusive results.”

However, in its monthly civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of the same year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event as ‘non credible’, noting: “September 17, 2015, in Hawijah, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2820/CI105 38SLE885097”.

The Coalition published a location for the assessment identifying to within 100 metres the area where it had focused its review.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–12
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of a reported Coalition drone strike at Hawija, Iraq Sept 17th 2015

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Hawijah, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLE885097
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019
  • September 17, 2015, in Hawijah, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2820/CI105 38SLE885097

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition has confirmed a strike in the immediate vicinity for September 17th-18th 2015, noting: “Near Al Huwayjah, one airstrike with inconclusive results.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–12
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI106

Incident date

September 18, 2015

Location

الصينيه, Senjah, Salah al-Din, Iraq

Geolocation

34.9346024, 43.4121323 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A mass casualty incident was reported in Iraq, with at least 43 civilians killed and a further 68 injured, after aircraft were said to have bombed the Senyah region north west of Bayji. The target appeared to have been a former Iraq Army logistics base, while those killed were living nearby in tin shacks.

Locals urged Iraq’s Prime Minister to open a federal inquiry into the morning strike. Naim al-Gaood, a local tribal leader, told al-Sumaria News: “The warplanes of unknown nationality bombed stores and buildings west of Bayji and north of Salah al-Din, killing [and injurng] about 150 civilians, mostly children, women and the elderly.” He said that among the dead and injured were 50 people from the tribe of Albu Nimr, and demanded that Iraq’s Prime Minister “open an urgent investigation into the identity of the planes that bombed those buildings where displaced families and other clan members of the Albu Nimr tribe had sought safety; and to seek compensation for the victims and the dead.”

In its July 2017 monthly report, the Coalition said it had not conducted strikes in the area on the day: “Sep. 18, 2015, near Al Senyah, Iraq, via Airwars 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 local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    43 – 58
  • Civilians reported injured
    68–70
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    a:1:{i:0;s:20:"no_coalition_strikes";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Al Senyah, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017
  • 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.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 18th-19th 2015, the Coalition reported that “Near Bayji, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed one vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    43 – 58
  • Civilians reported injured
    68–70
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI107

Incident date

September 19, 2015

Location

كبيسة, Kabaisa, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.591421, 42.612228 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A family home was reported destroyed in an airstrike at Kubais in Anbar province. Photographs showed a number of injured children, although there were no confirmed overall casualty figures. One of the images used, however, had already been posted by a source in incident CI103.

In its July 2017 monthly report, the Coalition said it had not conducted strikes in the area on the day: “Sep. 19, 2015, near Al Kubais, Iraq, via Airwars 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 local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Images of supposed victims, first picture had been used before (see CI103, via Iraqi Revolution)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    a:1:{i:0;s:20:"no_coalition_strikes";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Al Kubais, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017
  • 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.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Only one publicly-reported Coalition strike may have been responsible, reported for September 19th-20th 2015: “Near Ramadi, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL buildings.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS127

Incident date

September 19, 2015

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Two women, sharing the same surname, al-Naji, were reported by a single source as having been killed in a Coalition strike at Raqaa. They are listed as originally from Talbissa is Homs.

No other details about this even are presently known.

In its monthly civilian harm assessment report for November 2019 – published on January 2nd 2020 – the Coalition classed this event as ‘non credible’, noting: ”September 19, 2015, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 2832/CS127 37SEV008785″.

The Coalition provided geolocates, indicating to within 100 metres the area on which it had focused its assessment.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult female Originally from Talbissa, Homs killed
Adult female Originally from Talbissa, Homs killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 women)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (3) [ 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
    In Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV008785
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 2, 2020
  • September 19, 2015, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 2832/CS127 37SEV008785

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition publicly reported one strike at Raqaa for September 18th-20th 2015.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 women)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI108

Incident date

September 20, 2015

Location

جزيرة الخالدية, Khalidiya island, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.4301462, 43.5243986 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged Coalition strike at Khalidiya island, to the east of Ramadi, reportedly killed seven civilians including two cildren. Thirteen people were also reported injured, described as ‘mostly women and children.’

A Coalition report issued in December 2016 stated the following: “After a thorough review of the facts and circumstances of each alleged civilian casualty report, CJTF-OIR assessed that the following [12] reports received in October are non-credible. Non-credible means that at this time there is not sufficient evidence available to determine that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in alleged civilian casualties.

1. Sept. 20, 2015, near Ramadi, Iraq: Insufficient evidence available to determine credibility.”

A different perspective was offered in July 2017 however, with the Coalition noting that “Sep. 20, 2015, near Ramadi, Iraq, via Airwars 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.”

Given these apparently contradictory positions and confirmed strikes in the vicinity that day, Airwars is seeking additional information from the Coalition.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ 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.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 19th-20th 2015, the Coalition reported that “Near Ramadi, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL buildings.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]