US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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

Incident Code

CI078

Incident date

June 28, 2015

Location

يت, Hit, al Bakir, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.649167, 42.834722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A reported coalition airstrike on a Daesh/ ISIL checkpoint also allegedly killed seven non-combatants, according to a single source. According to al Sharqiyah the civilians were caught up in the attack after being held at the checkpoint for an inspection.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a Daesh checkpoint in the neighbourhood of Al Bakr (حي البكر) in the city of Hit (يت), in the Anbar Province. The coordinates for the midpoint of the neighbourhood of Al Bakr (حي البكر) are: 33.649167, 42.834722

  • The Al Bakr neighbourhood (حي البكر) in the city of Hit (يت)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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 Hit, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SKC992253
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • fter 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

No coalition strike was publicly reported at Hit for June 27th-29th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS085

Incident date

June 26, 2015

Location

ميادين, Road between Shadadi and Deir Ezzor (Road 7), Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.604971, 40.69716 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A civilian non-combatant was reported killed in a Coalition bombing on the road linking Shadadi with Deir az Zawr. The victim came from the town of Mayadeen.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the road between the town of Shadadi (الشدادي) and the city of Deir Ezzor (دير الزور), known as Road 7. The coordinates for the town of Shadadi (الشدادي) are: 36.056316, 40.730438. The coordinates for the city of Deir Ezzor (دير الزور) are: 35.3353632, 40.1380348

  • Road 7 between Shadadi (الشدادي) and Deir Ezzor (دير الزور)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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 the road between al-Shadadi and Deir Ez Zoor, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • 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

The Coalition noted for June 25th-26th 2015 that “Near Dayr Az Zawr, one airstrike destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.”

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI077

Incident date

June 25, 2015

Location

‎القيارة, Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.7977836, 43.2935143 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 17 civilians were allegedly killed during a coalition air raid at Qayyarah near Mosul, two sources claimed.

NINA reported that six women and four children were among the dead. And German news agency DPA gave identical casualty figures, citing a source as saying that “the bodies of the civilians have now reached the forensic medicine department in Mosul.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17
  • (4 children6 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

    • Arabic
    • Arabic
    • English
    • English

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention unnamed residential neighbourhoods in the city of Qayyarah (القيارة), South of Mosul, for which the coordinates of its midpoint are: 35.7977836, 43.2935143

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 Qayyarah, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • 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

Three coalition airstrikes were reported in the vicinity for June 25th-26th 2015: “Near Mosul, three airstrikes struck an ISIL checkpoint, an ISIL staging area and an ISIL mortar firing position.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17
  • (4 children6 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

    • Arabic
    • Arabic
    • English
    • English

Incident Code

CI076

Incident date

June 25, 2015

Location

Mahmoudiya, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.3936155, 43.9653113 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Although reporting was confused, there were claims of a fresh coalition airstrike in the vicinity of Hawija which killed a number of civilians.

A Facebook page calling itself Hawija Now said that five women and 2 children died in the nearby village of Mahmoudiya. One extremely graphic image appears to show a woman survivor of the event, clutching the body of a horrifically injured child.

Interviewing eyewitnesses who later fled to Mosul, Al Khaleej said that the alleged strike took place shortly before the end of the day’s Ramadan fast, and targeted an Islamic State headquarters at a location known as the Riyadh grain silo: “According to witnesses, who spoke to our correspondent, coalition aircraft had dropped leaflets on the region, on Wednesday, urging residents to get out and to stay away from the headquarters of IS and its gatherings,, because they will be vulnerable to bombing; prompting dozens of families to leave Hawija towards Mosul.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (2 children5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–13
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of a mother with her injured child (via Hawija Now)
  • Image of a cild allegedly injured in the attack (via Hawija Now)
  • Aftermath of the alleged strike (via Hawija Now)
  • Aftermath of the alleged strike (via Hawija Now)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Mahmoudiya (المحمودية) in Hawija as well as the Hawija’s grain silos and the industrial area surrounding it. The generic coordinates for the village of Mahmoudiya (المحمودية) are: 35.3936155, 43.9653113. The coordinates of the Hawija grain silos are: 35.3216711, 43.7828113. On satellite imagery of March 2016 available to Airwars the grain silos and the industrial zone around them seem to be completely destroyed. Due to limited satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to further verify the date at which this destruction took place. 

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 Mahmoudiyah, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SME060171
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • 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

The coalition confirmed an airstrike in the near vicinity for June 25th-26th 2015: “Near Al Huwayjah, one airstrike struck an ISIL mortar firing position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (2 children5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–13
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI075

Incident date

June 24, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Rifai and Hermat, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Iraqi news agency NINA claimed that multiple Coalition airstrikes on the city of Mosul killed 23 people and injured a further 21.

Citing an ‘anonymous security source’ the news agency reported that “Around 23 civilians were killed, including ten women and eight children, and 21 injured in the coalition bombing” which included the neighbourhoods of Rifai and Hermat. The source also claimed that “The bombing did not damage any Daash sites, and caused great resentment among the people of Mosul.”

In contrast, Erem News cited a Kurdish ministry source as saying that “international coalition aircraft bombed a secret camp belonging to Daesh near Bartallah east of Mosul, which led to the deaths of 20 of their leaders – most of them Syrians and Afghans.”

In July 2017, the Coalition assessed the event as non credible on grounds of available evidence of civilian harm: “Jun. 24, 2015, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars 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 local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    23
  • (8 children10 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    21
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    a:1:{i:0;s:21:"insufficient_evidence";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 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

Airstrikes were confirmed in the vicinity for June 24th-25th 2014: “Near Mosul, three airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, an ISIL fighting position and land features denying ISIL a tactical advantage, destroying an ISIL vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    23
  • (8 children10 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    21
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI074

Incident date

June 23, 2015

Location

المسحك, Mishak, Salah al-Din, Iraq

Geolocation

35.1772266, 43.3992002 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a report published in January 2016, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq cited an incident in Bayji which an alleged airstrike killed six civilians including four children. The Coalition has confirmed carrying out an airstrike in the vicinity.

According to UNAMI, “On 23 June, a house was allegedly targeted by an airstrike in Baiji district, Salah al-Din, which killed six civilians (including four children) and wounded eight others. The house was reported to have been located close to a mosque which, at the time of the attack, was occupied by ISIL. A local source from Baiji stated that the house was hit by mistake and that the target was the ISIL-occupied mosque. The source however could not confirm who carried out the airstrike.”

Local media also reported on the incident at the timem, with opinion divided on which party was responsible. According to Al Araby Iraqi planes “a report issued by the city of Baiji General Hospital said the eight dead included two children and a woman, while 27 others were injured” by Iraqi warplanes. Shafaaq noted that its local source “did not indicate whether it was an Iraqi plane or the international coalition led by the United States.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–27
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

According to the UNAMI report, a civilian house was allegedly targeted in an airstrike in the Baiji district, Salah al-Din. Alaraby and other local sources reported the strike to have happened in the village of Al Mishak (المسحك), located 30 km north of Baiji, for which the coordinates of its midpoint are: 35.1772266, 43.3992002

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 Baiji, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • 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

The Coalition confirms carrying out an airstrike in the vicinity on June 8th-9th 2015: “Near Bayji, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying three ISIL vehicles and an ISIL staging area.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–27
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS082

Incident date

June 19, 2015

Location

عربيد, Arbeed, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.5716263, 39.1553539 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A reported 1am airstrike on the ISIL-occupied village of Arbeed was said to have killed two women at the home of Adel al Kharfan. Mr al Kharfan’s wife (a mother of six children) died along with her relative, the wife of Ismael al Kharfan and a mother of four.

Mr al-Kharfan’s son later told SN4HR: “We went back to our town to find our house completely destroyed and turned to rubble. There was shrapnel left from the rockets everywhere. We pulled out my mother’s body and that of my aunt Sara.”

Buzzfeed also later reported on the event, noting that “Khawla Yassin al-Ali, 47, spent her days taking care of her paraplegic husband in their village outside the border town of Tel Abyad. She was killed by a coalition strike on June 19, said her son, Mohammad Adel al-Kharfan. “We are farmers,” he said. “I don’t understand why they bombed my home.”

The incident occured at approximately 1:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

47 years old female Wife of Adel al Kharfan, mother to six children: Kinda [1988], Alya [1993], Fatima [1992], Mohammad [1994], Hisham [1995] and Abdulhamid [1998] killed
52 years old female Wife of Ismael Al Kharfan and mother of four. killed

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Khawla Yassin al-Ali (image courtesy of family/ Buzzfeeed News)

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a house in the village of Arbeed (عربيد), Ar Raqqah, for which the exact coordinates are: 36.5716263, 39.1553539

  • Structural damage shown on satellite imagery (left: 18 May, 2014; right: 8 May, 2016)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

  • Image indicating the location of the destroyed building

    Imagery:
    SN4HR

  • Before and after the building was hit

    Imagery:
    SN4HR

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 Arbeed, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEA139473
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • 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.

Media
from belligerent (2) [ collapse]

  • Image showing exact location of the house that was targeted. [via: SN4HR report, 11th August 2015]
  • Images showing the aftermath of the alleged coalition shelling of the al Kharfan home. [via: SN4HR report, 11th August 2015]

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS083

Incident date

June 19, 2015

Location

خنيز, Road 6, near Khaneez village, north of Raqqah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.24479, 39.0345 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Coalition aircraft allegedly struck a three-wheeled motorcycle or ‘tirterah’ which was carrying a vegetable farmer. Raqaa is Being Slaughtered Silently later published a graphic image of the aftermath.

The victim was identified as a resident of Hamam al-Turkman near Ar Raqqah.

In April 2019, the Coalition accepted responsibility for this event, noting: “Coalition aircraft conducted a strike on Daesh terrorists. Regrettably, two civilians, and possibly a third, in passing vehicles (a bongo truck and a three-wheeled motorcycle) were unintentionally killed due to the proximity of the strike.”

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

The incident occured between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Also known as Abu Abdo, a vegetable farmer from Hamam al-Turkman killed

Summary

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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Site of alleged coalition strike, June 19 2015, in which a vegetable seller died [via: RBSS]

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention that the alleged Coalition airstrike targeted a convoy of civilian cars on Route 6, West of the village of Khaneez (خنيز), for which the coordinates are: 36.2451039, 39.0351105. Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently located the airstrike on the road between Slouk and Al Raqqa, in the vicinity of the village of Khaneez (خنيز). The report was accompanied by a photograph of the victim who had been driving a three-wheeler motorbike (a tirterah). Shadows visible in that photograph taken soon after the incident indicate that the strike occurred in a four hour window, between 10:00 and 14:00 local time. Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 36.2451039, 39.0351105

  • Map showing Route 6 and the village of Khaneez (خنيز)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

  • The location of the strike is probably in the MGRS coordinates 37SEA00 or 37SEA01

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
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    2–3
  • Stated location
    near Khanaiz village, north of Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEA031111
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 25, 2019
  • June 19, 2015, near Khanaiz village, north of Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted a strike on Daesh terrorists. Regrettably, two civilians, and possibly a third, in passing vehicles (a bongo truck and a three-wheeled motorcycle) were unintentionally killed due to the proximity of the strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition appeared to confirm destroying the vehicle, noting for June 19th-20th 2015 that “Near Ar Raqqah, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units, destroying two ISIL vehicles and an ISIL motorcycle.”

Summary

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

Sources (5) [ collapse]