US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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Incident Code

CS432

Incident date

January 7, 2017

Location

السوا, Sawa, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.61079, 40.06216 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and 40 civilians reportedly died following a Coalition airstrike at al Sa’wa, according to local sources. The Coalition later confirmed killing just two civilians.

According to Step News, “international coalition planes targeted last night oil terminal wells near the town of Al Sa’awa in the western countryside with dozens of air strikes, killing forty civilians -oil traders from the region – and the burning of more than sixty tankers to transport oil.” Shaam News instead reported that Coalition strikes “led to the death of five people who were civilians, one of whom has been identified as Sami Ahmad al Bala’at who is from Hatla village.”

Euphrates Post reported: “Coalition warplanes targeted oil refineries in Al-Sa’wa, killing five civilians and wounding more. One of them is identified as Sami Ahmad Al-Bal’at from Hatla.”

According to Qasioun, six non-combatants died and a further 15 were wounded when oil refineries were targeted in Al Sa’wa.

On March 4th the Coalition reported the following: “Jan. 7, 2017, near As Sawa, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on ISIS oil tanker trucks it is assessed that two civilians were killed. After warning shots were fired to dislodge drivers from the vehicles a number of the trucks scattered. Two of the trucks were subsequently engaged, destroyed, and their drivers presumed killed. The other vehicles in the area were abandoned after the warning shots were fired and subsequently destroyed with no assessed civilian casualties.”

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with coordinates for the event, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sami Ahmad al Bala’at
Age unknown male From Hatla killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 40
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest village at 35.53226, 39.96322

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
    Inside target vehicle
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near As Sawa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV962413
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 4, 2017

  • Jan. 7, 2017, near As Sawa, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on ISIS oil tanker trucks it is assessed that two civilians were killed. After warning shots were fired to dislodge drivers from the vehicles a number of the trucks scattered. Two of the trucks were subsequently engaged, destroyed, and their drivers presumed killed. The other vehicles in the area were abandoned after the warning shots were fired and subsequently destroyed with no assessed civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 6th-7th the Coalition publicly reported that “Near Dayr Az Zawr, nine strikes destroyed 18 oil refinement stills, 15 oil pump jacks, and an oil well head.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 40
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI496

Incident date

February 28, 2017

Location

نابلس, Mosul, Nablous, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.323671, 43.085407 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of two civilians in an event near Mosul.

Their July 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIS VBIED factory, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a ten metre box. The location given placed the event at a vocational school in the Nablous area.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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
    2
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    10 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF28142155
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • Feb. 28, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS VBIED factory, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 27th-28th the Coalition publicly reported: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and an ISIS staging area; destroyed seven mortar systems, four vehicles, four fighting positions, three ISIS-held buildings, two anti-air systems, two rocket-propelled grenade systems, two VBIEDs, a supply cache, a VBIED facility and a UAV control station; damaged six tunnels and six supply routes; and suppressed 21 mortar teams and an ISIS tactical unit.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI058

Incident date

April 12, 2015

Location

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.32345, 43.77659 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Internal monitoring by the Coalition initially identified two possible civilian casualties from an airstrike at Hawijah. The attack, on a High Value target code-named ANDERS MESA, was carried out by an A-10 Warthog.

According to a CENTCOM report declassified in September 2015, “2 civilians unseen in the collateral calls may have been killed or injured as a result of the strike.” A note added that a Task Force was “working with subordinate units to conduct an assessment of the strike.”

On January 15th 2016, CENTCOM publicly conceded that two non combatants had likely died in this US airstrike: “On April 12, 2015, near Al Huwayjah, Iraq, during a strike on an ISIL tactical unit, it was assessed that two unidentified civilians were killed.”

Airwars researchers have not identified any published allegations of civilian casualties from the time, though news reports did report approximately 30 Daesh fighters killed in a strike in the vicinity.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest town at 35.3240179, 43.77335

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
    2
  • Stated location
    near Al Huwayjah, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLE888096
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 15, 2016

  • On April 12, 2015, near Al Huwayjah, Iraq, during a strike on an ISIL tactical unit, it was assessed that two unidentified civilians were killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Confirmed on January 15th 2016. For April 12th-13th 2015, the Coalition had originally reported that “Near Al Huwayjah, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI283

Incident date

August 31, 2016

Location

الرمادي, Ramadi, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.437441, 43.286666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a previously unreported incident, the US admitted three months later that it had killed two civilians in an attack on Ramadi, noting that near Ramadi, Iraq, during a strike against an ISIL target, it is assessed that two civilians were killed.

No additional details are presently known.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the city level at 33.437441, 43.286666.

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
    2
  • Stated location
    near Ramadi, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition

  • during a strike against an ISIL target, it is assessed that two civilians were killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 31st-September 1st 2016, the Coalition at the tme reported that “Near Ramadi, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit, and destroyed a building and a mortar system.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI112

Incident date

September 25, 2015

Location

الرمادي, Ramadi, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.43747, 43.28632 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source claimed that two civilians died after “the alliance air force shelled civilian homes in Ramadi.” No other details were given.

On July 7th, 2017 the Coalition admitted responsibility for the incident, reporting: “Sep. 25, 2015, near Ramadi, Iraq, via Airwars report: During strikes on an ISIS fighting positions, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed in an adjacent structure.”

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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The initial source pointing at the incident

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 33.437441, 43.286666

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.
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near Ramadi, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLC407011
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • Sep. 25, 2015, near Ramadi, Iraq, via Airwars report: During strikes on an ISIS fighting positions, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed in an adjacent structure.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For September 24th-25th 2015, the Coalition reported heavy action in the near vicinity “Near Ramadi, five airstrikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL buildings, an ISIL light machine gun, an ISIL resupply truck, an ISIL dump truck, an ISIL cache, and cratered a road to deny ISIL use.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI595

Incident date

March 30, 2017

Location

Mosul, Matahin, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.336294, 43.092985 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of seven civilians in an event in the al Matahin neighbourhood in western Mosul.

The June 2017 civilian casualty report noted “During a strike on an ISIS headquarters, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed when they entered the target area after the munition was released.”

Coordinates supplied by officials to Airwars placed the event in the Al Matahin neighbourhood. None of the six strikes reported by Airwars that day in Mosul were located in the Al Matahin neighbourhood or in its vicinity.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF2884822937
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 2, 2017

  • March 30, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS headquarters, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed when they entered the target area after the munition was released.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 29th-30th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, seven strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and an ISIS staging area; destroyed two command and control nodes, two mortar systems, a fighting position, and a UAV facility; damaged 19 supply routes; and suppressed 10 ISIS mortar teams and seven ISIS tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI409

Incident date

January 9, 2017

Location

Mosul, Baladiyat / Al Sukkar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.38747, 43.1592 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 two civilians in an event in northeast Mosul. The event was later confirmed as a British airstrike.

In its May 2018 civilian casualty report, the Coalition noted: “During a strike which destroyed Daesh vehicle-borne improvised explosive device used to attack Coalition and partner forces two civilians were unintentionally killed.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box. This places the event either at the Baladiyat or Al Sukkar neighbourhood. The event was not near either of the other locations where civilian casualties were alleged in the city that day — see CI407 and CI408.

Buratha News gave some context to military developments in that neighbourhood on that day, reporting: “The eastern axis of the left coast of the Anti-Terrorism Forces forces started the two-way operation so that the northern direction was able to make progress towards Baladiyat and Sukkar neighborhood. The forces managed to liberate the Baladiyat neighborhood and raise the Iraqi flag over its buildings and destroyed a car bomb and 120 mm mortar detachment and killed more than 25 terrorists”.

Airwars researchers could not find any other locally reported claims of civilian harm in the area on this day. However the incident relates to an investigation conducted by the BBC into an alleged British civilian harm event: “The [Coalition] source described a strike on 9 January last year when an RAF Tornado fired a Brimstone missile on what was described as a ‘lorry bomb’ in eastern Mosul. It caused a large secondary explosion and the source said he believes two civilians were ‘almost certainly’ killed. The MoD insisted their ‘very careful analysis’ had concluded that those killed were ‘highly probably’ IS fighters.

“It refused a request to view the strike footage it filmed from the air and will not release the co-ordinates of other RAF airstrikes. But it did eventually confirm the location of this one strike. Many potential eyewitness to the strike were in hiding at the time but some say IS fighters were in the area. And there were reports of civilians being injured too. One man said the ‘women and men were screaming in the aftermath. Some of them were wounded.'”

BBC Defence Correspondent Jonathan Beale told Airwars that the coordinates provided by the MoD to indicate the area where they had focused their assessment were 36° 23′ 17.88″ N, 43° 09’ 36.98″ E.

In March 2020, Airwars and the BBC published an investigation revealing that the UK was refusing to accept responsibility for civilian harm in this and two other events – despite confirming that the RAF had conducted the strikes. Senior MoD officials revealed that they were insisting upon ‘hard facts’ when determining casualties – an almost impossible bar to surmount, and at odds with the US-led Coalition’s own ‘balance of probabilities’ approach.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (5) [ 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
    2
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF349285
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 31, 2018

  • January 9, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report. During a strike which destroyed Daesh vehicle-borne improvised explosive device used to attack Coalition and partner forces two civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 8th-9th the Coalition publicly noted : “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged four ISIL tactical units; destroyed three ISIL-held buildings, two vehicles, two mortar systems, a rocket propelled grenade launcher, a VBIED staging facility, and a VBIED; damaged 29 supply routes; and suppressed an ISIL tactical unit and a mortar team.”

Summary

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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS809

Incident date

May 12, 2017

Location

Khirbat Farms, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.06517, 39.04342 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of two civilians in an airstrike near the hamlets of Khirbat farms and Ruhayyat in Raqqa province.

Their August 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIS VBIED, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that two civilians, not previously observed during the engagement, were unintentionally killed.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a one metre box. The location given placed the event between the two village, with Khirbat farms reported captured by the SDF the day before.

Local sources had reported fierce battles for control of Yarmouk, with Euphrates Post noting on the same day that “The separatist militias and with help of an aerial bombardment by international coalition aircraft secured control of Yarmouk Farms north of the city of Raqqa.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from 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
    Unseen at time of engagement
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV0391091178
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

  • May 12, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS VBIED, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that two civilians, not previously observed during the engagement, were unintentionally killed.

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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]