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

CS072

Incident date

May 26, 2015

Location

رأس العين, Road between Al I'dwania and Raja’an, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.0029376, 40.3580189 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A number of sources reported that a “civilian car” was struck “on the road between Al I’dwania and Raja’an,” near Al Hassakah, killing a family of four. Those killed were described as a man, his wife, mother and daughter – all from the village of Raja A’an in Ras al-Ain.

 

The incident occured around midday.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Ahmad al-Khalaf
Adult male from the village of Raja'an killed
wife of Ahmad al-Khalaf
Adult female from the village of Raja'an killed
mother of Ahmad al-Khalaf
Adult female from the village of Raja'an killed
daughter of Ahmad al-Khalaf
Child female from the village of Raja'an killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child2 women1 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 (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention “the road between Al Idwania (العدوانية) and Raja’an,” (طريق العدوانية – رجعان), near Al Hassakah. The road itself is not marked on maps, but the coordinates for Raja’an (رجعان) are: 36.0029376, 40.3580189. NOTE: a possible location for Al Idwania (العدوانية) could be: 36.7003565, 39.6532631. However, this is near the Syrian/Turkish border, 100 km away and therefore unlikely to be correct. Sirajpress reported that the strike occurred in the “afternoon.” However, the incident was first reported at 13:50, May 26th, 2015 local time, on the Hassakah Youth Union Facebook page, which suggests that the incident occurred early afternoon, or in fact in the morning

  • The village of Raja'an (رجعان)

    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 Ras al-Ain, al-Hassakah, 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
Official source

The coalition has confirmed airstrikes in the vicinity, for May 26th-27th 2015, including one which targeted a vehicle: “Near Al Hasakah, four airstrikes struck four ISIL tactical units, destroying an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL vehicle.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child2 women1 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS070

Incident date

May 24, 2015

Location

أبو شاخات, Abu Sheikhat, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.6486405, 39.7386003 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A Kurdish ground offensive backed by Coalition strikes reportedly killed six civilians in Abu Sheikhat and Tal Nass villages, to the west of Ras al-Ain.

Among those reported killed at Abu Sheikhat were a young female child and three non combatant men.

At nearby Tal Nass village, Adalah also alleged that two children were killed and one wounded from the Al Mir’i family, after an airstrike targeted an ISIL bulldozer.

Zaman reported that a number of civilians had been caught in Coalition strikes after failing to flee the village, for fear that surrounding areas remained occupied by ISIL.

In a rare reference to potential civilian casualties in an incident, the Coalition blamed at least some civcas on the destruction of an ISIL vehicle-borne IED, noting that “Kurdish fighters reported an ISIL VBIED detonation which resulted in an undetermined number of civilians injured in the area.”

Yet two years later, the Coalition claimed there was insufficient evidence of civilian harm: “May 24, 2015, near Abu Sheikhat, Syria, 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.”

Airwars has requested additional information form the Coalition, and continues to assess this event as likely.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Eid al-Hawiye
Adult male killed
Fatima Mohammad
Child female killed
Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al Sarrai
Adult male killed
Eid Al-Ahmad Al Sarrai
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (3 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (4) [ 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
    a:1:{i:0;s:21:"insufficient_evidence";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Abu Sheikhat, Syria
    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
Official source

For May 23rd-24th 2015, the Coalition noted that “Near Al Hasakah, nine airstrikes struck two large and three small ISIL tactical units, destroying eight ISIL fighting positions, four ISIL vehicles, an ISIL tank and an ISIL armored vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (3 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI068

Incident date

May 21, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, near Bahauddin mosque, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.360033, 43.098733 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Summary: A devastating airstrike on the Mosul neighbourhood of Rifai reportedly killed numerous non-combatants and injured up to 150 people. Among those killed in the event was Ayman al Hayali (who ran a clothing shop) and his family, including his wife and young son.

Other sources claimed that 5 women and at least 3 children were among the dead, including a girl named Habiba aged four.

According to most media, the deaths and injuries occurred after a house used by Islamic State to store ammunition was hit by the coalition, leading to major secondary explosions in the vicinity of the Bahauddin mosque.

Mosul TV cited a local eyewitness as saying that “seven houses and five shops were completely destroyed” in the attack, and that scuffles broke out between survivors and militants over ISIL’s policy of storing munitions in a civilian neighbourhood. Local people also urged the coalition to be far more careful in its targeting.

In a later report issued January 2016 the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) noted: “On 22-23 May, UNAMI/OHCHR received a report that airstrikes hit al-Najjar, al-Rifai and Sahaa areas in western Mosul in Ninewa, allegedly killing 30 civilians and wounding 62 others, including women and children. UNAMI/OHCHR was not able to verify this report.”

 

The incident occured around dusk.

The victims were named as:

Ayman al Hayali
Adult male killed
Habiba
4 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 50
  • (2–3 children1–5 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–150
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • Habiba, a 4 year old 'killed in a coalition strike' at Mosul, May 21 2015 (via Hunaal Hadbaa)
  • Images of the aftermath of the alleged incident
  • Ayman al Hayali (via Iraqi Revolution)
  • A person allegedly injured in the attack (via Hunaal Hadbaa)
  • A person allegedly injured in the attack (via Hunaal Hadbaa)
  • A person allegedly injured in the attack (via Hunaal Hadbaa)
  • A person allegedly injured in the attack (via Hunaal Hadbaa)
  • A child named Rifai allegedly killed in the strike (via Mosul Ateka)
  • A child allegedly injured in the attack (via Hunaal Hadbaa)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the after aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the after aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the after aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Rudaw)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Rudaw)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention Rifai neighborhood (حي جلاقة) and that civilians were harmed in proximity to “Bahauddin mosque”, in the adjacent ar-Rabi/al-Najjar (حي النجار) neighbourhood. The location for the affected area (75 m radius from point) based on geolocation of images: 36.360033, 43.098733

  • Overview of landmarks geolocated from photographs.

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Bing

  • Najjar (النجار) and Rifai (جلاقة) neighbourhoods in Mosul and the Bahauddin mosque (بهاء الدين)

    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 Mosul, 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
Official source

The coalition has described destroying “an ISIL cache” in the vicinity of Mosul on May 21st 2015: “Near Mosul, four airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying two ISIL tunnel systems, an ISIL motorcycle, an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL cache.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 50
  • (2–3 children1–5 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–150
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS069

Incident date

May 20, 2015

Location

التوامة, Tawama, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.19327, 36.80928 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Al Jazeera and others, a Coalition strike on the al Nusra Front at al Tawama destroyed a number of civilian buildings, killing as many as seven inhabitants. Fifteen alleged militants – most described as ‘Turks’ – also died in the attack which reportedly struck two separate locations in the village. According to Sana Revolution, an additional four civilians also died at the second location.

However SN4HR reported only one civilian fatality, that of a 9-year old girl who was the niece of al-Nusra commander Bader al Dakas who later described her death: “My niece and my sister were staying with me in the house. Most of the time we’re not in the house, we’re on the battlefield so this is considered a civilian house. She was hit by shrapnel and was killed yesterday around six in the evening. She was on the roof when it happened and she was martyred. She was 9 years old.”

According to al Watan “Witnesses from the village reported that a plane believed to be an F-16, flew over head for more than a quarter of an hour, before carrying out two consecutive raids on Al-Nusra Front’s base.”

On May 22, 2015, only two days after the alleged incident, a Coalition spokesperson confirmed to Airwars that it had “conducted airstrikes against terrorist compounds near the village of Al Tawama, Syria, May 20.” However, they declined to say whether any specific investigation into alleged civilian casualties was underway. On May 24, 2016 the Coalition again confirmed the Tawama strike in a public statement and added, “there were no observed women, children or non-combatants in the compounds at the time“. To date, Airwars has seen no record of an investigation either by the Coalition or CENTCOM. We remain unclear as to why.

The incident occured at approximately 6:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

niece of al-Nusra commander Bader al Dakas
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 11
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Scene of a May 20 alleged airstrike which reportedly killed 7 civilians at , Syria (SNN)
  • Scene of a May 20 alleged airstrike which reportedly killed 7 civilians at , Syria (SNN)
  • Scene of a May 20 alleged airstrike which reportedly killed 7 civilians at , Syria (SNN)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Badr al Nakas' niece, the only named victim of a Coalition strike on May 20th (via SN4HR)
    Badr al Nakas' niece, the only named victim of a Coalition strike on May 20th (via SN4HR)

Geolocation notes (6) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tawama (التوامة), of which the coordinates of its midpoint are: 36.19327, 36.80928. Satellite imagery from April 2016, taken 10 months after the incident, shows visible structural damage in the area, in comparison to satellite imagery taken prior to the incident. In addition, using Google Earth Terrain ground view, Airwars was able to geolocate images provided by media, further verifying the location of the incident.

  • The village of Tawama (التوامة), showing visible structural damage (left: 26 August, 2014; right: 29 April, 2016)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

  • East of the village of Tawama (التوامة), showing visible structural damage (left: 26 August, 2014; right: 29 April, 2016)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

  • West of the village of Tawama (التوامة), showing visible structural damage (left: 26 August, 2014; right: 29 April, 2016)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

  • Google Earth ground view matches the image (camera facing South West, late afternoon to early evening)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

  • Google Earth ground view matches the image (camera facing South West, late afternoon to early evening)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

  • Geolocation based on the matching Google Earth ground view

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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

Although daily reports only referred to a strike “near Aleppo” the coalition has since told Airwars that it did conduct a strike at the specific location: “We can confirm the coalition conducted airstrikes against terrorist compounds near the village of Al Tawama, Syria, May 20.” [email to Airwars, May 22 2015.]

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 11
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS068

Incident date

May 19, 2015

Location

تل مجدل, Tal Majdal, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.5378639, 40.617528 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged 10am Coalition targeted strike on a vehicle carrying ISIL militants (including prominent Egyptian Abu Abdul Rahman) also killed three nearby civilians, according to SN4HR.

However another source described the attack as being carried out by a booby-trapped motorbike.

One victim was identified as the owner of a generator repair shop in the marketplace where the attack happened. A second non-combatant victim was identified as from al Hariri. A further 15 civilians were also reportedly injured.

 

The incident occured at 10:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Jihad Ahmad Muslim
Adult male the owner of a generator repair shop killed
Noah Mohammad Issa
Adult male From Al Hariri killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • An aerial image indicating where the car was targeted. [Via: SN4HR detailed report published on August 11th, 2015]
  • An aerial image indicating where the car was targeted. [Via: SN4HR detailed report published on August 11th, 2015]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tal Majdal (مجدل), Al-Hasakah Governate, for which the coordinates of its midpoint are: 36.5378639, 40.617528

  • Tal Majdal (مجدل)

    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 Tal Majdal, al-Hassakah, 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
Official source

A significant number of Coalition strikes were reported in al Hassakah area for May 18th-19th 2015: ‘Near Al Hasakah, seven airstrikes struck two large and two small ISIL tactical units, destroying seven ISIL vehicles, three ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL armored vehicles and an ISIL shipping container.‘

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI067

Incident date

May 13, 2015

Location

بيجي‎, Masahag, Salah al-Din, Iraq

Geolocation

35.00444, 43.47343 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six members of one family were reported killed when a Coalition drone allegedly struck a vehicle distributing oil products to local people. Responding to questions from Airwars, an MoD spokesman said that no British Reaper drone strike took place in the vicinity of al Masahag on that date.

Bayji’s Mayor, Mohamed Mahmoud said in an interview that “Drone aircraft targeted a wheel loaded with oil derivatives to the north of Bayji killing six people, among them three brothers, all from the same family.” He said they were handing out oil derivatives to other families in the region. Mahmoud added that “the dead were all from the Jabour tribe of the people of Bayji, who had fled to the area after Daesh control of their area.”

On July 7th, 2017 – more than 2 years later – the Coalition confirmed responsibility for the incident, reporting: “May 13, 2015, near Bayji, Iraq, via Airwars report: During a strike on an ISIS weapons cache, it was assessed that six civilians may have been unintentionally killed.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 35.004388,  43.473673

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
    6
  • Stated location
    near Bayji, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLD607746
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2019

  • May 13, 2015, near Bayji, Iraq, via Airwars report: During a strike on an ISIS weapons cache, it was assessed that six civilians may have been unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The coalition has confirmed heavy activity at Bayji around the time of the strike. On May 12th-13th 2015 it reported that “Near Bayji, four airstrikes struck one large and two small ISIL tactical units, destroying 10 ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL VBIED.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS067

Incident date

May 8, 2015

Location

تل مجدل, Tal Majdal, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.5378639, 40.617528 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A 10 year old boy from the village of Tal Majdal, was reported killed at around noon in a Coalition airstrike according to a number of sources, after being hit by shrapnel.

In February 2019, the Coalition assessed this event as non-credible. Their report noted: “After review of all available strike records it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

 

The incident occured at approximately 12:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Bashar al-Awad
10 years old male killed

Summary

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

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention Tal Majdal village (مجدل), Al Hasakah area, for which the coordinates of its midpoint are: 36.5378639, 40.617528

  • Tal Majdal (مجدل)

    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
    Other
  • Stated location
    near Tel al Majdal, al-Hassakah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFA447449
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 28, 2019

  • May 8, 2015, near Tel al Majdal, al-Hassakah, Syria, via Airwars report. After review of all available strike records it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Four airstrikes are confirmed at Al Hassakah for May 7th-8th 2015: “Near Al Hasakah, four airstrikes struck three ISIL tactical units, destroying four ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.“

Summary

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

Incident Code

CS066

Incident date

May 6, 2015

Location

الغرة, Al-Gharah, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.4506988, 40.2984953 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A 65-year old man was killed in an alleged Coalition strike according to two separate investigations by international news organisations.

According to his son Ahmed, Mr Hassan was walking to work in his village when shrapnel from a Coalition strike punctured his heart and leg and killed him: “He didn’t support any group,” Hassan told the Buzzfeed news site by phone from southern Turkey. “He just wanted to work and take care of his family.”

A separate investigation by the Global Post gives a detailed description of the reported lethal strike: “The first bomb fell on that road [to Hassakah] between 10 and 11 in the morning on May 6. Then a plane started circling over the village. People were afraid to stay in their homes. They ran into the open. Al Hassan’s father, Ismail, tried to run as well. But he was too late. The villagers remember seeing the plane point its nose down and dive, dropping a bomb. It then climbed away. Al Hassan’s father lay on the ground in a crumpled heap, dead, in front of the ruins of his house.”

US officials initially denied that a strike had taken place in the vicinity. Responding to a query from Airwars, Centcom informed us on October 27th 2015 for example that “The Coalition did not conduct strikes in the vicinity of al Ghara village on May 6.”

However, pressed by Global Post investigators CENTCOM reported in January 2016 that it would reinvestigate the incident.

 

The incident occured between 10:00 am and 11:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Ismail Ali Hassan
65 years old 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 (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al-Gharah (الغرة), Al-Hasakah Governorate, for which the coordinates of its midpoint are: 36.4506988, 40.2984953

  • Al-Gharah (الغرة)

    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 al-Gharah, al-Hassakah, 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

No strikes were reportedly carried out by the Coalition in Syria on May 5th-6th. However, for May 6th-7th 2015 it was reported that “Near Al Hasakah, four airstrikes struck one large and two small ISIL tactical units, destroying 12 ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL trench system and an ISIL vehicle.”

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 (2) [ collapse]