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

CI087

Incident date

July 27, 2015

Location

الشرقاط, Shirqat, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.55987, 43.27651 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A US airstrike on a convoy of Islamic State vehicles also injured at least one civilian, CENTCOM conceded some months later.

According to a press statement issued on January 29th 2016, “On July 27, 2015, near Ash Sharqat, Iraq, during strikes against ISIL vehicles, it was assessed one civilian was injured.”

Local media said that seven Daesh militants were killed in the attack and others wounded. However no civilian casualties were publicly reported at the time, suggesting the casualty was determined as a result of post-strike footage analysis.

At the time, the Coalition reported no strikes in the immediate vicinity of Ash Sharqat. A CENTCOM spokesman later clarified that “The strike location originally appeared as Makhmur on the 28 July CJTF strike release. However, subsequent review determined the strike was closer to Ash Sharqat, which is approx. 37 miles from Makhmur.”

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 35.282674, 43.163426

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 injuries conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Ash Sharqat, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLE438365
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 29, 2016

  • On July 27, 2015, near Ash Sharqat, Iraq, during strikes against ISIL vehicles, it was assessed one civilian was injured.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reported for July 27th-28th 2015. that “Near Makhmur, three airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed 19 ISIL fighting positions, 10 ISIL tunnels and three ISIL vehicles.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1993

Incident date

June 11, 2023

Location

صلهام, Salham, Al Hassaka, Syria

Airwars assessment

A young man was killed and others were injured during an alleged Syrian Democratic Forces and US airdrop operation in the village of Salham on June 11, 2023. Sources were conflicted as to whether the young man was a member of ISIS or a civilian.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the Syrian-regime news organization, reported that one civilian was killed and others were injured during a US forces airdrop operation at dawn in the village of Salham. The source added that US forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) blocked off the area and opened fire, which led to the death of a civilian and injury of others.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, one person accused of being a member of ISIS was killed after resisting and clashing with the SDF and Coalition forces, while one other person was arrested. A tweet from @DeirEzzore identified a young man named Faraj Mutlaq Al-Nazal Al-Suhaili as the one who was killed, adding that he worked as a smuggler between Syria and Iraq. Euphrates Post added that Faraj was a resident of the town of Tal Hamis.

Euphrates Post stated that several of the houses in the village of Salham were searched during the operation.

Athr Press pointed out that the operation occurred the morning of the same day that an American helicopter crashed in northeastern Syria, resulting in the injury of 22 soldiers.

In a civilian casualty assessment released on November 30th 2023, the Coalition classed this event as ‘non credible’, claiming that “Based on a thorough review of all available information, the allegation was found not credible because the actions were not attributable to U.S. or Coalition Forces.”

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A young man named Faraj Mutlaq Al-Nazal Al-Suhaili who was killed by an alleged SDF and Coalition operation carried out on June 11, 2023. (Image posted by @DeirEzzore)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 30, 2023

  • June 10, 2023, near Selham, Syria, via Shammar Tribe. Based on a thorough review of all available information, the allegation was found not credible because the actions were not attributable to U.S. or Coalition Forces. 3337 / CS1993 / 37SGV0048882717.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI482

Incident date

February 24, 2017

Location

Mosul, al Mamun, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.308492, 43.100145 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, on September 29th 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment of claims of civilian harm “near Mosul, Iraq” via an “NGO report”. According to the Coalition report: “80. Feb. 24, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

The Coalition shared the location of this assessed strike with Airwars. The location was stated as the al Mamun in Mosul.

No additional details are presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF2943019840
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017

  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 23rd-24th the Coalition reported that: “Near Mosul, five strikes [2 British] engaged three ISIS tactical units and an ISIS sniper unit; destroyed nine fighting positions, eight mortar systems, five ISIS-held buildings, four command and control nodes, three VBIED facilities, three tactical vehicles, two vehicles, two artillery systems, two anti-air artillery systems, a rocket-propelled grenade system, a UAV storage facility, a front-end loader, a VBIED staging area and a supply cache; damaged 12 supply routes and four ISIS-held buildings; and suppressed 22 mortars and an artillery system.”

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI556

Incident date

March 18, 2017

Location

السرجخانة, Mosul, Aserjkhanh, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3425, 43.130556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

A local report of the incident stated that “military forces shelled by tanks and mortars the Jawasaq neighbourhood in West Mosul.” The generic coordinates for Jawasaq (الجوسق) neighbourhood are: 36.3280482, 43.1503701.

  • Jawasaq (الجوسق) neighbourhood

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.

Incident Code

CI643

Incident date

April 15, 2017

Location

حي التنك, Mosul, Tanak, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3364235, 43.0626297 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured following an airstrike that destroyed his family home, according to the eyewitness.

Amnesty International shared the following field report with Airwars, citing an eyewitness: “I’m a simple ‘free worker’ from the same area in Hai Tenak. My friends and I make a living buying and selling car parts. I left on 17 April. This was before the area was liberated. The airstrikes (presumed) started during the day on 10 April. The airstrikes could be quite precise. The drones in the sky would spot ISIS targets, ISIS cars or mortar positions and after that the strikes would occur.

On 15 April I was at home with my wife and 10 children. I have four sons and four daughters and we live in a simple one storey house in Hai Tenak. The youngest child is three and the oldest is 20. We were hiding in the back room of our house. For four days we’d been hiding in that room. At around 9am my 9 year old daughter needed the bathroom. She got up and went outside into the hallway and into the bathroom. She came back and then the explosion happened. The rocket landed three metres away from my house and the bathroom completely collapse. Had my daughter been in there at the time she’d have been killed.”

I was injured in the leg but I’m not sure how it happened. After the explosion we all ran from the house and hid in another house that was empty. The ISF had told us to stay in our houses. ISIS were in a house across the street from us. Someone must have informed the ISF. I had hung my children’s clothes on the roof of our home so that the ISF would know that it’s a family home, not an ISIS home. The children’s clothes were on the roof when the rocket landed.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 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
Official source

For April 14th-15th: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit, destroyed two rocket-propelled grenade systems, destroyed two fighting positions, damaged four supply routes and a fighting position, and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.”

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
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS820

Incident date

May 13, 2017

Location

near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.953335, 40.534725 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, on August 8th 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment on social media claims of civilian harm “near Dayr az Zawr, Syria”. According to the Coalition report, ”105. May 13, 2017, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, via social media report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”

The strike was assessed as non credible based on the claim that “no Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.” However, the Coalition reported multiple strikes near Deir Ezzor that day.

No additional details are presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU4013168943
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For May 12th-13th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, six strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed 16 ISIS oil tankers, two ISIS oil processing equipment, two fighting positions, and a vehicle.”

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI737

Incident date

May 29, 2017

Location

حي الزنجيلي, Mosul, Al Zanjili, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.354491, 43.108689 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, on September 29th 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment of a self-reported civilian harm claim “near Mosul, Iraq”. According to the Coalition report, “94.May 29, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

The Coalition shared the location of this assessed strike with Airwars: 38SLF3029724928.

No additional details are presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3029724928
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017

  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For May 28th-29th the Coalition reported that: “Near Mosul, five strikes [1-2 British, 1-2 Australian] engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed 49 vehicles, seven ISIS roadblocks, three fighting positions, two mortar systems, an ISIS checkpoint, an ISIS staging area, a carport, a command and control node, a rocket-propelled grenade system, a medium machine gun; damaged 14 ISIS supply routes and a VBIED; and suppressed seven fighting positions and two ISIS tactical units.”

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS914

Incident date

June 3, 2017

Location

near Al-Jisr Al Jadeed, Syria, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on September 29th 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment on claims of civilian harm “near Raqqah, Syria”. According to the Coalition report, “45. June 3, 2017, near Al-Jisr Al Jadeed, Syria, via regional humanitarian organisation. After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”

No additional details are presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 30, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 3rd-4th: “Near Raqqah, 16 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units; destroyed 17 fighting positions, three vehicles, and an ISIS excavator; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.” It also additionaly noted for June 3rd that “Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units, destroyed 10 fighting positions, and damaged one ISIS-held building.”

Summary

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