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

CI254

Incident date

June 16, 2016

Location

الفلوجة‎, Fallujah, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.3532137, 43.7875674 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

It was reported that airstrikes and artillery shelling of neighbourhoods in Fallujah killed at least 10 civilians and injured 15 more. However, it was not clear from the reports who was responsible, as they referred to aggressive shelling government and international.

One report said that the emergency Fallujah General Hospital received thirteen wounded including five children and four women, also received the bodies of ten people including four children and three women. One of the fatalities was named.

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that the allegation provided insufficient information on the timing and location of the strike to make a determination.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Safaa Sami Jabalal Lahibi
Age unknown male Via Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 16
  • (4–7 children3–6 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A picture shows the aftermath of the airstrike in Fallujah (via yaqein news)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of a little girl who was killed following air raids or artillery shelling on several neighbourhoods in al Fallujah (via Omar al Halbousi Mosul)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture an injured man following air raids or artillery shelling on several neighbourhoods in al Fallujah (via Omar al Halbousi Mosul)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLB871911
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • June 16, 2016, in Fallujah, Iraq, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 2961/CI254 38SLB871911

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 15th-16th, the Coalition reported: “Near Fallujah, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 10 ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL light machine gun, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), two ISIL rocket propelled grenade systems, and an ISIL recoilless rifle and denied ISIL access to terrain.“

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
    10 – 16
  • (4–7 children3–6 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS254

Incident date

July 9, 2016

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5269242, 37.9559288 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Heavy reported Coalition strikes on the al Hunaithal neighbourhood of western Manbij led to the additional deaths of five named civilians, according to reports. Al Hall described the location as al Rabita Street.

On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition reported this incident to be “non-credible”, stating that “After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Fatima Al Zori,
40 years old female The wife of Abd al Kareem
Abd al Kareem Hunaithal
52 years old male killed
Alaa Abd al Kareem Hunaithal
20 years years old female injured
Nasser Hunaithal
19 years years old male killed
Salah Hunaithal
9 years years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 child2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Al A'Amaq issued photos of what it said was the site of 5 civilian deaths from Coalition strikes in Manbij
  • Translation: #Manbij warplanes raid al Hunaithal neighbourhood west of the city and there are civilian casualties (via manbejnews)
  • Translation: #coalition commits another massacre killing 5 civilian martyrs at least including a child as a result of targeting al Rabita street in Manbij.
  • Translation: #urgentcfive civilians including some from the same family killed a result of the international coalition raids on Al rabita streeet in the centre of Manbij.

Geolocation notes

Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 36.51003, 37.94878  

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Open incident
  • Stated location
    near Manbij, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA0652842901
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 10, 2022

  • July 9, 2016, near Manbij, Syria, via Airwars report. After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike. 3003/CS254 37SDA0652842901

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 8th-9th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Manbij, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL-used bridge…. Near Manbij, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL-used bridge.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 child2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS282

Incident date

July 25, 2016

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5269242, 37.9559288 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians was reported killed and injured during alleged Coalition airstrikes in support of heavy ground fighting in Manbij.

According to blogger Hathifa al Yaman al Majd “Warplanes last night targeted Al Jilawi neighbourhood behind al Hawatma neighbourhood, on Jarablos road. Missiles hit civilian houses and destroyed seven houses in the area, resulting in many deaths and injuries among civilians. We don’t know the names of the targeted houses yet nor the names of the civilians as it’s very difficult to reach the area.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 25th-26th the Coalition stated: “Near Manbij, seven strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed nine ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL house borne improvised explosive device.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS301

Incident date

August 25, 2016

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported the death of a young civilian male following an alleged Coalition strike on an ISIL prison. The group noted on August 28th: “Martyrdom of Khalil Al-Gharieb, detained by the organisation Daesh due to an international Coalition warplane raid several days before on the organization’s prison in the city of Raqqa.”

In an investigation published in October 2016, the Syrian Network reported: “Fixed-wing international coalition forces warplanes fired missiles that targeted a center for ISIS in Al Raqqa city, which is held by the group. The bombardment resulted in the killing of Mr. Khalil Gharbi Al Thaher who had been arrested by ISIS since June 2016. We believe that this incident doesn’t constitute a breach to the international humanitarian law because the target was a military center for ISIS. We included it in the report as one of the incidents that resulted in casualties even though it was within the domain that the international humanitarian law allows for.”

Given reported British incidents in the area that day, Airwars flagged the incident to the UK’s MoD which said ” we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the event.

In their May 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khalil Al-Gharieb
Age unknown male Detained by the organisation Daesh killed

Summary

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

  • Khalil Al-Gharieb, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on an ISIL prison at Raqqa lte August 2016 (via Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV008784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2020

  • Aug. 25, 2016, in Raqqah, Syria via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3034/CS301 37SEV008784

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

A number of Coalition strikes are reported near Raqqa from August 24th 2016 onwards. However these were reported as being targeted at oil facilities.

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Thursday 25 August – Tornados struck a Daesh group in eastern Syria, while Typhoons bombed a terrorist-held building in western Iraq…Typhoons, supported as is normal by a Voyager air refuelling tanker, patrolled the Euphrates valley west of Ramadi on Thursday 25 August, where they used a Paveway IV to attack a Daesh-held building on the northern river-bank. Over Syria, a pair of Tornados used two Brimstone missiles to engage a number of terrorists spotted occupying positions under trees in farmland in the east of the country.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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

CI293

Incident date

October 6, 2016

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Dawassa area, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Local sources claimed a Coalition targeted the Al Dawwasa area south of Mosul, resulting in 3 to 7 civilian deaths and 11 injuries.

Citing a local source, Al Araby said: the air strike targeted the al Dawwasa area (south of Mosul), which targeted some residential buildings in the area. The source said seven civilians were killed and 11 others injured, with three Daesh fighters also killed.

Shafaaq News instead claimed that nine militants died with 15 more injured – as well as the killing of three civilians who were near the scene at the moment of the airstrike.

Given reported British actions in the area that day, Airwars flagged the incident to the UK’s MoD which said we can confirm that there was no UK involvement in the event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    11
  • 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 (3) [ 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 Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 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 October 5th-6th 2016, the Coalition reported that: “Near Mosul, six strikes [1 British] engaged four ISIL tactical units and destroyed three vehicles, a weapons cache, two supply caches, a command and control node, a mortar system, and an anti-air artillery system.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    11
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS347

Incident date

October 24, 2016

Location

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.8295049, 38.5360909 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

3 civilians were killed when a garage was bombed by the Coalition, according to a local source.

Smart News reported that 3 civilians were killed when a garage belonging to ISIL was struck by the Coalition. According to the account, six cars belonging to ISIL were also destroyed. The report noted other raids on that day in Raqqa governorate. Meanwhile, Halab Today reported that Coalition attacks had led to the “burning” of 6 members of ISIL along with the “martyrdom of three civilians.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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]

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 Tabqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

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 of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 23rd-24th, the Coalition reported “Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes engaged two ISIL supply routes and destroyed an oil pump jack.” For October 24th-25th, the Coalition reported no strikes in the vicinity.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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

CS360

Incident date

November 6, 2016

Location

لقطة, Lakta, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.6265496, 38.9509964 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 7 civilians were killed by by a Coalition airstrike, according to an ISIL-controlled outlet.

ISIL-controlled Al A’amaq reported that “international coalition planes” targeted two homes in Lakta, “and killed at least seven civilians.”

Thus far, Al A’amaq is the only source that references this incident specifically. However, other monitors and outlets, including the Syrian Observatory and Bas News reported heavy fighting in the area involving Kurdish/SDF forces and ISIL.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ 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 Lakta, Syria
    Nearest population center

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 of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For November 5th-6th, the Coalition reported “Near Ayn Isa, seven strikes engaged five ISIL tactical units and destroyed a vehicle and four fighting positions” and “Near Ar Raqqah, one strike engaged oil processing equipment.”

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS378

Incident date

November 17, 2016

Location

الهزيمة, Al Hazimah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.1320519, 38.9661026 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and seven civilians were reported killed along with a number of ISIL fighters following alleged Coalition airstrikes.

Raqqa Post reported that “civilians were killed along with IS members after raids on the village of Hazima. The operation of pulling out victims from under the rubble has been delayed due to continuing Coalition flights over the village.” And Syria News Desk cited ‘media opposition activist’ Mohamed Osman, as saying “the international coalition yesterday evening launched six raids on the town of Hazima which is under the control of IS in the countryside of north Raqqa – killing three civilians and four IS and wounding seven civilians and three militants, in addition to the destruction of a number of houses, shops and other property.” Step News placed the civilian death toll at five,

Al A’Amaq initially reported that shops were destroyed in what it said were Coalition airstrikes.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (8) [ 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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Hazima (Raqqah), Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 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 November 16th-17th, the Coalition reported “Near Ayn Isa, four strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units; destroyed an artillery system, a mortar system, and damaged a supply route.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]