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

Incident Code

CI447

Incident date

February 3, 2017

Location

Al Abyad, Nineveh ??, Iraq

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition reported in April that a self-assessment had concluded no civilian casualties had occured in a February 3rd action at Mosul.

According to the report: “Feb. 3, 2017, near Al-Abyad, Iraq, via self-report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in this strike.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 1, 2017
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition had reported for February 3rd-4th 2017 that “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units; destroyed eight watercraft, three VBIEDs, two barges, a vehicle, and an artillery system; and damaged three supply routes; and suppressed a mortar team.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI461

Incident date

February 15, 2017

Location

حي المطاحن, Mosul, Al-Matahin / Mills, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3380482, 43.0899453 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that three displaced civilians living in a restaurant were killed and six others were injured after Coalition airstrikes targeted the Mills area at the right side of Mosul.

A journalist told Yaqein: “aircraft of the international coalition bombed a building located in the Mills area at the right side to the city of Mosul, instantly killing three people and wounding six others. He added that the people of the area rushed to the targeted place and pulled the victims from the rubble, and transported the injured to the hospital to receive immediate treatment, and [took] the dead bodies to the forensic medicine department.”

One of the victims was later named by Jalawla Now as a three year old girl called Isra.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Isra
3 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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]

  • Image of Isra (via Jalwala Now)
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • 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

For February 14th-15th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed three VBIED facilities, two IED facilities, a weapons facility, an ISIS-held building, an excavator, a supply cache, and a command and control node; damaged five supply routes and a supply cache; and suppressed three mortar teams.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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

CS517

Incident date

February 21, 2017

Location

السحامية, Al Sahamiya, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.023470, 39.738922 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and nine civilians including three chilren died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Sahamiya village, Raqqa, according to local sources.

Baladi, Euphrates Post, the Shaam News Network and Step News Agency all blamed the Coalition.

Raqqa is being Slaughtered Silently – whICH also attributed the incident to the Coalition – reported “that an entire family were martyred after a poultry farm in the village of Al Sahamiya was bombed in the eastern Raqqa countryside – and they are: Hamadi Saleh al Baladiya, his wife, his children, the mother of his wife, her two brothers and her sister”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that at least five non-combatants – including three children and one woman – from the same family died in a Coalition strike.

Smart put the death toll higher, at nine, with eight more wounded – though they didn’t identify the culprit.

Likewise, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights didn’t identify the warplanes responsible, but reported that five died including two children and a woman in raids.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Hamadi Saleh al Baladiya
Adult male killed
Hamadi Saleh al Baladiya's wife
Age unknown female killed
Hamadi Saleh al Baladiya's children
Age unknown Unknown how many children killed
Hamadi Saleh al Baladiya's mother in law
Adult female Killed with her brother and sister killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (3 children1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: raqqa - 16 martyrs in warplane shelling on eastern raqqa countryside - 8 killed in al Sahamiya village and 8 in al Fatatish village.
  • Translation: Raqqa: The death toll in raqqa today is 28 martyrs: 8- from the village of Fatatish east of raqqa 8 from the village of al Sahamiya 1 from Ja’abar 11 from Maadan.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Sahamiya (السحامية), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.023470, 39.738922. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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 Al Sahamiya (Raqqah), Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV0832076391
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For February 20th-21st, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, seven strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed three fighting positions, a VBIED, a garage, an IED and a weapons facility; and damaged a bridge.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (3 children1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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

CS535

Incident date

February 25, 2017

Location

الخاتونية, Khatouniyah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9219103, 38.737935 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and four civilians including two women died and four more were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the village of Khatouniya in the western Raqqa countryside and the village of Hamra Blassen in the eastern countryside of Raqqa, according to local sources.

Smart’s source said that the strike was likely to have been carried out by Coalition jets. They put the death toll at two men and two women with four others injured.

Micro Syria also blamed the Coalition.

According to Syrian Mirror – who attributed the incident to the Coalition – three non-combatants died and four more were wounded in Khatouniya.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of incident mention the villages of Khatouniya (الخاتونیة) and Hamra Blassem (حمرة بلاسم). The coordinates for Khatouniya (الخاتونیة) are: 35.9219103, 38.737935. The coordinates Hamra Blassem (حمرة بلاسم) are: 35.878056, 39.197222.

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Khatouniya (Raqqah), Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For February 24th-25th: “Near Ar Raqqah, five strikes destroyed an artillery system, a mortar system, a rocket system, a watercraft, a weapons storage facility and a chemical weapons facility.” And for February 25th-26th: “Near Ar Raqqah, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle, a tactical vehicle and a mortar system.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

[France reports carrying out 34 sorties in the last week – and 11 strikes destroying 19 ISIL targets. In Iraq, the six strikes were concentrated in the Mosul region. They targeted mortar positions, combatant groups, a logistics depot and a command center. In Syria, two ground troop support missions were carried out in the Raqqah and Deir Ezzor areas against artillery pieces and an armored vehicle, loaded with an explosive device (SVBIED). The intervention of a Rafale patrol, after detection and guidance of the ATL2, led to the destruction of 2 clandestine oil wells in the south-east of Raqqah. In the region of Palmyra, two planned strikes were carried out and enabled the neutralization of a military storage site and a vehicle-bomb manufacturing site (VBIED).Task Force Wagram carried out 28 missions]

‘CHAMMAL APPRÉCIATION DE SITUATION Point de situation sur les opérations au 02 mars 2017 En Syrie, à Al Bab, les forces d’opposition soutenues par la Turquie ont pu saisir la ville après le retrait de Daech de la ville. En périphérie, les forces armées syriennes et les FDS tentent d’accentuer ce repli progressif des combattants de Daech vers l’Est. Si ce repli dessine un renforcement probable de Raqqah par les combattants exfiltrés, la menace d’actions asymétriques reste présente. En Irak, Daech poursuit ses actions de harcèlement, notamment dans l’Anbar, par l’intermédiaire d’embuscades, de tirs de mortiers ou d’attaques par drones. Dans la région de Mossoul, l’encerclement progressif de l’agglomération perturbe le ravitaillement de Daech même si l’étendue de la zone ne permet pas de garantir l’étanchéité du dispositif. Dans la partie occidentale de la ville, le recul de Daech se poursuit. Près du Tigre, après la reprise de l’aéroport, les forces de police fédérale et l’ICTS continuent leur progression coordonnée vers le nord. Dans la périphérie ouest de Mossoul, les forces irakiennes avancent vers la prison de Badush et la crête d’Astanah. La résistance se durcit à mesure que le cercle se resserre et que les forces irakiennes s’approchent des zones urbanisées. A l’Est de la ville, Daech maintient ses actions de harcèlement par tirs indirects. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE CHAMMAL Appui aérien au Levant Point de situation sur les opérations au 02 mars 2017 Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 34 sorties aériennes dont 32 de reconnaissance armée ou d’appui au sol (CAS), et 2 de recueil de renseignement. 11 frappes ont été réalisées par les avions français, elles ont permis la destruction de 19 objectifs. En Irak, les 6 frappes se sont concentrées dans la région de Mossoul. Elles s’inscrivent dans le cadre de l’appui des troupes irakiennes engagées dans l’offensive visant à reprendre la partie ouest de Mossoul. Elles ont ciblé des positions de mortier, des groupes de combattants, un dépôt logistique ainsi qu’un centre de commandement. En Syrie, 2 missions d’appui des troupes au sol ont été conduites dans la région de Raqqah et de Der Er Zawr contre des pièces d’artillerie, un véhicule suicide, blindé, chargé d’engin explosif (SVBIED). L’intervention d’une patrouille de Rafale, après détection et guidage de l’ATL2, a par ailleurs permis la destruction de 2 puits de pétrole clandestins dans le sud-est de Raqqah. Dans la région de Palmyre, 2 frappes planifiées ont été réalisées et ont permis la neutralisation d’un site de stockage de matériel militaire et d’un site de fabrication de véhicules piégés (VBIED). Appui feu – TF Wagram Cette semaine, le détachement de la Task Force (TF) Wagram déployé au nord de Mossoul a fourni un appui important aux troupes engagées au sol, avec un effort marqué à l’ouest de la ville. Les 28 missions réalisées comprennent 21 de neutralisation, destruction ou harcèlement contre des positions de combattants, des pièces de mortier ou contre des tentatives d’infiltrations en bordure du Tigre. 7 missions d’éclairement ont également été effectuées pour interdire l’utilisation du terrain par Daech. La reprise de l’offensive sur Mossoul-Ouest a marqué un tournant dans la physionomie de l’activité de la TF. Au cours des 3 dernières semaines, l’intensification des missions confiées à la TF et la proportion croissante de missions de neutralisation ou de destruction sont significatives. Cette évolution de l’activité est couplée aux progressions sur le terrain des forces de sécurité irakiennes, elle souligne l’importance et l’efficacité des appuis fournis par la partie française.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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

CI526

Incident date

March 9, 2017

Location

الطوافة, Mosul, Tawafah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.335054, 43.120978 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local residents and press sources said that dozens of civilians were killed and that their bodies were still under the rubble after a violent airstrike targeted Tawafa area, between the station and Bab Al Beith, and demolished the houses of the entire street.

MNN reported that engineer Younis Hamadoun Qasim al-Naimi Oribi (see photo below) was killed in the raids. He worked for the directorate of agriculture. MNN reported that he was “martyred because of the demolition of the house as a result of the bombing [which] led to the destruction of the entire row in the neighborhood block.”

In an earlier post, MNN reported that a member of the Nineveh Provincial Council had launched an appeal to Iraqi forces and the Coalition to “stop the indiscriminate shelling on the right side of Mosul, having claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians” and to “open humanitarian corridors for civilians out towards the safe areas controlled by military units.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Younis Hamadoun Qasim al-Naimi Oribi
Adult male Engineer killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Younis Hamadoun Qasim al-Naimi (via MNN)
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • 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
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 8th-9th, the Coalition reported: “Mosul, fives strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed six vehicles, five tanker trucks, four mortar systems, 4 VBIEDs, two supply caches, a fighting position, an artillery system, an ISIS-held building, a tactical vehicle, an ISIS headquarters, and a weapons storage facility; damaged 32 supply routes; and suppressed nine mortar teams, a sniper team, a medium machine gun team, and an ISIS tactical unit.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS576

Incident date

March 15, 2017

Location

جديدة خابور, Jadida Khabour, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.855278, 39.419167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians including two women died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Jadida Khabour village in eastern Raqqa, according to local sources.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported: “a man and a woman were killed and there was information about another woman who was killed in bombing by Coalition planes on areas in Jadida Khabour”.

The victims were named as Khabour Al-Mohammed Al-Khabour and his wife, and another woman: Houriya Al-Abdullah Al-Teef Al-Habbal. However a local tweeter claimed that Mr al-Khabour was only wounded.

Al Raqqa Truth named two further victims of a Coalition strike.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khabour Al-Mohammed Al-Khabour
Adult male
Houriya Al-Abdullah Al-Teef Al-Habbal
Adult female killed
Hamad al Zoueikh
Adult killed
Ahmad al Hanoush
Adult killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 women)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Tweet from @saad_alsabr claiming that Khabour Mohammed Al-Khabour was wounded and his wife Houriya Abdullah Al-buhabbal was killed due to coalition warplanes shellings in Al-Durwasha east of Raqqa.
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 Jadida Khabour, Syria
    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

For March 14th-15th: “Near Ar Raqqah, eight strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, two mortar systems, an ammunition cache, an ISIS-held building, and a weapons cache.”
For March 15th-16th: "Near Ar Raqqah, eight strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions, a vehicle, an ISIS-held building, and an oil refinement still."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 women)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS593

Incident date

March 20, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Al Makaf area, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Nine civilians reportedly died and as many as 25 were injured in an alleged Coalition strike near the sheep market of the al Makaf area of Raqqa city.

Step news, RFS, the Shaam News Network and Syrinapc were among sources blaming the Coalition and each put the death toll at nine non-combatants. Al Jazeera reported that eight civilians died though said the warplanes responsible had not been identified. According to the Smart news agency, which also pointed to the Coalition, the strike was on a sheep market.

Syrian News Desk added some more detail: “A civilian source from Al-Raqqa, who asked not to be identified, told the Syrian News Desk that the international Coalition aircraft targeted the market for sheep trade near Al-Mashlab neighborhood east of the city of Raqqa with five raids, causing the destruction of five shops and the burning of five civilian cars that were parked next to it. A large number of livestock was killed, and wounded civilians were taken to medical points inside the city, while some of them are still critical.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–25
  • 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]

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 Mashlab, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 30, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 20th-21st the Coalition stated: “Near Ar Raqqah, 19 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed four petroleum oil lubricant equipment pieces, three barges, three fighting positions, three ISIS headquarters, two VBIED facilities, two VBIEDs, a VBIED factory, a tunnel, a vehicle, a weapons storage facility, and a command and control node; and damaged two supply routes.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–25
  • 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

CS612

Incident date

March 23, 2017

Location

السبخة, Sabka, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.810278, 39.263889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and ten civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike at noon on Sabkha, according to local media.

Baladi blamed the Coalition and put the death toll at three. According to Alrafed, more than ten non-combatants died, though the source didn’t identify the warplanes responsible. Alaraby, RFS, Shaam News Network and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights all attributed the incident to the Coalition. Syriapost1 said that in addition to the three killed, three others were wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Al-Salouh Al-Murbid
Age unknown male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently killed
Ali Al-khalaf Al-Ali
Age unknown male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently killed
Saif Al-Jadou’
Age unknown named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (14) [ 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 Sabka, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 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. (1048)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 23rd-24th: “Near Ar Raqqah, 22 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven fighting positions, five vehicles, three IEDS, two tunnels, and a VBIED; damaged five supply routes and a bridge; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (14) [ collapse]