US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

Belligerent
US-led Coalition
Country
Iraq
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
2864 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

CI034

Incident date

January 26, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, South, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.123785, 41.297725 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad reported two alleged Coalition airstrikes, killing five and injuring two civilians called Mohammed Mohammed Ahmed and Ebtehalf Mohammed Yosef.

The first attack took place at 7.40 AM local time on the highway close to the town of Umm al-Dheban at that time. The second airstrike was at 8.40 AM local time on the highway close to the town of Umm Jereis. Jannie Schipper, a Dutch journalist who first broke the story, provided Airwars with details of the location and photo imagery.

The people were moving in a row of taxis from Mosul to Baghdad to flee from ISIS on 26 January 2015. Mr. Ahmed was with his mother in the first taxi and Mrs Yosef was with her husband and another couple in the second taxi. Around 7.40 AM the first taxi of the row was hit during an airstrike. Mr. Ahmed was wounded as a result. His mother and the driver did not survive the attack. After the airstrike the persons present in the second taxi provided first aid to the victims of the first taxi and they have ensured that the victims were taken to a medical facility in ISIS-held area by cars coming towards them. After the row of taxis had continued its journey, it was again hit around 8.40 by an airstrike. This time the second taxi was hit. Mrs Yosef was severely wounded as a result of this bombing. Her husband and the other couple have not survived the airstrike.

Mr. Ahmed and Mrs Yosef are presently being represented by Dutch lawyer Liesbeth Zegveld, who specializes in human rights liability.

 

The incident occured between 7:40 am and 8:40 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Mohammed Ahmed
Adult male injured
Ebtehalf Mohammed Yosef
Adult female injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention that two alleged Coalition airstrikes hit a convoy of taxis traveling towards Baghdad, carrying civilians fleeing fighting in Mosul. The location of the first airstrike, at around 07:40 local time, was on the Al Dhiban – Al Qaim Road, “close to the town of Umm al-Dhiban”. Approximate location (provided by eyewitness): 36.123785, 41.297725 The second airstrike hit at around 08:40 local time on the Al Dhiban – Al Qaim Road, “close to the town of Umm Jereis” ( ام جريس ). Approximate location (provided by eyewitness): 35.862952, 41.383814

  • Location of the first strike near Umm al-Dhiban (قرية أم جريص)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Wikimapia

  • Location of the second strike near Umm Jereis (ام جريس)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Wikimapia

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-Dheban Road, Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SGA067001
    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
Official source

According to the Coalition, between January 25th-26th 2015: “Near Mosul, four airstrikes [1 Canadian] struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL bunkers, two ISIL vehicles, and an ISIL armored vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI072

Incident date

June 8, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Zuhour and other neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3789337, 43.1850243 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In January 2016, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq reported that it had learned of a major civilian casualty incident in Mosul on June 8th 2015, though had been unable either to verify the claim or attribute responsibility to any party:

“On 8 June, local sources reported that an airstrike in Mosul, Ninewa, caused 33 civilian casualties. The report alleged that several residential neighbourhoods in al-Zuhour district were hit, killing 20 civilians, including seven children and nine women, and wounding 13 others, mostly women. The source claimed that there were no ISIL members in the affected neighbourhoods. UNAMI/OHCHR was unable to verify the status of all the casualties nor who was responsible for the airstrikes.”

In December 2018 the Coalition announced that it had classed the event as non-credible, noting: “June 8, 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 civilians were harmed in this strike.”

Erem News had reported at the time (June 24th) that “A security source said on Wednesday the killing of 23 Iraqis and wounded 21 others in the bombing of the international coalition aircraft on civilian houses in the city of Mosul, 400 km north of Baghdad. The source said that the international coalition aircraft bombed civilian homes in the areas of Al Zehur and Tahrir, banks, Rifai and Hermat in Mosul, killing 23 civilians, including 10 women and eight children and injured 21 civilians, most of them older men and women and children.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 23
  • (7–8 children9–10 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–21
  • 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]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention several neighbourhoods in Mosul, Nineveh: Al Zuhour (الزهور) (mentioned by multiple sources): 36.3789337, 43.1850243; Tahrir (التحرير) neighbourhood: 36.3895748, 43.2021904; Masarif (المصارف) neighbourhood: 36.3842544, 43.1767845; Rifai (الرفاعي) neighbourhood: 36.3558497, 43.0937862; and Hermat (الهرمات) neighbourhood: 36.319488 43.114521 (possible location)

  • Neighbourhoods of Al Zuhour (الزهور), Tahrir (التحرير), Masarif (المصارف) and Rifai (الرفاعي) in the city of Mosul

    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
    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
  • Dec 30, 2018

  • June 8, 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 civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reports carrying out a number of airstrikes in Mosul on June 7th-8th 2015: “Near Mosul, three airstrikes [1 Canadian] struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL staging area, destroying two ISIL vehicles.”

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 23
  • (7–8 children9–10 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–21
  • 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

CS096

Incident date

July 9, 2015

Location

تدمر‎, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.569294, 38.291216 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A badly wounded Syrian refugee told Buzzfeed that he believed his injuries had been caused by a Coalition airstrike at Palmyra, although no strikes at that location had been reported at the time (the first publicly reported Coalition strikes on Palmyra were on September 9th 2015.)

Mohamed Raja, aged 23, lost his right arm and was paralyzed from the waist down after being caught in an airstrike on a passing oil tanker. “He and his family believe it was a coalition attack because of its precision. But the coalition has never announced any strikes in the city, while the regime bombed it heavily that day, making it unlikely that the coalition was to blame,” noted Buzzfeed.

In its monthly civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the Coalition assessed the event as ‘non credible’, noting that “July 9, 2015, in Palmyra, 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. 2796/CS096 37SDU350426”.

Coalition officials also provided Airwars with a geolocation to within 100 metres of the area reviewed.

Based on available information, we assess this as a likely regime strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohamed Raja
23 years old male Mohamed lost his right arm and was paralyzed from the waist down injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (2) [ 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Palmyra, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDU350426
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • July 9, 2015, in Palmyra, 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. 2796/CS096 37SDU350426

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No publicly-reported Coalition strikes between July 8th-10th 2015 matched this report.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI094

Incident date

August 21, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

A single source, NINA, reported that a Coalition strike on a house at Hamam al-Alil, near Mosul “led to the martyrdom of all the family that inhabited consisted of nine members, including three children and a woman.“

As NINA noted: “Local residents told the National Iraqi News Agency that the international coalition aircraft bombed a rocket on a house in Hamam al-Alil, which led to the martyrdom of all the family that inhabited consisted of nine members, including three children and a woman. They added that the bodies were handed over to the forensic medicine department in Mosul.”

In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event to be ‘non credible’, noting: “August 21, 2015, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 2812/CI094 38SLF294240”.

The Coalition also provided coordinates showing the area it had assessed, accurate to within 100 metres.

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition again 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.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (3) [ 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area, Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF435034
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • August 21, 2015, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 2812/CI094 38SLF294240

  • Aug. 21, 2015, in Hamam al-Alil, Iraq, 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. 2812/CI094 38SLF435034

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

A number of strikes were reported by the Coalition for August 20th-21st 2015: “Near Mosul, six airstrikes struck three ISIL tactical units and an ISIL mortar firing position and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL excavators, two ISIL heavy machine guns and an ISIL mortar firing position.“

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS130

Incident date

September 27, 2015

Location

السلخة, Jala'a (Al-Salakha), Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.371708, 40.490609 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

France’s first air strike in Syria was alleged to have killed at least 30 child soldiers of Islamic State, according to reports.

The attack – which France later declared was a five-hour raid by multiple aircraft on a ‘Daesh training camp’ – targeted among other sites a palm grove at Al Shalkha, near the town of Jala’a.

Al Mayadeen cited a ‘senior source’ who alleged that five French Rafale aircraft “targeted a camp of so-called ‘Cubs of the Caliphate’ aged between 14 and 18 years, killing fifty of them.” The source added that the deaths “have raised the ire and wrath of local people towards Daesh. for forcing their children to attend training camps.”

According to the Syrian Observatory, not all of those killed were child soldiers with the dead also including “Arab fighters from North Africa and Syrian, and Iraqi fighters.” ISIL had been recruiting child soldiers in the areas it occupied since the start of 2015 reported SOHR: “They are ‘adults and are responsible for their decisions’, as the organization puts it.”

Asked to clarify the status of child soldiers according to the laws of war, Dapo Akande, Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford, told Airwars: “With regard to child soldiers, the fact that they are children will not change the law regarding whether they can be targeted. If they are members of an organized armed group or taking direct part in hostilities they can be targeted – even if they are doing this against the wishes of their families (or even against their own wishes).”

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.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 50
  • (12–30 children)
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 34.65028, 40.84028

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Open incident
  • Stated location
    near Jala’a, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU6865035802
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 10, 2022

  • Sept. 27, 2015, near Jala’a, 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. 2848/CS130 37SFU6865035802

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

France has confirmed carrying out a complex air raid near Dayr az Zawr on September 27th 2015: “Le 27 septembre 2015, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont mené un raid aérien contre un camp d’entraînement de Daech situé dans la vallée de l’Euphrate, au Sud de Deir Ez Zor. Il s’agit d’une frappe délibérée sur un objectif reconnu préalablement. Nos renseignements recoupés avec ceux de la coalition ont clairement établi que ce camp est occupé et actif.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 50
  • (12–30 children)
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI136

Incident date

November 8, 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

Locals claimed that up to 13 civilians were killed – including six children – and another five injured after the Coalition allegedly bombed a residential neighborhood in Qayyarah in Mosul.

DPA also said four Daesh fighters were killed in the attack, which “destroyed about 18 tankers loaded with oil in an attack on an ISIL-occupied oil refinery.”

In their January 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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 13
  • (6 children)
  • 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]

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
    38SLE458629
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • November 8, 2015, in Qayyarah, Iraq, 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. 2856/CI136 38SLE458629

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition has confirmed one strike in the vicinity for November 7th-8th 2015: “Near Qayyarah, one strike struck an ISIL staging area.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 13
  • (6 children)
  • 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

CS157

Incident date

December 16, 2015

Location

عيساوي, `Isawi, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.6888933, 39.0555596 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One person named as Ahmad Al A’bd was reported killed and his cousin Wa’el Al A’bd injured after unexploded ordnance detonated – allegedly the result of a Coalition airstrike on the village in June.

In their January 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:

Family members (2)

Ahmad Al A’bd
Adult male reported killed after unexploded ordnance detonated killed
Wa’el Al A’bd
Adult male Ahmad's cousin, injured in the incident injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad Al A’bd (via Raqaa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEA050604
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • December 16, 2015, in Isawi, 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. 2885/CS157 37SEA050604

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The precise date on which the unexploded ordnance was originally dropped is unclear, though Welati refers to four Coalition strikes on June 14th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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

CS168

Incident date

January 27, 2016

Location

الشدادي, Shadadi, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.056316, 40.730438 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilian men – three from the same family – were named as killed by ‘Coalition air force shelling’ near Shadadi, after earlier reports of aircraft from the western alliance circling over the town. The death toll was later raised to 10 by some sources.

According to Qasioun the deaths occured after Coalition aircraft struck the Kabiba oil wells: “Several fuel tanks owned by civilians were left burning.”

The Violations Documentation Centre identified four of the victims as:

Mohammad Hosain al-Hajini

Bashar Hosian al-Hajini

Qosai Hosain al-Hajini

Saleh al-Mowafaq

In their February 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:

Family members (3)

Qosai Hosain al-Hajini
Age unknown male killed
Bashar Hosian al-Hajini
Age unknown male killed
Mohammad Hosain al-Hajini
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Saleh al-Mowafaq
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 10
  • (4 men)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: International coalition planes circling the skies of al Shadai - May god have mercy

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
    37SFV558915
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020

  • Jan. 27, 2016, in Shadadi, 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. 2902/CS168 37SFV558915

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 26th-27th 2016, the Coalition publicly reported that “Near Al Hasakah, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 10
  • (4 men)
  • 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]