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

CI835

Incident date

August 27, 2017

Location

Eyathia, Tal Afar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.484214, 42.422214 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A major civilian casualty event took place in Tal Afar district, North West of Mosul, following aerial bombardment, local media reported.

Dozens were killed according to witnesses, including entire families of mostly women and children. The local media organisation Kurdistan24 said that as many as 59 families had died in an attack it blamed on the Iraqi government. Others placed the death toll at around 70.

The activists, Omar Al Habusi and Abdulaziz Afgani, made an urgent call to international human rights organisations to expose what they described as a heinous crime. Both said that the civilians killed were displaced people, and asserted that Iraqi Government Forces were responsible.

A tweet by @AEJKHaill published graphic photographs of children killed following the raid. The source blamed the US-led Coalition and the Iraqi Army, calling it the “US-backed Iraqi Army”. @AEJKHaill described the incident as “pure terrorism”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    40 – 150
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of the two children who were killed in Tal Afar, West Mosul province following an aerial bombardment (via @AEJKhalil)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of a dead woman on the ground while her child is trying to wake her up. The woman was killed following an aerial bombardment on Tal Afar, West Mosul province (via @AEJKhalil)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of a child, killed in Tal Afar, West Mosul province following an aerial bombardment (via @AEJKhalil)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Eyathia (العياضية) town and that survivors fled North East, towards Malha (المالحة) village. The coordinates for Eyathia (العياضية) are: 36.484214, 42.422214. The coordinates for Malha (المالحة) are: 36.518949, 42.354012. Airwars assessment summary uses the generic coordinates for Eyathia (العياضية), however, it is likely that the incident took place in the Northern outskirts of the town.

  • A satellite image taken on 28, August 2017, shows fires burning in West Eyathia (العياضية).

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 Tel Afer, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 26th – 27th the Coalition reported *Near Tal Afar, three strikes destroyed three ISIS-held buildings, two vehicles and a fighting position.” It additionally stated that “On Aug. 26, near Tal Afar, Iraq, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two medium machine guns, two VBIEDs, two command and control nodes, a weapons cache, and a fighting position.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    40 – 150
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI550

Incident date

March 17, 2017

Location

الموصل الجديدة, Mosul, Mosul al Jadida / New Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.33256, 43.1059 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the highest confirmed civilian casualty event of the war against ISIL, at least 105 and as many as 141 non-combatants were later confirmed by the Coalition as having been killed in a US airstrike on a house in West Mosul’s al Jadida area. At least 137 bodies were reportedly recovered from the scene.

Locals have claimed that as many as 230 or even 520 civilians were killed in the catastrophic event at al Jadida – though these higher numbers may conflate a series of events over a number of days of violence in the neighbourhood.

The Coalition later confirmed it had carried out a strike “in the vicinity of alleged civilian casualties” and launched an investigation. This eventually concluded that a US bomb had killed between 105 and 141 civilians – though the Coalition also claimed that ISIL explosives had contributed to the disaster.

The Iraqi military initially placed the death toll at 61 killed – and blamed ISIL. This was at odds with Iraqi civil defence on the scene, who reported at least 137 bodies at first and said the incident was caused by an airstrike.

It was reported that a house near Al Rahma Al Ahli Hospital was bombed in which hundreds of displaced people were hosted, providing them food and shelter as well as a cellar to provide protection from airstrikes. However there were also claims that ISIL had deliberately trapped people in the building.

There was some initial reporting confusion about the date of the incident, which was placed variously between March 17th-20th. It is possible that a number of additional strikes in the near vicinity over some days may also have caused casualties.

Both the Coalition and Iraq had announced investigations into whether they had conducted an airstrike which may have ‘indvertently’ ignited a fuel truck and perhaps a VBIED at the scene.

Correspondences Team identified the house as the 3-storey building of Haj Tawfik house. Abdulrahman Al Lawzi reported on Facebook that the Coalition hit the house in New Mosul and that all the people in it had died. 56 male bodies had been found, but “rescue efforts were unable to reach the lower hall where the bodies of women and children are buried”. In total, 126 people were reported killed, as well as 8 in the house next door. Later, Waradana news said that about 150 bodies were still under the rubble. Mosul Insta, a local Facebook group, reported as many as 250 dead:

“More than 250 human beings lost their lives in vain. Children, women, elderly and disabled only in the new Mosul area. The list of victims goes on and on and the war rages and burns everything and I do not see it ending soon. The people of Mosul do not have their parents”.

Al Jazeera posted a graphic video reporting the strikes, speaking of 137 bodies, mostly women and children.

Iraqi Vice-President Osama al-Nujaifi called for an immediate halt to the bombing of western Mosul neighborhoods. “The intensity of the fighting against the terrorist is not exempting officials and leaders from moral and humanitarian responsibility for the increase in the number of innocent civilian casualties who have been forced to remain in their areas by the terrorist organization,” he said.

In a filmed visit to the scene on March 24th, the head of the Iraq Provincial Council Basma Basim said that she feared as many as 500 locals had in fact died at al Jadida. The Iraqi Observatory also claimed that 500 bodies had so far been recovered. Local MP Ali al-Metwati claimed 600 had died – and that the authorities were covering up the deaths. These high allegations may relate to overall civilian fatalities in the neighbourhood.

On March 26th, Alaraby news reported that “the number of people killed in the US air raid on the new Mosul district on the western coast of the city rose to 511, including 187 children under the age of 15, Iraqi officials said.”

A day later, on March 27th, Al Araby put the death toll at 520. On March 31st, it raised it to 531.

Both the United Nations and Amnesty International subsequently released information on the attack. The Amnesty report contained the following account: “As the fighting intensified Wa’ad Ahmad al-Tai, his brother Mahmoud and their families sought shelter at their other brother’s two-storey home hoping it would offer them more protection. “We were all huddled in one room at the back of the house, 18 of us, three families. But when the house next door was bombed, it collapsed on us, precisely over the room we were sheltering in. My son Yusef, nine, and my daughter Shahad, three, were killed, together with my brother Mahmoud, his wife Manaya and their nine-year-old son Aws, and my niece Hanan. She was cradling her five-month-old daughter, who survived, thank God,” he said.”

A relative of the family said the following in a video by Al Jazeera:

“My family were in three houses, 26 persons, I was always in touch with them before the bombardment. On Thursday morning, my brother sent me a message which reads “ Wafa’a, we cannot call due to the heavy bombardment” my heart was feeling like I am not going to see my family again. Their neighbor, Saker, was the only one who survived (…)”

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hisham Hazem
Age unknown male From the Sheikh family killed
Issam Hazem
Age unknown male From the Sheikh family killed

Family members (2)

Firas
Child male Child of Ali Sarhan Al Hayali - possibly killed in separate event killed
Taiba
Child female Child of Ali Sarhan Al Hayali - possibly killed in separate event killed

Family members (4)

Ali Thamer Abdulla
Adult male Twin brother of Rakan Thamer Abdulla killed
Rakan Thamer Abdulla
Adult male Twin brother of Ali Thamer Abdulla killed
Haj Thamer Abdulla
Adult male Father killed
23 additional family members reported killed

Family members (1)

The family of the wife of Karim Jassim Al Salim
Unknown number of victims

Family members (1)

Yarub Khader Kadawi
Adult male One of 12 family members reported killed killed

Family members (1)

Basem al-Muhzam’s family
11 persons reported killed killed

Family members (1)

The Sinjari family
Age unknown 30 persons reported killed killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    105 – 141
  • (22 children5 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (83) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Firas and Taiba died on March 20th in New Mosul (via Mosul is Here Facebook group)
  • These twin brothers were allegedly killed when a Coalition airstrike hit their home on March 17th/18th in Al Jadida, Mosul (via Captain Farqad and Egypt Gym, Facebook)
  • Another picture of the twin brothers
  • More picture of the brothers
  • Body bags being buried after the incident
  • An unnamed girl supposedly killed in the strike (via Adna Khalil)
  • Yarub Khader Kadawi (via Maram Al Alhanin)
  • Two more unnamed victims allegedly killed in the strike (via Mohammed Kareem)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A man allegedly found under rubble four days after the attack (via Women of Mosul)
  • Aftermath of the strike (via LA Times)
  • Body bags being carried away after the strike (via LA Times)
  • UN statement on the incident

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 36.3323266, 43.1050515

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 secondary explosion(s), Killed in adjacent structure
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    105–141
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF300225
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 25, 2017
  • Jun 2, 2017
  • During a strike on ISIS snipers firing on partnered forces, 101 civilians were unintentionally killed when the munition struck the building igniting ISIS- planted explosives that destroyed the structure and killed an additional four civilians in an adjacent structure.

  • CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED May 25, 2017 Release # 20170525-02 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CJTF-OIR Completes Airstrike Investigation SOUTHWEST ASIA - A Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve investigation of a March 17 Coalition airstrike in the Al Jadidah district of Mosul, Iraq, found that a secondary explosion triggered a rapid failure of the structure, in which two ISIS snipers, 101 civilians sheltered in the bottom floors of the structure, and four civilians in a neighboring structure were killed. An additional 36 civilians who were reported to be connected to the structure remain unaccounted for. The investigation determined that ISIS emplaced a large amount of explosive material in a structure containing a significant number of civilians and then attacked Iraqi forces from the structure. Around 8 a.m. on March 17, 2017, Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against two ISIS snipers engaging Iraqi Counterterrorism Service soldiers at the request of the local Commander. Neither Coalition nor Iraqi forces knew that civilians were sheltered within the structure. The Coalition selected a single GBU-38 precision-guided munition as the most appropriate and proportionate means of engagement to neutralize the threat and to minimize collateral damage. The GBU-38's detonation, localized to the top floor of the structure, ignited a large amount of explosive material which, unknown to the Coalition, ISIS fighters had previously placed in the house. Post-blast analysis detected residues common to explosives used by ISIS, but not consistent with the explosive content of a GBU-38 munition. Furthermore, weapons and structural experts concluded, based on extensive modeling, the structural damage to the building was in a different location, and was in excess of what could have been caused by a single GBU-38 munition. "Our condolences go out to all those that were affected," said Maj. Gen. Joe Martin, Commanding General CJFLCC-OIR. "The Coalition takes every feasible measure to protect civilians from harm. The best way to protect civilians is to defeat ISIS."

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

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

Media
from belligerent (3) [ collapse]

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    105 – 141
  • (22 children5 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (83) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI510

Incident date

March 5, 2017

Location

الدواسة, Mosul, Dawassa area, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.332586, 43.1388688 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local and press sources said between 64 and 130 civilians were killed in total and many others injured by different kind of bombing during the Iraqi offensive to control the governmental compound in Dawassa at the right side of Mosul.

Mosul Eye reported that “the number of civilian casualties today has risen to more than 130 civilians [who] have been killed because of the bombings and battles, and 12 victims were exposed to Daesh [ISIL] snipers.”

Yaqein said the Iraqi government was responsible, and spoke of 64 civilians killed.

Iraq News posted two pictures of a father who reportedly lost all his family members in the bombings except his little daughter.

In another post, Iraq News said “US Apache helicopters [were] flying heavily” in support of Iraqi government forces. Iraq Eye also suggested active involvement of the Coalition: “International coalition using Apache helicopters, artillery, mortars and rocket power and smart bombs in the battle of the right coast, which gave Iraqi forces [a] quick advance to liberate [the] more older [neighbourhoods] and the ability to accelerate the resolution of those tough battles.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    64 – 130
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Massive destruction in Dawassa neighbourhood in Mosul (via Moghred_Ninawa, Twitter)
  • A man with his daughter after the alleged bombings (via Yaqein)
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 4th-March 5th it said: “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and a rocket-propelled grenade team; destroyed nine fighting positions, a heavy machine gun, an ISIS-held building, and a mortar system; damaged 26 supply routes; and suppressed 15 mortar teams.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    64 – 130
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI467

Incident date

February 19, 2017

Location

الشفاء, Mosul, Al-Shafaa, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.35257, 43.120057 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that up to 130 civilians were killed and 78 injured after Coalition airstrikes and/ or Iraqi artillery had struck many residential buildings in Al-Shafaa (Shifa) in West Mosul. The Coalition has confirmed causing 10 deaths.

Press sources had told Yaqein that “the retaliatory shelling by aircraft and artillery by government forces had, from dawn on Sunday, targeted residential neighborhoods at the right side of Mosul, killing 30 civilians, including seven children.”

Iraqi Spring Media Center initially also reported 30 dead, including seven children. It said that Iraqi government forces were responsible for the shelling “with artillery and planes.” In a later post, it put the death toll even higher, at 49, and spoke of 78 wounded, mostly women and children. However, it reported “massive bombing by the Coalition”. Al Jazeera also blamed the Coalition for dozens of civilian deaths, and suggested that the 49 dead and 78 wounded were numbers reported by the ISIL press agency.

Raedlay and Correspondences team reported the same numbers and said these were the result of US strikes on residential buildings and shops in the neighborhood of Shifa.

Correspondences Team later also reported raids near Qasim Al-Khayat (street in Shifa neighbourhood) on a building used by displaced families. It said dozens were killed or wounded.

According to the New York Times, “this strike targeted an apartment complex near the Tahir building in Mosul, where both ISIS members and civilians lived. Down the street was another residential complex where ISIS members’ families lived. The attack on the first complex triggered the explosion of a fuel truck near the second, resulting in fire that destroyed the second complex. The strike was authorized despite numerous “collateral concerns” noted in the report: that there was a regular pedestrian and vehicle presence around the target, at a “moderate to high transient traffic,” and that residences and apartments were near the target. The report concluded that 10 civilians were killed. On the ground, the death toll was much higher. I documented the deaths of 20 civilians in and around the first building, including six members of the family of Yousef Hashim Ali. Dozens of others in the second building burned to death or were severely injured.”

Al Rafidain channel posted a video on Twitter showing the aftermath of the raids on Shifa neighbourhood, including several wounded and dead bodies pulled from the rubble. It said the Coalition was responsible, and equally reported 49 killed and 78 wounded, mostly women and children. The same video was shared by Iraqyoon.

In a report of February 21st, Yaqein suggested the death toll had risen dramatically: “It is noteworthy that about 130 civilians, were killed earlier, on Monday, in the massacre committed by the Coalition forces across the bombed Shifa neighborhood in the west side of the city of Mosul, Nineveh province.”

Mosul Ateka (Facebook) reported that Ammar Abd was killed in the raids: “Martyr (Ammar Abd) will also join the caravan of martyrs in the wake of the bombing that took place yesterday on healing [Shifa] district in the right side of # Mosul, [he] leaves behind three children (..)”.

In another post, Mosul Ateka reported the death of “Engineer Ibrahim Mohammed Ibrahim after raids on Qasim Al-Khayat (streets in Shifa neighbourhood). Mohammed Hussein Sawas at Shifa has also been named as a victim.

In July 2017 the Coalition confirmed an event at al Shifa as credible: “Feb. 19, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS headquarters building, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.”

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ammar Abd
Adult male killed
Ibrahim Mohammed Ibrahim
Adult male Engineer killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30 – 130
  • (7 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    78
  • 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
  • Suspected attacker
    Iraq Government Forces

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Ammar Abd was reportedly killed in Coalition raids on Shifa neighbourhood, leaving three children behind (via Mosul Ateka)
  • Mohammed Hussein Sawas at Shifa
  • Yousef Hashim Ali, pictured here standing on the rubble of the building where 6 members of his family were killed. (Image from the New York Times)

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
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    10
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3131324695
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017
  • Feb. 19, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS headquarters building, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

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

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30 – 130
  • (7 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    78
  • 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
  • Suspected attacker
    Iraq Government Forces

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI364

Incident date

December 7, 2016

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.3957715, 40.9943684 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 60 civilians were killed and as many as 100 injured in a series of airstrikes in al Qaim, according to reports. However, the alleged Coalition later denied responsibility.

Iraqi Spring Media Center said that 60 civilians were killed and 100 injured in an Iraqi government bombing that targeted al Qaim. A report posted on Rawh2015 and at least one other Facebook page indicated that three strikes took place – including on in front of the Grand Mosque and another targeted civilians during the receipt of pensions.

Rafidian Information Center reported that 6 air raids took place. A report in Shafaaq said the head of Iraq’s Parliament blamed the strikes on incorrect coordinates. Other outlets, including Euphrates Post, blamed the Coalition.

However, in a statement posted to Twitter, the Coalition’s spokesperson said that CJTF-OIR is aware of reports of civilian casualties near Al Qaim. We did not conduct strikes in the area around the time of the incident. This was later reiterated in the Coalition’s February 2017 civilian casualty report.

Later reports from Iraqi Spring Media Center put the death toll at 120 civilians. News of Iraq posted extremely graphic photographs of dead children.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    60 – 120
  • (21 children13 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    100
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • An image shows a dead child on the ground following an alleged airstrike on Al Qa'im, Anbar (via news ofiraq3)
  • An image shows a dead child on the ground following an alleged airstrike on Al Qa'im, Anbar (via news ofiraq3)
  • An image shows a dead child on the ground following an alleged airstrike on Al Qa'im, Anbar (via news ofiraq3)
  • A picture of Mahmoud Ali al-Naim, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Qa'im, Anbar on December 7, 2016(Via Euphrats Post)
  • A picture shows a destroyed building following the alleged Coalition airstrike on al Qaim (Via nrttv)
  • An image shows smoke rising from the scene of a reported alleged Coalition strike on Al Qa'im, Anbar (via Rudaw)
  • Another image shows a destroyed site following an airstrike on Al Qa'im, Anbar (via news ofiraq3)
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
    Al Qa’im, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in this geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

In a statement posted to Twitter, the Coalition’s spokesperson said that “CJTF-OIR is aware of reports of civilian casualties near Al Qaim. We did not conduct strikes in the area around the time of the incident.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    60 – 120
  • (21 children13 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    100
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1480

Incident date

September 14, 2017

Location

IDP camp near Jadid Akeidat, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.254309, 40.355344 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A major civilian casualty incident allegedly took place at an IDP camp near Jadid Akeidat, Eastern Deir Ezzor countryside. Al Yaqeen reported about 100 displaced people were killed, mostly women and children, following an alleged aerial bombardment by the US-led Coalition at the camp (pictured). However this was contested – with Euphrates Post asserting that this news was in fact propaganda put out by the so-called Islamic State organization.

Activists quoted in the Syrian Mirror described a “massacre of about 120 civilians, including 100 children”, the death tolls were reiterated by Jisrtv – both blamed the US-led Coalition.

Activists shared concern “about the increase in the number due to the injuries of varying degrees of danger, in light of the weakness of medical services and the shortage of medicines and medical staff” with Shaam News, they also posted pictures which showed the wounded and “significant physical destruction in the targeted area’”. According to Shaam “Al-Assad and his Russian ally planes fly with the International Coalition aircraft to bomb areas under the control of the Islamic State in Deir al-Ghazal countryside, which are full of civilians. None of the planes have taken any notice of the lives of children, women and the elderly”.

Sadaalsham News did not identify a culprit, and referred only to “unknown military aircraft”, however it cited Step News Agency which quoted a source “close to Daesh”, which attributed blame to the US-led Coalition. @abazeid89 blamed both the US-led Coalition and Russia for the massacre, and posted a graphic photograph of a girl bloodied following the raid.

RFS Media Office said Moscow was responsible, asserting that “Russian warplanes” carried out the “horrific massacre” on the IDP camps in Deir Ezzor city’s countryside.

A later report from Euphrates Post revealed a significant discrepancy with reporting and said the incident did not happen. According to the Post the Al-A’amaq agency, the media wing of so-called Islamic State, “broadcast a video showing children victims’ bodies it claimed to have died as a result of the bombing of the international coalition aircraft on a camp near the village of Jadid Akeidat rural Deir Ezzor East”. However the Post “ found that the children martyrs were killed as a result of the bombing by Russian warplanes on the town of Khisham on Thursday morning and that the children’s pictures belong to the children of Fadil Mohammed Al Khamis, who are displaced from the village of Al Bou Amro and they are in the town of Khasham”. Euphrates Post claimed “There is also no camp in the village of Jadid Akidat or near it. There were no raids on the town of Jadid Akeidat yesterday. What Al A’amaq broadcast were the victims or the massacres in al mayadeen, Bokdors and Khisham”

Two named children were killed in the town of Khasham, according to Euphrates Post, and reported by al a’amaq as having been killed in the alleged Jadid Akeidate camp.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Amal Fadel Mohammed al Khamis
Child reported killed by IS at the camp, however killed in Khasham according to Euphrates Post killed
Walaa Mohammed al Khamis
Child reported killed by IS at the camp, however killed in Khasham, Euphrates Post killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    100 – 120
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The camp near the village of "Jadid Akeidat" (via Al Yaqeen news agency)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic stills from a video post by A'amaq Agency, September 14th (via Shaam)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A little girl covered in blood, likely killed following airstrikes. The source alleged she was killed in the camp near the village of Jadid Akidat however it is unclear whether the reports are so-called Islamic State propaganda, September 14th (via @abazeid89)
  • The children of Fadil Mohammed Al Khamis alleged killed by A'amaq Agency. According to Euphrates post they were killed in Khasham town, not the camp, the source reported the camp does not exist. September 14th (via Euphrates Post)
  • A row of children killed in alleged airstrikes on an IDP camp near Jadid Akeidad. The incident, initially reported by A'amaq was disounted by Euphrates Post as so-called Islamic State propaganda. September 14th (via Euphrates Post)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention an IDP camp near the town of Jadid Akeidat (جدید عكیدات). Airwars was unable to locate an IDP camp or individual tents/structures of IDPs near this town on satellite image before or after the alleged incident. The coordinates for the town of Jadid Akeidat (جدید عكیدات) are: 35.254309, 40.355344

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 Jadid Akeidat, al Mayadin, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU324762
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 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

For September 13th-14th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, nine strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed two tactical vehicles, an ISIS fuel station and a fighting position " and, “Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed an ISIS headquarters.“

For September 14th-15th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two vehicles", and "On Sept. 14, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria six strikes destroyed an ISIS UAS, a fighting position, an ISIS supply route and suppressed three fighting positions"

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Wednesday 13 September – a Reaper twice engaged terrorists on foot, as well as a truck-bomb, whilst Tornados and Typhoons struck a Daesh building, all near Dayr az Zawr…On Wednesday 13 September, another Reaper continued patrolling near Dayr az Zawr. It used two Hellfire missiles to attack terrorists spotted on foot, then employed a third missile to destroy an armoured truck-bomb positioned next to a main road. A mixed Tornado and Typhoon pair meanwhile targeted a group of Daesh in a building nearby, scoring a direct hit with a Brimstone.’

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    100 – 120
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1397

Incident date

August 20, 2017

Location

Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between 50 and 118 civilians were killed, including many women and children, in the city of Raqqa in the last 48-72 hours. The sources blamed US-led Coalition airstrikes for the significant number of life lost over the short period. According to @AhmadShbli, seven whole families were part of those killed.

Smart news agency reported “in Raqqa, 50 civilians were killed and about 60 wounded on Tuesday night by an air strike likely to be the international coalition and the gunners of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) “.

According to Euphrates Post and @kalimahorra1 “most” of the 118 victims killed over a 48 hour period were women and children.

This is a general civilian casualty entry, it may encompass numbers from other incidents.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    50 – 118
  • Civilians reported injured
    60
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • # Raqqa: 118 martyrs, many of them children and children have been killed by coalition aircraft bombed the city of Raqqa in the past 48 hours.

Geolocation notes

Reports of these incidents mention the city of Ar Raqqah (الرقة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148. Due to the limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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 Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 19th-20th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions.“

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For Aug 16-22, France report 5 strikes in Iraq and 2 in Syria. Task Force Wagram conducted 60 artillery missions

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    50 – 118
  • Civilians reported injured
    60
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI708

Incident date

May 12, 2017

Location

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

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Multiple local sources and Al’Amaq [ISIL press agency] reported that up to 108 civilians were killed and 265 were wounded due to artillery shelling and airstrikes by the international Coalition, the Iraqi Joint Forces and popular militia over a number of days.

A medical source had told Yaqein Agency in a press statement that “108 people from Mosul were killed and 265 wounded, mostly children and women, who died during the past four days as a result of continuous shelling on the neighborhoods of the right side [West] of the city of Mosul.” These numbers were also reported by others, who said these were numbers reported by Al’Amaq – the ISIL press agency.

A resident, Um Imam Ahmed, also reported that many had died. On May 16th he posted a photo on Facebook and commented: “The bodies of 30 civilians, including nine members of a family who were killed in the bombing of Coalition aircraft, still under the rubble of a house that was bombed two days ago on the western side of Mosul.”

The Ninawa Media Center said that a local source had confirmed that “a number of unarmed civilians” had died and were injured in Rifai neighbourhood, in north-west Mosul. The Center said that the Coalition had carried out airstrikes on a car bomb near Khaled Ibn al-Walid school – resulting in the destruction of the homes of these civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30 – 108
  • Civilians reported injured
    265
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces, Iraq Irregular Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A photo posted on Facebook by Um Imam Ahmed - showing the destruction and one of the victims of heavy shelling in West Mosul (via Um Imam Ahmed)
  • A statement by Al'Amaq - ISIL press agency - saying that 108 had died and 265 were wounded in airstrikes and artillery shelling during the past four days (via Ali Ahmed, Facebook)
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
  • Jan 25, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 11th-12th: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, three mortar systems, two sniper positions, a tactical vehicle, a command and control node, a VBIED, a front-end loader; damaged 24 ISIS supply routes, three fighting positions; and suppressed six mortar teams and two ISIS tactical units.“

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Iraq Irregular Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Irregular Forces
  • Iraq Irregular Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30 – 108
  • Civilians reported injured
    265
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces, Iraq Irregular Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]