Israeli Military in Syria & the Gaza Strip

Israeli Military in Syria & the Gaza Strip

A child uses his mobile device in the ruins of a building in Beit Lahia, Gaza Strip on May 26th 2021. © Mohamed Zaanoun

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Incident Code

CS603

Incident date

March 21, 2017

Location

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.83444, 38.5466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 20 civilians were reported killed and dozens more injured in Coalition airstrikes on multiple locations in Tabaqa, according to local sources. Some reports confused this incident with a reported nearby mass casualty event at al Mansour. The Coalition later said it had killed ten civilians in the town that day.

According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, “Warplanes launched raids on the city of al Tabaqa which targeted the gas depot and the industrial street [al Sina’a street] in the city, causing huge destruction in shops and some homes and seriously wounding many civilians.”

It went on to say that “Coalition planes targeted the building next to the garages in al Tabaqa”. The monitor put the death toll for the day at 20 non-combatants, with dozens more injured,

According to Step News, “sources close to IS reported 17 dead and dozens injured in international coalition raids on al Awwal [the first] neighbourhood in al Tabaqa west of Raqqa”. Sharqiya Voice reported that the Coalition had also carried out two raids near the hospital, as well as targeting the market. Smart News put the death toll at 15, reporting that the Coalition “launched five raids, targeting the garages areas, al Sina’a neighbourhood [the industrial zone] and the area near the obstetrics hospital”.

The Syrian Network, in its April report, described an attack on a carwash in the city: “Tuesday March 21 2017 fixed wing international coalition forces warplanes fired a number of missiles at al Manara carwash in al tabaqa city in the western suburbs of al raqqa governorate which resulted in the killing of six civilians at once including one child. The city is under the control of ISIS.”

Maysaloun school in the city was also reportedly hit – leading to confusion with the nearby al Mansour event at Badiya school on the same day. (See CS602 and CS604 for details).

In its October 2017 casualty report the Coalition noted: “3. March 21, 2017, near Al Tabaqah, Syria, via social media report: During a strike against ISIS headquarters structure, staging facility and internet café, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.”

Officials said the event took place at coordinates 35°50’04.0″N 38°32’47.8″E.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Abboud Dibo
Age unknown male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed
Ammar Dibo
Age unknown named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed

Family members (2)

Abdel Hamid al Bakri
Adult male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed
His son Ali
Child male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Mahmoud al Dhahhab
Age unknown male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed
Muhanad Hussen Al-Hamod Alkran
Age unknown male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed
Mustapha al Mansour aka Abu Munhal
Adult male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–36
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (40) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • Mustapha al Mansour, Abu Munhal, killed in a Coalition raid that targeted Maysaloun, March 21st 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Hamid al-Bakri, killed in a Coalition airstrike on Tabaqah, 22nd march 2017. (via VDC)
  • Ali Hamid al-Bakri, killed in a Coalition airstrike on Tabaqah, 22nd march 2017. (via VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Tabaqah: al Nabablah, 21st March 2017. (via SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Tabaqah: al Nabablah, 21st March 2017. (via

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Tabaqah: al Nabablah, 21st March 2017. (via
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details. (via Syriahr)
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details.(via Halab today)
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details.(via Thoaralraqqa)
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details. (via RBSS)
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details. (via RBSS)
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details. (via RBSS)
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details. (via Sharqiya voice)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected 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 Al Tabaqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV5905165680
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition

  • During a strike against ISIS headquarters structure, staging facility and internet café, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 20th-21st the Coalition stated: “Near Ar Raqqah, 19 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed four petroleum oil lubricant equipment pieces, three barges, three fighting positions, three ISIS headquarters, two VBIED facilities, two VBIEDs, a VBIED factory, a tunnel, a vehicle, a weapons storage facility, and a command and control node; and damaged two supply routes.”

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • On Mar. 21 #CJTFOIR conducted 29 strikes consisting of 60 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria & Iraq. MORE: http://ow.ly/O0uF30a9gt8 (via CJTFOIR)

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–36
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (40) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS596

Incident date

March 20, 2017

Location

Tabaqah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.83462, 38.54714 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of ten civilians near Al Tabqah, Syria.

Their October 2017 report noted: “During a Coalition strike that engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS-held building, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.”

This confirmed strike might relate to the strikes reported by Airwars that day (S522; S523 or S523a).

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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 Al Tabqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV591657
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017

  • During a Coalition strike that engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS-held building, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 20th-21st the Coalition stated: “Near Ar Raqqah, 19 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed four petroleum oil lubricant equipment pieces, three barges, three fighting positions, three ISIS headquarters, two VBIED facilities, two VBIEDs, a VBIED factory, a tunnel, a vehicle, a weapons storage facility, and a command and control node; and damaged two supply routes.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS808

Incident date

May 12, 2017

Location

مزرعة الأسدية, Al Asadeya farm, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.917928, 39.167638 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 20 civilians – including “entire families” – died and dozens more were wounded in a casualty event at Al-Asadeya farm. Most sources attributed the incident to Kurdish artillery, and only one blamed the US-led Coalition. The alliance later admitted responsibility for ten deaths.

It was later revealed that the strike was either by French or Belgian forces – though both countries refuse to say more.

Syrian Press Center reported that “attacks by the military aircraft of the International coalition on Asadiya farm, north of the city of Raqqa, yesterday morning left dozens of dead and wounded civilians in addition to much destruction of the village”.

However, other sources believed that shelling by Kurdish artillery was responsible. According to Step News Agency, 20 died and dozens more were injured. Alaraby pointed at both strikes by warplanes and artillery, putting the death toll at 10.

All4Syria – which also attributed the event to Kurdish artillery – listed victims in addition to those named below as: One of the sons of Shawadi; Abu Baraa’s entire family; The whole family of Al-Taheri; and a displaced person on the farm

The Coalition’s August 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on ISIS fighters, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed in a building adjacent to the target.” Officials provided Airwars with the location for this incident, accurate to within a one metre box.

In March 2020, Airwars, Liberation and De Morgen published a joint investigation revealing that Belgium and France were refusing to accept responsibility for civilian harm in this and other events – despite all other allies ruling themselves out.

Asked to say whether its aircraft were responsible for officially declared civilian harm in up to nine incidents, the Belgian Ministry of Defence told Airwars by email: “For the year 2017, BAF [Belgian Armed Forces] was certainly not involved in all events. With regard to the other data given, BAF was no longer present in theatre. BAF completed its role at the end of 2017. Our conclusion is that all ROEs [rules of engagement] were respected as confirmed by our federal court.”

After confirming receipt from Airwars in June 2019 of details of possible French civilian casualty events, the defence ministry then ceased communication – refusing to answer all subsequent emails.

In its own investigation, De Morgen featured Muhammad Sheikh Sa’ab, whose leg was amputated following a likely Belgian or French airstrike on May 12th-13th 2017 [translation]:

“26-year-old Muhammad Sheikh Sa’ab sprawled out on some pillows in his home in Assadiyah, a small town just outside Raqqa. He prefers not to have his prosthesis photographed. He is missing a leg, in his own words, since an air attack by the international coalition against IS on the night of May 12-13, 2017.

‘We were all in the house when the Coalition bombs fell. My younger brother died in the process. He was 21 years old. Mahmoud was not a warrior, but an ordinary citizen. My neighbour Muhamad Al Nasih also died, as did a refugee from elsewhere in Syria who lived here. ‘

“… The international coalition regularly shared information about incidents involving civilian casualties, after its own evaluations or after reports in the local press and social media. That happened, for example, after the air raid on Assadiyah, in which Muhammad sheikh Sa’ab lost his leg. Several reports in the day after that attack reported civilian deaths. In the list of victims that became so famous, the brother of Muhammad sheikh Sa’ab is not included, but his 55-year-old neighbour, Muhamad Al Nasih, and the displaced person.

“Several witnesses in Assadiyah confirm to De Morgen that Muhammad Sheikh Sa’ab indeed lost his leg, that his brother died and that his father was injured by shrapnel shards. They are talking about ten to fifteen deaths. In an August 2017 report, the international coalition itself states that it is “credible” that civilian deaths occurred in this airstrike. “It has been judged that an attack on IS (fighters) killed ten civilians unintentionally in a building adjacent to the target.”

According to De Morgen, neither the defence ministry nor the Government wished to respond publicly to that list of incidents, even now that the operation is over, since Belgium may send its F-16s again later this year.

“We don’t want to set a precedent or start a polemic with other coalition partners,” the a Cabinet official said, citing the ‘many nations, one mission’ concept. If a country replies in the negative to a specific incident, it may lead towards other potential actors in that airstrike being identified. During the war against ISIS, this also had security implications, because civilian deaths can lead to revenge actions, government officials claimed.

“None of the authorities or the Coalition have visited us,” Muhammad Sheikh Sa’ab told De Morgen. “That artificial leg has cost me handsfull of money, all paid out of my own pocket.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Muhammad Sheikh Sa'ab
23 years old male Brother of Mahmoud injured
Mahmoud Sheikh Sa'ab
21 years old male killed
Father of Muhammad and Mahmoud
Adult male Harmed by shrapnel injured

Family members (3)

Abu Baraa
Adult male killed
Family member 1
killed
Family member 2
killed

Family members (3)

Al Taheri family member 1
killed
Al Taheri family member 2
killed
Al Taheri family member 3
killed

The victims were named as:

Khalil Dhamma
Age unknown male killed
Hassan Ismail Al Zeyab
Age unknown male killed
Muhammad Al-Naseh
55 years old male killed
Unnamed Syrian IDP
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (14) [ collapse]

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 Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV1512474858
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

  • May 12, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via social media report: During a strike on ISIS fighters, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed in a building adjacent to the target.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For May 11th-12th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, three VBIEDs, two ISIS oil storage tanks, two ISIS oil stills, two excavators, a front-end loader, an IED, and an ISIS staging area.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1881

Incident date

January 3–4, 2019

Location

الكشكية, Al Khishkiya or Kashma, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.80205, 40.69444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

During an exchange of small arms fire, an alleged Coalition helicopter strike hit a civilian home in the town of Al-Kashkiya, east of Deir Al-Zour. Between six and ten civilians from the same family were reported killed, including women and children.

In January 2020, the Coalition accepted responsibility for the deaths of nine civilians in the event and the injuring of two others. In May 2020, the Pentagon additionally informed Congress that this was a US-only action.

Manart Alforat 2018 posted at the time of the attack that six civilians died in the attack. @Deirezzor24 and Euphrates Post reported that seven civilians were killed, including one child and two women from the family of Ali Kalif al-Qatmir. Free Deir Ezzor Radio reported on nine civilian deaths, mostly women and children.

Meanwhile Shabab Al Latamna and Boukamalna put the death toll at ten civilians. So too did Sputnik, which added that among the dead were four children.

In a detailed description of the incident, Shabab Al Soussa reported that the attack occurred at 1am on Friday morning. Citing local sources, it described how “one of the wanted men of ISIS” was carrying and shooting his weapon, thinking that members of ISIS were trying to attack him. According to the accounts, his house and surrounding areas were then targeted which led to the killing of his relatives. 

A Coalition spokesman denied that there were civilian casualties though admitted attacking the town that day, according to Stars and Stripes: “Military officials are refuting reports that civilians were harmed in a coalition airstrike on an Islamic State-held village in eastern Syria last week, while observers have warned of diminished transparency in the anti-ISIS campaign. Syria’s state news agency and the activist group DeirEzzor 24 both said the strike on the village of Kishkiyeh had killed at least 10 people, including four children, the Associated Press reported late last week. Both blamed the U.S.-led coalition.

A U.S. military spokesman indicated there had been a Coalition strike in the area but initially rejected the allegation of noncombatant deaths. “We are aware of reports of civilian [casualty] allegations, but we have no evidence at this time indicating any civilians were harmed in this strike,” Army Col. Scott Rawlinson, a spokesman for the Coalition, said via email. “We take every reasonable precaution to minimize harm to civilians in our pursuit of an enduring defeat of ISIS.”’

In a later report, Deir Ezzor 24 reported that the Coalition had in fact paid out 80,000 euros to Al-Shaitat victims who were killed “by mistake”. “Special sources” to Deir Ezzor 24 revealed that on Sunday 27th January 2019, a delegation from the International Coalition and the SDF met with elders from Abu Hamam town in the eastern Deir Ezzor countryside at the headquarter of the Public Relations office, where they paid money to 11 people who were killed “by mistake” by the Coalition and the SDF during this incident.

According to the source, Haval Razan was among the people who attended, the highest representative of the coalition, and the link between the international coalition and the SDF. Representatives of the victims’ families who attended according to the source were: Hassan Al-Obaid Al-Ghadir, Abdelkader Al-Hassan Al-Baqes, Ammash Al-Hussein Al-Ghadir, Fahim Al-Ghadir, Jassim Al-Qatmir, Hamad Al-Ahmad Al-Amin, and Ibn Badri Al-Hamad Al-Ghadir.

Deir Ezzor 24 added that the Coalition “admitted that it had obtained false information which led to the killing of two civilians in Al-Kashkiyah town east of Deir Ezzor” and that “they reiterated the need to hold accountable those who provided the SDF and the Coalition with wrong coordinates that caused the deaths of civilians.”

The UN Commission of Inquiry cited the case in its September 2019 report:

“In addition to front-line battles, the Commission received several accounts of night raids carried out by SDF with the aerial support of helicopter gunships provided by international coalition forces, which killed and injured civilians. For example, on 4 January 2019 at approximately 1.00 a.m., a night raid in SDF-controlled Kashmah village killed up to eight civilians including five men, two women and one boy, and further injured one man and one girl.

While the exact unfolding of events is still under investigation, accounts received by the Commission suggest an exchange of fire between some villagers and SDF with the support of helicopter gunships, which led to the killing of several villagers. The local community perceived the raid as an attack on fellow tribal members, while SDF claim that they responded to fire from ISIL elements in the village. The Commission received information and supporting documentation that, on 27 January, a settlement of $80,000 was offered by SDF to the family members of the deceased.”

In its civilian casualty report for November 2019 – published on January 2nd 2020 – the Coalition eventually conceded both the attack and its consequences, noting: “January 3, 2019, in Al-Khuskieh, Syria, via Human Rights Watch Report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against Daesh fighters. Regrettably, nine civilians were unintentionally killed and two civilians were unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike. 2774 37SFU550524”.

In May 2020, in its annual report to Congress, the Pentagon conceded this as a US-only civilian harm event: “As of March 1, 2020, CJTF-OIR assessed that 11 reports of civilian casualties during 2019 were credible, with approximately 22 civilians killed and approximately 13 civilians injured as a result of U.S. military operations.”

The incident occured at 01:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (13)

Abd al-Khalif al-Qatmir
Adult male killed
Hamoud Al Ghadir Al Saleh
Age unknown killed
Abdul Hamid Hassan al-Baks
Age unknown killed
Mahmoud Al-Hussein Al-Saleh
Age unknown killed
Hussein al-Khalif al-Qatmir
Age unknown killed
Wife of Ali al-Qatmir
Adult male
Amsha Al Obaid Al Saleh
Adult female Elderly woman killed
Ahamoud Ghadir Al Qatmir
Adult killed
Ali al-Katmir
Age unknown injured
Name unknown
Child killed
Name unknown
Child killed
Name unknown
Child killed
Name unknown
Child killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 10
  • (1–4 children2 women2–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Bodies are lined up following an alleged Coalition airstrike on a civilian residence in Al Khishkiya, January 3rd- 4th (via Euphrates Post)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of a child killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on a civilian residence (via Manart alforat2018)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victim of an alleged Coalition airstrike on a civilian residence (via Manart alforat2018)
  • Table of US-only civilian harm events in Iraq and Syria for 2019, declared by the Pentagon to Congress in May 2020.

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the village level at 34.810000, 40.694722.

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
    9
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    in Al-Khuskieh, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU550524
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 2, 2020

  • January 3, 2019, in Al-Khuskieh, Syria, via Human Rights Watch Report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against Daesh fighters. Regrettably, nine civilians were unintentionally killed and two civilians were unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike. 2774 37SFU550524

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Between Dec. 30, 2018 and Jan. 12, 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted 575 strikes consisting of 1,147 engagements in
Syria.

In Syria, 575 strikes engaged 485 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 308 staging areas, 220 fighting positions, 105
mortar, rocket and artillery systems, 57 supply routes, 50 manufacturing facilities for improvised explosive device
and vehicle borne improvised explosive device, 31 command and control nodes, 26 vehicles, 19 weapons caches,
18 mortar launching sites, 18 petroleum oil and lubricant storage facilities, 11 heavy and light weapon systems,
eight reservoirs and tankers for petroleum oil and lubricants, eight pieces of heavy equipment, seven vehicle borne
improvised explosive devices, six tunnels and caves, four buildings, two unmanned aircraft systems, one weapons
facility, one logistics hub and one fuel storage.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For Jan 2-8, France report that task Force Wagram carried out 28 missions of which 12 were strikes. Meanwhile aircraft conducted two strikes in support of the SDF.

CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie Dans la moyenne vallée de l’Euphrate, les forces démocratiques syriennes (FDS), après avoir sécurisé la ville d’Hajine, poursuivent leur offensive en direction du sud et du village de Shafah. Daech reste résilient et s’appuie sur une densité de piégeage importante pour ralentir les FDS. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak En Irak, la situation est inchangée. La sécurisation des célébrations du nouvel an a été un succès. Pour autant, Daech conserve des capacités de nuisance, tout en poursuivant sa posture de dissimilation et d’évitement. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Le dispositif français déployé au Levant n’a pas évolué. Par l’opération Chammal, les armées françaises demeurent engagées, les modalités de l’engagement tenant compte en permanence des réalités du terrain. La priorité demeure de vaincre militairement cette organisation terroriste, et empêcher sa résurgence alors qu’elle passe à la clandestinité. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate La Task Force (TF) Wagram appuie les forces démocratiques syriennes contre Daech dans la région d’Hajine. La TF Wagram a réalisé, depuis le territoire irakien, 28 missions de tir (23 d'éclairement, 12 de destruction – bilan du 2 au 8 janvier inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 2446 missions de tirs. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des opérations Les militaires de la base aérienne projetée en Jordanie ont accueilli la ministre des armées et le chef d’état-major de l’Armée de l’air à l’occasion du réveillon de la Saint Sylvestre. Les aéronefs français basés en Jordanie et aux Émirats arabes unis ont poursuivi leurs actions contre Daech, au sein de la coalition. Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 14 sorties aériennes (bilan du 02 au 08 janvier inclus). Les Rafale ont conduit 2 frappes cette semaine en appui des forces démocratiques syriennes. Bilan total de l’action du pilier appui aérien depuis le 19/09/14 : 8782 sorties / 1514 frappes / 2325 objectifs neutralisés. Les Task Forces Monsabert et Narvik poursuivent leurs missions de formation La Task Force (TF) Monsabert poursuit sa mission d’assistance et de conseil de l’état-major de la 6ème division irakienne. La TF Narvik, poursuit sa mission de formation et de conseil de l’Iraki Counter Terrorism Service (ICTS), notamment dans les domaines du renseignement, du combat au corps à corps, et en conduisant des stages de remise à niveau.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 10
  • (1–4 children2 women2–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1394

Incident date

August 20, 2017

Location

المرور, Ar Raqqah: Mouroor neighbourhood, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.949975, 38.992238 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Coalition air raids on Raqqa resulted in the deaths of 9 civilians, including 4 children. The US-led alliance later admitted responsibility for the deaths, following an Amnesty International field investigation.

Amnesty researchers interviewed Munira Hashish who lost 18 members of her family, nine of whom were killed in a Coalition air strike. She stated: “It was when they (the Coalition planes) saw us that they struck. The strike occurred straight after we re-entered the house. It happened just after the call for midday prayer. I remember hearing the call to prayer, then the strike happened. My brothers Hussein and Mohammed and their kids and the neighbours were all killed. Those who were not killed were injured. The only one who survived unharmed is my grandchild, a baby aged four months. I was holding him in my arms and he was not hurt.”

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently had originally reported that 21 civilians, including all members of the Hashish family, were killed in a Coalition airstrike on a home in the Muroor neighbourhood of Raqqa. The report however noted that the incident took place on August 19th and also included family members that, according to the Amnesty report, were in fact “mined by IS, and […] killed by a mortar seemingly launched by the SDF.”

The case was also included in the April 2019 Amnesty/Airwars joint report War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality (raqqa.amnesty.org): “Munira Hashish and her family lived in Dara’iya, a low-income neighbourhood in western Raqqa. The family was not well off; Munira’s husband, Hussein Ibrahim Hashish, supported the family as best he could by selling vegetables out of a cart. Despite repeated attempts to flee, the Hashish family lost 18 members, mostly women and children, over a two-week period in August. A Coalition air strike killed nine, seven died as they tried to flee via a road which had been mined by IS, and two others were killed by a mortar launched by SDF. “Those who stayed died and those who tried to run away died. We couldn’t afford to pay the smugglers; we were trapped,” Munira Hashish told us. After seven family members were killed by mines set by IS and later nine more were killed by a Coalition air strike, the family was finally able to escape “by walking over the blood of those who were blown up as they tried to flee ahead of us.,” she said.”

In July 2018 the Coalition accepted responsibility, noting: “August 20, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report. During a strike on a reported Daesh position near a residential area allegedly caused civilian casualties. Nine civilians were unintentionally killed.”

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 (15)

Mohammed Ali Hashish
Age unknown male killed
Amal Al Ali Al Hashish
Child female killed
Nour al-Ayoun Ali Hashish
Child male killed
Ali Mohammed al-Hashish
Child male killed
Hussein Al-Ali Al-Hashish
Age unknown male killed
Mahdiah Ibrahim Hashish
Age unknown female killed
Ahmed Hussein Hashish
Child male killed
Ismael Hussein Hashish
Child male killed
Mustafa Hussein Hashish
Child male killed
Ibrahim Hussein Hashish
Child male killed
Mohammed Hussein Hashish
Child male killed
Fatima Hussein Hashish
Child female killed
Ali Hussein Hashish
Age unknown male killed
Badia Hamoud Al Ali
Age unknown female killed
Hassan Hussein Al-Ali Hashish
Age unknown male killed

Family members (3)

Hazar Al-Ali
Age unknown male killed
Hussein Hassan Ali
Child male killed
A girl from Hassan Ali's family
Child female killed

Family members (2)

Nidal Mohammed
Age unknown male killed
Manar Nidal Mohammed
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Abdul-Issa Al-Antar
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • Al-Hussein family (via Amnesty)
  • Hsein Hassan Hashish was left an orphan and had to have his foot amputated following the attack (via Amnesty International)
  • Moh Ali Hashish and family (via Amnesty International)
  • Munira's son (via Amnesty International)
  • Munira's son (via Amnesty International)
  • Munira's children (via Amnesty International)
  • Munira's children (via Amnesty International)
  • Munira's children (via Amnesty International)
  • Location of the strike (via Amnesty International)
  • Location of the strike (via Amnesty International)
  • Location of the strike (via Amnesty International)
  • Location of the strike (via Amnesty International)
  • Location of the strike (via Amnesty International)
  • Artillery fragment near the Hashish house (via Amnesty International)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

  • The building in which members of the Hashish family died, seen before the strike on August 19, 2017 (via Amnesty International)

  • The building in which members of the Hashish family died, seen after the strike on August 25, 2017 (via Amnesty International)

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:

  • 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
    9
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV993784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • August 20, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report. During a strike on a reported Daesh position near a residential area allegedly caused civilian casualties. Nine civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 19th-20th: “Near Raqqah, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions.” It additionally added that “On Aug. 19, near Raqqah, Syria, 36 strikes engaged 22 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 29 fighting positions and seven command and control nodes.” That “On Aug. 19, near Raqqah, Syria, six strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed five fighting positions, an IED, and a command and control node.” And that “On Aug. 19, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Sunday 20 August – Tornados and Typhoons hit a target in Raqqa, a group of terrorists and vehicles in eastern Syria, and five Daesh positions around Tal Afar…On Sunday 20 August, Typhoons bombed a further Daesh position in Raqqa. In eastern Syria, Tornados targeted a group of terrorists deployed near the border with Iraq – two Paveways hit their trucks and killed several of the extremists.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

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
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS842

Incident date

May 21, 2017

Location

كديران, Kdeiran, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.877525, 38.721936 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 15 civilians died and dozens more were injured in alleged Coalition airstrike on Kdeiran village, local media reported.

In January 2019, the Coalition accepted responsibility for the event, noting: “Coalition aircraft engaged with what was positively identified as an ISIS Headquarters. Coalition munitions destroyed the building. Regrettably, nine civilian bystanders in the streets around the house were unintentionally killed by the effects of the strike.” 

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

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that at least five non-combatants including two children died in the Coalition strikes.

However, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, Al Ragga Truth and Mohab Nasser were among other sources putting the death tool as high as 15 – with dozens more wounded.

@1’15” in a video published by the IS medi agency Aa’maq, a teary eyed man with cap in hospital says: “the crusader came and bombed a grocery shop, a place selling petrol, an ice cream shop, a fishmonger, a motorbike mechanic shop and a vegetable shop.”

Raqqa Post referred specifically to “US airstrikes”.

Among the victims were also two refugees in al Hamad village.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hamdoun Abu Hashim
Age unknown killed
Ali Abu Hakkam
Age unknown killed
Abdel Sheikh Taher
Age unknown killed
Abdel Mu’in al Aweed
Age unknown killed
Mohammad Ghanam
Age unknown killed
Hamada al A’kmash
Age unknown killed
One of the sons of Hamada al A’kmash
Age unknown male killed
Ahmad al Juma’a
Age unknown male killed
Son of Ahmad al Juma’a (1)
Age unknown male killed
Son of Ahmad al Juma’a (2)
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 15
  • (2–4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Tweet by Ahmad Alshibli posted on May 22nd 2017. Caption: "# Al-Raqqa No photographs of the destruction of the massacre carried out by the international coalition aircraft on the village of Kediran in the western Raqqa countryside, killing eighteen martyrs"

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Tweet by Mohab Naser posted on May 22nd 2017. Caption: "# Raqqa Pictures showing some of the martyrs and the wounded and part of the destruction caused by the bombing of the coalition aircraft on the village of Kediran countryside east of Raqqa yesterday night."
  • Photo of the civilian "Hamdoun Abu Hashim," who was alleged killed following an aerial bombing by the coalition on Kdeiran in rural West Raqqa (via Sharqia Voice, May 23rd 2017).

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Killed by strike blast
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    9
  • Stated location
    near Kdeiran, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV749704
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 31, 2019

  • May 21, 2017, near Kdeiran, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft engaged with what was positively identified as an ISIS Headquarters. Coalition munitions destroyed the building. Regrettably, nine civilian bystanders in the streets around the house were unintentionally killed by the effects of the strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For May 20th-21st, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, five strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, two vehicles, an ISIS staging area and a construction vehicle.” It also later reported that additionally on May 20th “Near Raqqah, Syria, one strikes destroyed an ISIS headquarters and an ISIS staging area.”
For May 21st-22nd, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, 13 strikes [1 British?] engaged 12 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 11 fighting positions, nine vehicles, two supply caches, a mortar system, an ISIS headquarters; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

Australian Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

"Sunday 21 May – Typhoons destroyed a weapons stockpile on the outskirts of Raqqa, Tornados dealt with a sniper and a heavy machine-gun in Mosul… The latter hit a further pair of targets in Mosul on Sunday 21 May, eliminating a sniper and a heavy machine-gun team. On the eastern outskirts of Raqqah, Typhoons destroyed a weapons stockpile."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 15
  • (2–4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (32) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS965

Incident date

June 6, 2017

Location

Ar Raqqah: near Omar Bin Al Khattab mosque, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.959065, 38.999199 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man was killed, and his son was injured in Coalition airstrikes which struck the street near his home. The Coalition later conceded a total of eight deaths and 24 injuries clustered across this event and CS965a and CS965b. To avoid triple counting, the official OIR tally is only counted here.

This civilian was initially listed in an airstrike which killed eight civilians from three families – including Hamsho – with dozens also left wounded. It has since been uncovered by Amnesty field research that this victim died of his injures, eight days after shrapnel entered his home on the 7th floor of a building where he was reading by a window.

In addition to this, his son was inured – off Fardous Street opposite Shokan estate agent. His wife confirmed it was early morning of Tue 12 Ramadhan (6 June) however the victim died eight days later.

In a testimony given to Amnesty International by Kawthar – wife of the victim – she stated that “My husband was reading by the window and was hit by shrapnel from the airstrike outside; He remained in a coma for eight days and then died. My son was in the next room and was also injured. ”

A number of sources alleged that the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were responsible for the strikes with the Syrian Network blaming SDF mortars. However, the Coalition also reported that it conducted artillery fire in the Raqqa.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ghassan Ibrahim Hamsho
43 years old male a taylor by trade, died after 8 days in a coma killed
His son
Child male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Ghassan Ibrahim Hamsho, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on 6th June 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • The home of Ghassan Ibrahim Hamsho. (via Amnesty)
  • The home of Ghassan Ibrahim Hamsho. (via Amnesty)
  • The home of Ghassan Ibrahim Hamsho. (via Amnesty)
  • The home of Ghassan Ibrahim Hamsho. (via Amnesty)
  • The home of Ghassan Ibrahim Hamsho. (via Amnesty)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

On Google Earth 2017/05/31-2017/06/11, only minor damage is visible. By 2017/08/19-2017/08/25 major damage is visible.

  • Before strike. (via Amnesty)

  • After strike. (via Amnesty)

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:

  • 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
    Other
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Fair
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    8
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    24
  • Stated location
    near Raqqa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV017790
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 28, 2019
  • Aug 4, 2017

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

  • June 12, 2017, near Raqqa, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition artillery targeted ISIS fighters. Regrettably, eight civilians were unintentionally killed and 24 civilians were unintentionally injured due to their proximity to the impacts.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 11th-12th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 23 strikes engaged 20 ISIS tactical units; destroyed 16 fighting positions, two vehicles, and two ISIS boats; damaged five ISIS supply routes; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.” It additionally reported that “On June 11, near Raqqah, Syria, six strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three fighting positions and suppressed a sniper team.” And that “On June 11, near Raqqah, Syria, two strikes destroyed two fighting positions.”

It also reported for the same days that "Near Raqqah, 22 strikes engaged 20 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 21 fighting positions and four vehicles."

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

On the 15/6-17, the French MoD reported: "In the past week, France reports his 31 sorties, 28 of which were Armed Reconnaissance or Ground Support (CAS) and 3 were intelligence gathering. Two strikes were conducted by French planes in Iraq and Syria, one in the west of Raqqah city, and the other in the Al Qaim region, both against ISIL fighters. Task Force Wagram carried out 80 artillery strikes in Mosul."

Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 31 sorties aériennes dont 28 de reconnaissance armée ou d’appui au sol (CAS) et 3 de recueil de renseignements. 2 frappes ont été conduites par les avions français en Irak et en Syrie, l’une à l’Ouest de la ville de Raqqah, et l’autre dans la région d’Al Qaim, toutes deux contre des combattants de Daech.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1094

Incident date

June 26, 2017

Location

الميادين, Al Mayadin, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.01979, 40.45123 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 42 and 100 civilians who were being detained in an ISIL prison were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes on an ISIL base in Al Mayadeen, local sources reported. The Coalition later conceded having killed eight civilians.

According to a number of reports, the strikes also allegedly killed between 15 to 20 ISIL members, 11 non-civilian prisoners (such as militia fighters), four prison guards, five women that the terror group took as sex slaves in addition to one civilian male who was killed as a result of being in the vicinity of the strikes.

Euphrates Post reported that one of the buildings hit was the former house of Ahmed al Hamash, which had been turned into a so called ISIL ‘agricultural centre’, while another was the house of Abdul Hamid Idris al Mazal.

Mazal was said to be a leader within Al Nusra Front until ISIL executed him in 2014, commandeered his three-story property and converted it into the ISIL prison where the prisoners were said to be killed.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) also reported that a commercial bank was hit and was “completely destroyed,” but was the only source to mention a bank.

Images from various buildings showed extensive damage, however they could not be distinguished.

According to an NPR interview with Rami Abdulrahman, the director of the SOHR, a senior ISIL leader was killed in the strike, but he was not identified.

A later SOHR report stated that the strikes targeted a senior ISIL leader from a Gulf country, but said he was evacuated with his wife before the strike.

Euphrates Post identified the nearby victim of the strike who is said to have been killed near his shop, which is near to the ISIL base.

DeirEzzor24 identified one of the casualties as Madin al Mutlaq and reported that he was a member of ISIL’s police force and carried out dozens of arrests in the area.

Nine of the 11 sources who reported the incident alleged that the Coalition was responsible.

In October 2017, the Coalition stated it had unintentionally killed eight civilians in a strike on an ISIS detention facility Al Mayadin: “During a Coalition strike that destroyed an ISIS detention facility, it was assessed that eight civilians were unintentionally killed.”

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:

Fares Ahmed Mahmoud al Hamran
Adult male also known as Abu Ahmed killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42 – 70
  • (5 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • 'Fares Ahmed Mahmoud Alhamran "Abu Ahmed" killed by the bombing of the city of Mayadeen yesterday near his shop near the former State Security headquarters', Deir Ezzor, 26th June 2017. ( via, Euphrates Post)
  • The extent of damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the Coalition airstrike on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, 26th June 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The extent of damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the Coalition airstrike on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, 26th June 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The extent of damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the Coalition airstrike on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, 26th June 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The extent of damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the Coalition airstrike on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, 26th June 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The extent of damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the Coalition airstrike on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, 26th June 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The extent of damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the Coalition airstrike on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, 26th June 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The extent of damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the Coalition airstrike on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, 26th June 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The extent of damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the Coalition airstrike on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, 26th June 2017. (via Euphrates Post)

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 35.016667, 40.444167

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
    8
  • Stated location
    near Al Mayadin, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU324762
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017

  • June 26, 2017, near Al Mayadin, Syria, via media report. During a Coalition strike that destroyed an ISIS detention facility, it was assessed that eight civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 26th-27th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dawr Az Zawr, seven strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed three vehicles, a tactical vehicle, two bunkers, two pump jacks, a front-end loader, an IED factory, an ISIS financial facility, and an ISIS headquarters.” It additionally reported that “On June 26, near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed an ISIS factory.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42 – 70
  • (5 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (15) [ collapse]