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

CS057

Incident date

February 23, 2015

Location

تل حميس, Tall Hamis, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.75514, 41.399094 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Syria’s Violations Documentation Center, a Coalition airstrike at Tal Hamis – scene of a major battle between Kurdish forces and Islamic State at the time – resulted in the death of a male teenager.

In July 2017, the Coalition classed the event as non credible on grounds of lack of available evidence of civilian harm: “Feb. 23, 2015, near Tal Hamis, 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.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

15 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

  • Image of 15 year old Sleiman Al-Khada’an killed in an alleged coalition raid on Tal Hamis on 23/02/2015. [Via: VDC]

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 Tal Hamis, 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

The coalition did not begin referencing airstrikes at Tal Hamis until February 27th-28th. Prior to then it is likely that any strikes were grouped with activity around Kobane.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS058

Incident date

February 23, 2015

Location

الجيسي, Al Jesse, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.786346, 41.520186 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

It was reported that a coalition airstrike in the vicinity of Al Hassakah had killed three unnamed civilians: “The car was bombed while it was on the bridge of a village near the town [of Al Hassakah] which led to the death of three civilians, displaced from the city of Tal Hamis,” according to Thawrah. The location was identified by other sources as the village of al-Jesse

According to Step Agency, the international coalition had targeted a number of militant vehicles in the vicinity that day: “From its side coalition flights struck ISIL gatherings in the countryside of the town of Tal Tamer after it took control of several villages and had seized several SUVs from Kurdish units. These cars were targeted by the coalition with strikes.” However Step Agency also described those killed in al-Jesse as non-combatants.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    a:1:{i:0;s:24:"insufficient_information";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near al-Jaysee, al-Hassakah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The coalition has confirmed multiple airstrikes in the region. For February 22nd-23rd it notes: “Near Al Hasakah, 11 airstrikes struck ten ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL bunker and an ISIL fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS056

Incident date

February 22, 2015

Location

سليمة, Salima, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.5842441, 41.6493416 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A number of sources report that up to 10 civilians, including possibly children, were killed after the coalition mistakenly bombed the wrong village. According to the Stepagency site: “Today six children and a few other civilians were killed in the village of Salima after the coalition planes bombed the village by mistake as it was supposed to bomb the village of Khuza’a, which lies next door and where fierce battles are taking place between IS and Kurdish militia. A number of other civilians were martyred when the coalition bombed the villages of Lazzaka and al Taweel.”

Other sources reported only two non-combatants killed.

In February 2019, the Coalition assessed this event to be not 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 around dusk.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 10
  • (6 children2 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 (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the strike to have occurred in the village of Salima (قرية سليمة), near Al-Shadadi (الشدادي ), Al Hasaka, in the “evening”. The coordinates for the midpoint of Salima (قرية سليمة) are: 36.5842441, 41.6493416. The incident was first reported at 00:05, Feb. 23rd, 2015 local time by Step Agency

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 Salima, al-Shadadi, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SGA369518
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 28, 2019
  • Feb. 22, 2015, near Salima, al-Shadadi, 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

The coalition has confirmed 13 airstrikes in the vicinity. It reports that for February 21st-22nd 2015, “Near Al Hasakah, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 10
  • (6 children2 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI041

Incident date

February 18, 2015

Location

حديثة, Haditha, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.1460894, 42.3802758 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources in Haditha reported that up to 15 civilians were killed and an unknown number were injured after an alleged coalition airstrike hit Albu Haiyat mosque at midday prayers. Al Iraq News stated that among those killed were captured “members of the Iraqi security forces who are were being guarded at the mosque.”

However an internal CENTCOM review concluded that “nearest coalition strike to Haditha was 34km and was not within close enough proximity to be considered credible.”

The Iraqi Spring Media Centre named ten of those it said were killed.

Others reported that 12 of those killed were brothers and cousins from the same clan, the Sbahnas – the eldest aged 90.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (10)

Suleiman Moslih Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed
Ali Suleiman Moslih Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed
Hamdi Suleiman Moslih Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed
Nima Suleiman Moslih Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed
Adnan Bedewi Ali Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed
Udei Bedewi Ali Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed
Salah Salim Muslih Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed
Abdul Same’e Abid Salih Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed
Yasir Rafe’e Bedwi Ali Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed
Omar Rafe’e Bedwi Ali Asabahani
Age unknown male Listed by Iraqi Spring Media Centre killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 15
  • (1–10 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • 27-year old engineer Yassir Rafeh, killed in a reported coalition airstrike at Haditha, February 17th 2015.
  • Images of those alleged killed in the strike (via deleted Facebook page)
  • Supposed aftermath of the attack (source deleted)

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:5:"other";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    Haditha, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015
  • Open source media. Mosque in Haditha, 15 CIVCAS. No Coalition strikes within 34 km. Non credible.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 15
  • (1–10 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS055

Incident date

February 18, 2015

Location

الشدادي, Al Maryajib crossroads, in area 47, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.2752788, 41.2818146 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

It was reported that one civilian male was killed in a coalition airstrike at al Shadadi. According to Thiqah he was in the area by chance when coalition aircraft struck: “One civilian was killed and others wounded yesterday (Thursday), when coalition aircraft bombed several areas of the rural southern city of Al-Hasakah.” Activists in the city confirmed the death of one man after a coalition airstrike on “Junction Al Mreijab in the 47 area of the city.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention an alleged Coalition airstrike on “Al Maryajib crossroads, in area 47”, near Al-Shadadi (الشدادي), Al Hasakah Governorate, Syria. Due to limited satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to locate the Al Maryajib / Mmrayjab junction. “Area 47” is likely a reference to Highway 47: the Sinjar – Shadadi road, which begins at the Iraq – Syria border. Location of Highway 47 close to the Iraq – Syria border: 36.2752788, 41.2818146

  • Highway 47

    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-Maryajib crossroad, al-Shadadi, 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

Air strikes were confirmed in the vicinity on both February 17th-18th and February 18th-19th 2015, with the coalition reporting respectively that “Near Al Hasakah, an airstrike struck multiple ISIL oil pump jacks” and that “Near Al Hasakah, two airstrikes struck multiple ISIL oil pump jacks and destroyed an ISIL checkpoint.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI039

Incident date

February 17, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Cultural area, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.375, 43.141667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to NINA, citing a security source, nine members of a family – including women and children – died after coalition warplanes “bombed a house at dawn in the Althaqafiyah residential complex area in the north of Mosul, suspected of being taking a den or a hideout by Daash terrorists.

 

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the residential “Al-thaqafiyah complex (Cultural)” ( ثقافي ) area, North of Mosul. The incident would have occurred around “dawn,” which would be at approximately 6:30 local time. The location of the midpoint of the Cultural ( ثقافي ) area is: 36.375, 43.141667

  • Cultural ( ثقافي ) area, North 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
    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
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF333271
    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

For February 16th-17th 2015 the coalition has confirmed that “Near Mosul, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL mortar position and an ISIL fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI040

Incident date

February 17, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, multiple neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

According to a single source, local eyewitness claimed one unnamed civilian was killed and five others were severely injured after the coalition allegedly bombed several areas in Makhmoor, south of Mosul

 

The incident was first reported on February 18, 2015 at 9:03 pm by Fursan al Malham.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention several neighbourhoods located in Mosul: al-Zohour (حي الزهور), coordinates: 36.3789337, 43.1850243; al-Bunook/al-Massaref (المصارف), coordinates: 36.383915, 43.175855; al-Muthanna (حي المثنى), coordinates: 36.3738889, 43.1718063; al-Tahrir (تحرير), coordinates: 36.389470, 43.202222. Reports do not identify which strike occured in which neighbourhood. This is most likely because al-Zohour, al-Massaref and al-Muthanna, are adjacent, covering a area of only 4 square km

  • al-Zohour ( حي الزهور ), al-Massaref ( المصارف ), al-Muthanna ( حي المثنى ), al-Tahrir ( تحرير )

    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 multiple neighborhoods in 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

No publicly reported coalition strikes for February 16th-18th 2015 match this location.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS054

Incident date

February 11, 2015

Location

كبيبة, Kbeibah, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.91498, 41.38123 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two oil workers were killed and two others injured in a reported Coalition airstrike on a house used by workers at Kbeibah, according to a number of sources The two dead men were buried at Hadida Cemetery in Hassakah.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights published a detailed report on the event: “On Wednesday February 11, 2015 at almost 10:30pm, the international alliance aircraft raided Kbeibeh, southern Hasakah where a large number of oil wells were spread, and controlled by ISIS. The air force strike launched a missile over the mud-walled homes, consisting of two rooms, which were 500 meters, from the oil wells. These rooms were for the sleeping and resting of the staff who oversee the operations of the well. The shelling caused civilian deaths from the well personnel and wounded several others. It is said that ISIS oversees the management and investment of the well, however they are employing people from the surrounding areas to assist in the operation of the wells, which they fund.

The residents of that area told us that the victims were local staff who assist ISIS in the sale of oil and operations of the existing wells in Kbeibeh guard them at night, and help in organising the cars that come to buy oil from these existing wells. It should be noted that ISIS requires one to pledge their allegiance in order for them to give them jobs, however, this does not mean that everyone who swears allegiance to ISIS is obliged to ,take up arms and fight at their side. Many have swore allegiance to ISIS just to get a job.

“Rsoum Almraid, from Al Hadidiya, southern Hasakah countryside, Ziad Al_huskkawi”-chose not to reveal his real name- from Al Hadidiya” who is a relative of the victim Foad Athal and also a relative to another :wounded, from southern Hasakah told SNHR I visited my cousin “Rsoum Almraid” on Thursday morning at his” home a day after his injury, from the alliance bombing of the mud house near Kbeibeh wells, 500m from the nearest well, and he told ,me then about his injury, ‘We were four civilians working as employees for ISIS, we help in the sale of oil from existing wells in Kbeibeh as we work on the order of the role of the cars that come to buy ‘.crude oil We entered the house after prayer at about 9pm, and we decided to sleep and me and the other wounded friend went to sleep in’” “the mud house, we went to one room while “foad Athal Al-waka’a  and “Abu Ali al-Mashhadani,” entered the other room.

‘We used the house as a lounge because it was close to the well in which we work, and while we were asleep we were surprised when a missile hit the next room and destroyed it completely. The room that we were inside was partially destroyed. I was with my friend and we had superficial cuts and bruises on our bodies and faces because a wall beside us collapsed but we survived miraculously. After which we went quickly to the nearest house to request assistance in the search for “Fouad and Abu Ali” because their room was completely destroyed, the nearest house is approximately one kilometre from the mud house.

‘We told the owners that there were two young men under the rubble and we know nothing about them already and seven men went and recovered the bodies which were charred and mutilated almost completely, “Fuad and Abu Ali” died on impact. The people then transferred the bodies of the victims to the village of Al Hadidiya where they were buried, “Fuad” in Hadidiya Cemetery on Thursday morning in the presence of people of the village. Villagers searched for the family of “Abu Ali al-Mashhadani,” because  we do not know where he is from, and we do not know his full name because it was the first time that we had met him, but I was aware that he is a friend of “Fuad” and that he was an employee for ISIS at “‘.another well.

SNHR managed to communicate with Abu Mahmoud from Kbeibeh where he told us: ”I spent the evening in the house of my friend, and we were far from the place of the bombing, about seven kilometres. I heard a loud explosion between the hours of ten and eleven on Wednesday evening, it was an explosion, and only one, not sounding important .as we are used to the sound on daily basis The next day I heard that one of the tribe “Foad Athal” was found dead in a mud house by a missile strike, I didn’t know where the missile was from but everyone said it was an alliance aircraft and ,that it was flying in the area in on the day. I went to his funeral where he was buried in Al-Hadidiya cemetery, and I heard there was someone else dead but still unidentified. ISIS started depending on the locals to help in the selling the oil and guarding it at night. No one can come close to the wells without the permission of ISIS or its employees and that is because of the great fear of ISIS.”

“SNHR noticed strong emphasis by the alliance forces in recent months to target all oil facilities, especially in rural Deir Az-Zour and Al-Hasakah which are rich in oil fields, in order to dry up the main source for financing for ISIS, as it also provides fuel for military operations. The targeting of wells and refineries, which the people of those areas depend on as a source of livelihood head caused a severe economic crisis in that region as it caused a great shortage of fuel (diesel fuel, gasoline and gas). This led to the rise in prices unreasonably.

“Of the 103 civilian people who were killed by the international alliance, there are 29 people that were killed in seven incidents of bombing installations and oil mechanisms, which means approximately one-third of the total victims, they seem to prompt message to the people in that region aims to warn them of the risks of work and trade in the oil field, but in contrast, there is no choice for the people there to get the resource to live, and we are highly concerned continuing this policy will lead to more casualties if the Coalition forces continue to adopt that same policy.”

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 “ February 11, 2015, in Kbeibah, 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. 2795/CS054 37SGA121881”.

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

The incident occured at 22:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
28 years old male VDC documents his death on 19/02/2015 saying he was killed on 12/2/2015 when his mud house in Kbeiba was targeted killed
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

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 Kbeibah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SGA121881
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019
  • February 11, 2015, in Kbeibah, 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. 2795/CS054 37SGA121881

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The coalition has reported airstrikes in the vicinity for both February 10th-11th 2015 (“Near Al Hasakah, an airstrike struck multiple ISIL storage and staging facilities“) and for February 11th-12th 2015 (“Near Al Hasakah, an airstrike struck multiple ISIL oil pump jacks.“)

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS