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

CS217

Incident date

May 27, 2016

Location

كلجبرين, Kaljibrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5359847, 37.1173525 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A fierce battle for the town of Kaljibrin left up to 39 civilians dead – with both Daesh and the Coalition blamed for the fatalities.

So-called Islamic State launched a major assault on Kaljibrin, later releasing a video in which it boasted of capturing weapons there. However Coaltion aircraft then reportedly struck at Daesh forces in the town, also hitting residential areas.

Local source Abu Firas al Halabi reported that “16 martyrs occurred including women and children in the village of Kaljabreen, northern Aleppo, after it was targeted by rockets by Daesh yesterday evening and this morning before it gained control of it.”

However, others reported that Coalition airstrikes then killed up to 39 civilians, “most of them women and children.”

A report from the Syrian Observatory later noted: “Casualties have risen since yesterday in the northern countryside of Aleppo, Mare’ and Kaljibrin to at least 68 dead, including 41 or more fighters from rebel and Islamic Factions killed in shellings, bombings and clashes against so-called Islamic State; as well as 27 civilian citizens – including 7 children at least and 5 women – were killed during the military operations which took place in the town of Kaljibrin north of Mare’ city. The fate of another 10 people is still unknown. It is unclear whether they were killed, or were able to flee to areas nearby.”

In a video, Halab Today TV reported testimony from an eye witness (at 0’21”): “on Thursday 26/5/2016 we woke up to noises of clashes in the village which was taking place between IS and the FSA which led to IS gaining control of the village completely.. The next morning coalition planes launched a raid on the village which led to the death of more than 50 martyrs, all of them civilians and most of them women and children and men.”

And then at 1’14”: “after IS withdrew from the village, Russian planes also launched a raid on the village which killed one child and injured two others“.

Syrian Network also blamed the Coalition, citing its own eyewitness: “We were at the cemetery burying the young man who is the son of Ali Marndi where he was killed by ISIS’s bullets when international coalition forces warplanes fired three missiles. One of the missiles fell a few meters away from me. I felt the big explosion of the missile and then headed home which is located 50 meters away from the cemetery to find that it was reduced to ruins over the dead bodies of my family. I pulled out three of my nephews and was able to rescue them. I also was able to save two of my sisters, but I lost my dad and 11 others of my family including children. Also, the head of the village council was killed, and his name was Faraj Shikhou.” The Network has named the following 28 fatalities

In its August 2017 monthly report, the Coalition said it had classed the event as non credible based on insufficient evidence of civilian harm: “May 27, 2016, near Khan Jibran, 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:

Child female killed
Child female killed
Child male killed
Child male killed
Adult female killed
Child male killed
Child male killed
Child female killed
Child male killed
Child female killed
Child male killed
Child male killed
Child female killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Child male killed
Child male killed
Child female killed
Adult female killed
Adult female killed
Adult female killed
Child female killed
Child male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Age unknown male killed
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    28 – 65
  • (18–21 children4 women6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • Destruction at Kaljibrin following a reported Coalition strike (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Translation: Coalition planes bomb now Kafr Kalbain and Kaljabreen.
  • Translation: Coalition planes now bomb the village of Kafr Kalbain and Kaljabreen even though civilians are until now stuck inside the two villages.
  • Translation: 16 martyrs including women and children in the village of Kaljabreen northern Aleppo after it was targeted by rockets by Daesh yesterday evening and this morning before it gained control of it.
  • Translation: Coalition planes commit a terrible massacre in the village of Kaljabreen in northern Aleppo countryside killing 39 martyrs most of them women and children.
  • Translation: 39 civilian martyrs in Kaljabreen in the Aleppo countryside a result of an indiscriminate attack by Daesh and international coalition raids.
  • Pictures showing the destruction that resulted from the bombardment (via SNHR)
  • Pictures showing the destruction that resulted from the bombardment (via SNHR)
  • Pictures showing the destruction that resulted from the bombardment (via SNHR)
  • Pictures showing the destruction that resulted from the bombardment (via SNHR)
  • Pictures showing the destruction that resulted from the bombardment (via SNHR)
  • Pictures showing the destruction that resulted from the bombardment (via SNHR)
  • Pictures showing the destruction that resulted from the bombardment (via SNHR)
  • Pictures showing the destruction that resulted from the bombardment (via SNHR)
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 Khan Jibran, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCA3176045088
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 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 reports for May 27th-28th 2016 that “Near Mar’a, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    28 – 65
  • (18–21 children4 women6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1686

Incident date

November 26, 2017

Location

الشعفة, al Sha'afa, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.57888, 40.93441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 65 civilians including 20 or 21 children and nine women died in a major casualty event in al Sha’afa, local media reported. There was one allegation against the US-led Coalition, and also Egypt.

The majority of sources blamed Russia, with @7UFCmSxd0IUBffH saying that a family of 10 were among those killed.

Euphrates Post, also blaming Russia, said that the strike targeted the house of Antar ِAl Salama and Mujama’a Al Fendi. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that of the 44 who died 20 were children and 9 were women.

Sharqiya Voice reported several raids by unidentified warplanes, which struck the following locations: Antar Alsamal’s house, the house of Zubair, the Al-Fandi Commercial Complex.

Euphrates Post later reported that the death toll had risen to 51, while the Syrian Observatory put it at 53 including 21 children. It named the following victims. Names have identified 42 and 8 were unidentified.

However, Raqqa Post, also attributing the event to Russia, said that as many as 65 had died.

According to a BBC report, Russia denied responsibility for the event, with the defence ministry noting: “The Russian Aerospace Forces’ strikes in Syria target areas outside population centres, and only facilities of the international terrorist groups… The reports by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which is based in Great Britain, about the alleged strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces’ planes on the village of al-Shafah, are yet another fake.

Only one source pointed towards the Coalition. According to Zamanalwasl, Salama al Hussein from Euphrates Post told Zaman al-Wasl that an air strike carried out by aircraft believed to belong to the international coalition forces or Egyptian aircraft took place at dawn today on the compound of Alfandi in the town of Deir al-Zour. It claimed the lives of about 30 civilians and wounded dozens. The source said that the death toll was expected to rise due to the numbers of people trapped under the rubble.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

female via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
Adult female via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (4)

female via Euphrates Post killed
female via Euphrates Post killed
female via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (10)

male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (2)

female via Euphrates Post killed
female via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (7)

male via Euphrates Post killed
via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post injured

Family members (4)

male via Euphrates Post killed
female via Euphrates Post killed
female via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (6)

male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown female via Euphrates Post killed
Age unknown male via Euphrates Post
Age unknown female via Euphrates Post

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42 – 65
  • (20–21 children9 women9–12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A tweet contains an image shows the aftermath of the air strike on al Sha'afa, on November 26, 2017 (via @7UFCmSxd0IUBffH)
  • A picture of one of the victim, who killed following strikes on al Sha'afa, Deir Ez-Zor, on November 26, 2017
  • A picture of one of the victims, who were killed following strikes on al Sha'afa, Deir Ez-Zor, on November 26, 2017

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Sha’afa (الشعفة), for which the coordinates are: 34.57888, 40.93441. The alleged Coalition strike targeted the Al Fandi (الفندي) residential complex, the location of which is unknown.

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
    al Sha'afa, Deir Ez-Zor
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU774280
    Military Grid Reference System

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 25th-26th, the Coalition reported: “Near Abu Kamal, five strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed four ISIS vehicles and a headquarters.”

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42 – 65
  • (20–21 children9 women9–12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI222

Incident date

April 9, 2016

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.35311, 43.15221 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Coalition conducted several night raids on telephone exchanges and reportedly the Babylon Bank in Mosul, which resulted in the deaths of at least six and as many as 67 civilians.

In November 2016 the US initially admitted to killing one civilian in the attack, noting that “during a strike against an ISIL tactical unit, it is assessed that one civilian was killed after entering the target area after the aircraft released its weapon”.

The Coalition appear to have reassessed this incident and in May 2019 additionally confirmed the deaths of five civilians and the injuriing of nine others in an attack on a Daesh communications centre.

Their monthly civilian casualty report noted “Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike on a Daesh communication center in Mosul, Iraq. Regrettably, five civilians were unintentionally killed and nine others unintentionally wounded due to their proximity to the strike. (Not previously reported)”

Other casualty counts varied wildly. According to NINA “children, women and the elderly” were among many civilian fatalities after five telephone exchanges were hit: “The bombing also caused the martyrdom of 67 civilians, mostly women and children and wounded 38 other civilians, as well as causing significant damage to homes near the PBX exchange sites and shops. Our sources said that ambulances were operating from last night until today, transporting bombing victims.”

Yaqen put the death toll at six and said phone exchanges on both sides of the city were hit in what appeared to be a coordinated effort to cut internal Dash communications.

NRN News reported no civilian deaths from the telephone exchange strikes, saying Daesh had instructed locals to leave a week earlier because of the risk of possible strikes.

However NRN said two non-combatants did die when a branch of the bank of Babylon was bombed in eastern Mosul: “Our correspondent said that the bombing killed three gunmen organizing from Daash and two civilians guards of the Bank, as well as serious material damage to the building, which also includes the Office of the Chamber of Commerce.”

In May 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 67
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–38
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A photo reveals a destroyed telephone exchange building that was hit in coordinated strikes on Mosul on April 9th (via NRN News)

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 36.34585235, 43.09857692

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released, Other
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    6
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    9
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF342247
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2019
  • Nov 9, 2016
  • April 9, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, during a strike against an ISIL tactical unit, it is assessed that one civilian was killed after entering the target area after the aircraft released its weapon.

  • Apr. 9, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike on a Daesh communication center in Mosul, Iraq. Regrettably, five civilians were unintentionally killed and nine others unintentionally wounded due to their proximity to the strike. (Not previously reported)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition reports that for April 9th-10th 2016 “Near Mosul, eight strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and five ISIL communication facilities and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and an ISIL boat.“

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 67
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–38
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI200

Incident date

March 9, 2016

Location

العصرية, Asriya, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.46345, 43.07301 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a major mass casualty incident, 69 civilians were reported killed and 100 injured after alleged Coalition or possibly Iraq government aircraft allegedly struck the village of Asriyah. All of the victims were said to be from the Al Bojaber tribe.

According to al Rafidain and other sources, fifteen of those killed were said to be from the Al Jabri family, including the head of the household Matar Dayih Kattah Al Jabri. Only one member of the family reportedly survived, a baby named as Malak Juma Al Jabri.

Sheikh Zeidan Al Jabri, the chief sheikh of the Al Bijaber tribe, told Al Jazeera that his tribe members had stayed at their homes in Asriyah village during a nearby government offensive against Daesh. He claimed international Coalition and Iraqi forces had targeted them with airstrikes and killed dozens, mostly children and women.

There were claims that the Iraq Army initially prevented medical personnel from entering the town because it had been classed as a military operations area.

News of Iraq said the attack was the work of both the Coalition and the Iraq military.

The event inflamed local opinion, including the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq which blamed the US-led Coalition: “The United States is responsible for everything that happens in Iraq for crimes against humanity and violations of terrible human rights, which was and still is responsible for every drop of blood being shed on the land of Iraq.”

And local Sunni political leader Mahmoud al Daham called for legal action against the Coalition: “I ask for the formation of a team of volunteer lawyers to work in international courts to condemn this action, and to hold those responsible negligent according to international law and to demand compensation for the victims and the injured in this heinous crime.

Responding to a request for clarification about possible involvement given declared UK strikes in the Euphrates Valley that day, the MoD told Airwars that “after extensive research, we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the alleged event at Asiriya.

In their June 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)

Adult male (via AlAnbar Motny) killed
Child female (via AlAnbar Motny) injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    69
  • (10 children10 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    100
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A video contains an interview with the tribal leader of Abu-Jaber as he talks concerning dozens of civilians casualties occurred after an alleged coalition/Iraqi Gov airstrike on Asriya village north Anbar (via Al-Jazeera TV)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows the child (Malak Juma Al Jabri) who survived after an alleged airstrike by coalition/Iraq government aircraft in the village of Asriyah (via Fallujah Modal facebook account)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows dead bodies on the floor after the alleged airstrike by coalition/Iraqi government.

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
    38SLC209043
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 24, 2020
  • March 9, 2016, in Asriya, 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. 2913/CI200 38SLC209043

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 9th-10th 2016 the Coalition reported that “Near Ramadi, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL heavy machine guns, two ISIL supply caches, 11 ISIL improvised explosive devices (IED), three ISIL vehicles, an ISIL VBIED, and denied ISIL access to terrain.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    69
  • (10 children10 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    100
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1906

Incident date

March 10, 2019

Location

مخيم الباغوز, Al Baghouz camp, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.447579, 40.953426 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what has been described as a massacre, between 50 and 70 civilians were reportedly killed – mostly women and children according to local media – by US-led Coalition airstrikes on Al Baghouz camp. In addition to this, “dozens” were reportedly wounded.

Sources described “devastating bombs of enormous proportions” which bombarded the vicinity in the early hours of Monday morning.

Arabic RT News reported that coalition spokesman Sean Ryan, told the Russian news agency that “We do not see any evidence of casualties among civilians, and we take very seriously all the news about the civilian deaths”… “We are taking very serious measures to avoid civilian casualties,” he added.

The Coalition denied allegations, despite all sources attributing blame to them.

The civilians were allegedly trapped in the last enclave under the control of the Daesh.

According to Sana News, “the aggression targeted dozens of families while trying to escape from the areas where Daesh terrorists are positioned”, and that “according to the sources, the death toll is likely to rise as most of the wounded sustained serious injuries.”

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    50 – 70
  • (0–2 children0–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment that alleged Coalition aircraft struck Al Baghouz camp with heavy shelling in the early hours of the morning on the 10th-11th March 2019. (via @DeirEzzor24)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim of alleged Coalition aircraft which struck Al Baghouz camp with heavy shelling in the early hours of the morning on the 10th-11th March 2019. (via @as_saabireen)
  • The aftermath of alleged Coalition aircraft which struck Al Baghouz camp with heavy shelling in the early hours of the morning on the 10th-11th March 2019. (via @as_saabireen)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

"Between March 10 - 23 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted 250 strikes consisting of 398 engagements against Daesh targets in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, CJTF-OIR conducted 193 strikes consisting of 338 engagements, engaged 346 Daesh tactical units, and destroyed 104 vehicles, 63 supply routes, 39 fighting positions, 31 vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, nine tactical vehicles, six fuel tankers, four weapons caches, two command and control nodes, one tunnel, one tanker for petroleum oil and lubricants, one mortar system, and one checkpoint."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    50 – 70
  • (0–2 children0–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI070

Incident date

June 3, 2015

Location

الحويجة, Hawijah, industrial district, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.3208131, 43.7832295 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A Coalition airstrike on an Islamic State depot levelled a significant number of buildings, killing an estimated 85 civilians and a large number of militants. A large supply of TNT explosive detonated after the IED-making facility was struck. Bas News described the attack as one of the worst mass casualty incidents in Iraq since the 2003 invasion.

Following the publication of a major investigation by Dutch media NOS and NRC in October 2019, which claimed that the Netherlands had been responsible for the incident, the Dutch Ministry of Defence finally took public responsibility for the airstrike on November 4th, 2019.

The head of Kirkuk’s Arab Council, Mohammed Khalil al-Jubouri, at the time placed the number of dead and injured civilians at 150. The Iraqi Revolution site claimed that 70 civilians had died, with more than 100 injured. Rudaw also reported 70 killed, describing 26 children and 22 women among the dead. Airwars updated our initial casualty estimate of 70 in light of new findings by Al-Ghad League for Woman and Child Care, PAX and the Intimacies of Remote Warfare (IRW) project at Utrecht University, in their April 2022 report ‘After the Strike’, based on field research and interviews with more than a hundred victims and witnesses.

Local sheikh Abdallah al-Jubouri told Al-Araby news agency at the time that “several international coalition airstrikes hit the district. The losses were made worse by there being no ambulances or other means to rescue victims.” He added that “This is the single worse airstrike that has targeted civilians in al-Hawija; eight months ago we were getting hit by Iraqi army warplanes but that has stopped. The international coalition has committed a civilian massacre today and Islamic State and its weapons are the reason.“

Eyewitness Hassan Mahmoud al-Jubbouri told Reuters that the area looked as if it had been hit by a nuclear bomb, and described pulling the bodies of a family of six from the rubble. Only one victim has so far been named – Kherallah Ahmed Al Saleh Al Thawabi – described as the owner of a car maintenance shop in the district.

Bizarrely, in the immediate wake of the strike, a Coalition official told Reuters: “Since we started airstrikes in August last year in Iraq, I have difficulty thinking of any civilian casualties in Iraq, and for thousands of sorties that is good. One is clearly too many.“

Among as many as 100 militants also reported killed was Islamic State’s local police chief, named as Jassim Shukur. “The [Coalition] warplanes also bombarded two other sub-districts around Hawija and many other ISIS militants who were with the police chief were killed by the bombardment,” Iraqi official Sarhad Qadir told Rudaw.

In a later January 2016 report, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) noted that US officials had confirmed carrying out the Hawijah attack though went on to state: “Pictures and videos have emerged in media and online showing an area purporting to be the blast site that has been almost completely flattened. UNAMI/OHCHR was not able to verify the authenticity of the photos or the videos, nor the number of civilian casualties.”

In October 2019, Dutch media NOS and NRC published a major investigation in which they alleged that Dutch F-16s had carried out the attack. This also revealed that chief Coalition spokesman Colonel Ryan had confirmed to reporters in December 2018 that at least 70 civilians had in fact died – though this had not been officially reported out by the CJTF civilian casualty cell. This statement was later withdrawn by the Coalition on December 5th 2019, asserting that they were no longer able to determine the exact amount of civilian casualties in the incident.

However, past and present officials did confirm to NRC that 70 civilian deaths had been privately counted for Hawijah by the Coalition for at least 18 months – suggesting that the Dutch government may have pressured the Coalition to withdraw its initial estimate.

On November 4th 2019, the Dutch Ministry of Defence took public responsibility for the airstrike. This stirred a public and parliamentary debate in the Netherlands on transparency and accountability regarding civilian casualties as a result of Dutch airstrikes. As a result, Dutch Minister of Defence Ank Bijleveld promised significant transparency improvements and said she was looking into possibilities for voluntary compensation for victims.

On November 28th 2019, Dutch newspaper NRC wrote that according to locals, the estimate of 70 civilian deaths was an absolute minimum number. Civilians stated that “almost everyone in Hawijah lost neighbours or family members [in the incident]”.

NRC stated that the Dutch Socialist Party, after seeking contact with the Iraqi Communist Party (ICP), had local Mohammad ‘Abu Louis’ Shadid Hamad Dawoud collect the names of victims. With volunteers, Abu Louis went from house to house in the affected areas to find eyewitnesses of the event in 2015. According to Abu Louis, there were “62 people killed, including 36 children and 13 women, 822 wounded, 70 destroyed houses, 375 cars total loss”. 405 of the injured were registered in the hospital. The other 417 did not have any permanent injuries.

Abu Louis’ own nephew Homan (15 years old) was killed after debris hit him in the stomach.

On December 3rd, 2019, the Dutch parliament passed a motion which called on the government “to make every effort, where possible in cooperation with NGOs, UN and local authorities, to conduct further investigations on civilian victims as a result of Dutch actions in Hawija”.

In February 2020, the Dutch Ministry of Defence released previously classified documents about the airstrike, including Defensie’s own investigation after several FOIA requests by both Airwars and Dutch media. The documents revealed that the Dutch red cardholder, the military official with a potential veto over airstrikes, was aware before the strike that the risk to civilians could be created than that the Collateral Damage Estimate (CDE) indicated.

Related documents to the case by the Public’s Prosecutors office (OM) were also released, revealing that the OM’s investigation into Hawijah only started nine months after the event and that it was not until 15 months later that the pilots were heard for the first time.

In March 2020, Airwars reported, based on information provided by a senior (non-Dutch) military official, that at least one other Coalition country had refused to conduct the Hawijah strike, implying that the potential risk to civilians was expected to be too high.

A month later, the US government released its investigation into the airstrike after a judicial procedure following an unanswered FOIA request by NRC and NOS. The documents revealed that US officials were aware that the 2015 Dutch airstrike on Hawijah posed a threat to civilians. Four CIA informants had warned the Coalition about civilians living near the ISIS IED factory, as reported by NOS. Furthermore, the Coalition amended its targeting development process. In the future, the Coalition would have to do further in-depth investigation into possible secondary explosions in densely populated areas.

On April 29th, 2020, human rights lawyer Liesbeth Zegveld filed a claim in name of 47 Iraqi’s with the Dutch Ministry of Defence. Some of her clients were severely injured in the airstrike and/or suffered material losses, others lost their relatives. Among her clients are the relatives of Ahmad Shujaá Moeshin, who was working as a security guard in a car showroom on an industrial estate, a 100 metres from the ISIS IED factory, during the night of June 2nd to June 3rd. A few days after the airstrike, Moeshin died of his injuries.

On May 14th, 2020, a fourth Dutch parliamentary debate on the case took place. The Dutch Red Card Holder had not received information about the CIA warnings and the American doubts on the risks for civilians before giving a green light to the airstrike. During the debate, Minister of Defence Ank Bijleveld stated that there should be better arrangements on information sharing between the Coalition and the Netherlands.

The incident occured after midnight.

The victims were named as:

Kherallah Ahmed Al Saleh Al Thawabi
Adult male Owner of the car maintenance shop in the area killed
19 years old female wife of Ali Assem Ahmad, died after being hit in the neck by glass of a window that exploded in the incident killed
5 years old male son of Alaa Qader, blinded by one eye injured
Adult female first name unknown, injury in back injured
15 years old male nephew of Mohammad ‘Abu Louis’ Shadid Hamad Dawoud, hit in the stomach by debris killed
24 years old male worked as a night security guard killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    70 – 85
  • (26 children22 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    80–100
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    80–100

Sources (65) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • Kherallah Ahmed Al Saleh Al Thawabi (via deleted Facebook page)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An infant allegedly killed in the attack (via Rudaw)
  • The aftermath of the Dutch strike on Hawijah in 2015 which killed an estimated 70 civilians (via Iraqi Revolution).
  • Industrial area of Hawijah, before (above) and after (below) the attack (via NOS).
  • Photo of destruction of Hawijah's industrial area. It is unclear when this photo was taken (via NOS).
  • Footage of Hawijah after the airstrike on June 3th, 2015, published as propaganda by the Islamic State shortly after the incident (via VRT).
  • A photo that Alaa Qader took of his house, 1 to 1,5 kilometers away from the site of the incident, after a Dutch airstrike on an ISIS weapon facility in Hawijah, Kirkuk, on June 2nd-3rd 2015 (via NOS).
  • A photo that Alaa Qader took of his house, 1 to 1,5 kilometers away from the site of the incident, after a Dutch airstrike on an ISIS weapon facility in Hawijah, Kirkuk, on June 2nd-3rd 2015 (via NOS).
  • A photo that Alaa Qader took of his house, 1 to 1,5 kilometers away from the site of the incident, after a Dutch airstrike on an ISIS weapon facility in Hawijah, Kirkuk, on June 2nd-3rd 2015 (via NOS).
  • France24 report on the airstrike of May 11th, 2020 (via France24).
  • Excerpt of the US investigation into Hawijah, released in April 2020 (via NOS).
  • Excerpt of the US investigation into Hawijah, released in April 2020 (via NOS).
  • Recommendation to update the target development process in a US document released in April 2020 (via NOS).

Geolocation notes (6) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Hawija (الحويجة), Kirkuk province, specifically the “city centre” area and the “industrial district area Bahoijh” (الحي الصناعي بالحويجة). The majority of reports monitored by Airwars state that the incident occurred at night, most likely closely after midnight on Wednesday, June 3rd. There were conflicting reports – on Thursday, June 4th 2015, bas news stated that the incident occurred on “Wednesday evening” (June 3rd, 2015). On June 5th, 2015, alquds quoted a member of the Security Committee in the Kirkuk provincial council, Mohammed Jubouri, as saying a ”French aircraft bombed late on Thursday, a bomb manufacturing plant belonging to the ‘State’ in the district of Hawija.” Reuters reported “in a statement on Wednesday, the Coalition said an airstrike targeted a ‘vehicle-borne improvised explosive device facility’ in Hawija between 8 am on June 2 and 8 am the following day” Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 35.323474, 43.78453.

  • Industrial district in the city of Al Hawija (الحويجة)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

  • Landsat 8 image of Hawija showing blast area and large-scale destruction Landsat 8 image of Hawija showing blast area and large-scale destruction

    Date taken:
    June 5, 2015

    Resolution:
    30 m

    Imagery:
    © 2018 USGS

  • Stills from an Al Jazeera report (Daesh video). Published on Jun. 11th, 2015 (one week after the incident).

    Date taken:
    June 11, 2015

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Al Jazeera

  • Stills from an Al Jazeera report (Daesh video). Published on Jun. 11th, 2015 (one week after the incident).

    Date taken:
    June 11, 2015

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Al Jazeera

  • Stills from an Al Jazeera report (Daesh video). Published on Jun. 11th, 2015 (one week after the incident).

    Date taken:
    June 11, 2018

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Al Jazeera

  • Stills from an Al Jazeera report (Daesh video). Published on Jun. 11th, 2015 (one week after the incident).

    Date taken:
    November 6, 2015

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Al Jazeera

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Killed by secondary explosion(s)
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    70
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    Hawijah, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLE894093
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    70 – 85
  • (26 children22 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    80–100
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    80–100

Sources (65) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1094

Incident date

June 26, 2017

Location

الميادين, Al Mayadin, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.01979, 40.45123 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 42 and 100 civilians who were being detained in an ISIL prison were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes on an ISIL base in Al Mayadeen, local sources reported. The Coalition later conceded having killed eight civilians.

According to a number of reports, the strikes also allegedly killed between 15 to 20 ISIL members, 11 non-civilian prisoners (such as militia fighters), four prison guards, five women that the terror group took as sex slaves in addition to one civilian male who was killed as a result of being in the vicinity of the strikes.

Euphrates Post reported that one of the buildings hit was the former house of Ahmed al Hamash, which had been turned into a so called ISIL ‘agricultural centre’, while another was the house of Abdul Hamid Idris al Mazal.

Mazal was said to be a leader within Al Nusra Front until ISIL executed him in 2014, commandeered his three-story property and converted it into the ISIL prison where the prisoners were said to be killed.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) also reported that a commercial bank was hit and was “completely destroyed,” but was the only source to mention a bank.

Images from various buildings showed extensive damage, however they could not be distinguished.

According to an NPR interview with Rami Abdulrahman, the director of the SOHR, a senior ISIL leader was killed in the strike, but he was not identified.

A later SOHR report stated that the strikes targeted a senior ISIL leader from a Gulf country, but said he was evacuated with his wife before the strike.

Euphrates Post identified the nearby victim of the strike who is said to have been killed near his shop, which is near to the ISIL base.

DeirEzzor24 identified one of the casualties as Madin al Mutlaq and reported that he was a member of ISIL’s police force and carried out dozens of arrests in the area.

Nine of the 11 sources who reported the incident alleged that the Coalition was responsible.

In October 2017, the Coalition stated it had unintentionally killed eight civilians in a strike on an ISIS detention facility Al Mayadin: “During a Coalition strike that destroyed an ISIS detention facility, it was assessed that eight civilians were unintentionally killed.”

In July 2019 the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Fares Ahmed Mahmoud al Hamran
Adult male also known as Abu Ahmed killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42 – 70
  • (5 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • 'Fares Ahmed Mahmoud Alhamran "Abu Ahmed" killed by the bombing of the city of Mayadeen yesterday near his shop near the former State Security headquarters', Deir Ezzor, 26th June 2017. ( via, Euphrates Post)
  • The extent of damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the Coalition airstrike on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, 26th June 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The extent of damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the Coalition airstrike on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, 26th June 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The extent of damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the Coalition airstrike on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, 26th June 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The extent of damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the Coalition airstrike on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, 26th June 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The extent of damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the Coalition airstrike on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, 26th June 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The extent of damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the Coalition airstrike on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, 26th June 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The extent of damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the Coalition airstrike on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, 26th June 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The extent of damage to civilian homes in the aftermath of the Coalition airstrike on Al Mayadin, Deir Ezzor, 26th June 2017. (via Euphrates Post)

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 35.016667, 40.444167

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    8
  • Stated location
    near Al Mayadin, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU324762
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017
  • June 26, 2017, near Al Mayadin, Syria, via media report. During a Coalition strike that destroyed an ISIS detention facility, it was assessed that eight civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 26th-27th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dawr Az Zawr, seven strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed three vehicles, a tactical vehicle, two bunkers, two pump jacks, a front-end loader, an IED factory, an ISIS financial facility, and an ISIS headquarters.” It additionally reported that “On June 26, near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed an ISIS factory.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42 – 70
  • (5 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1813

Incident date

October 19, 2018

Location

البوبدران, Al Soussa: Othman Bin Affan mosque, al Boubadran village, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.542338, 40.959091 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what several sources described as “a massacre”, at least 8 and as many as 70 civilians were alleged killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Osman Bin Affan Mosque in the village of Al-Sousse after Friday prayers.

The incident occurred after two other reported incidents on October 18th in and around al Soussa, targeting the home of Mohammed al-Obeid al-Hattab in Al-Soussa and the Ammar bin Yasser mosque in Al Boubadran village near al Soussa. Some reports confused elements of these separate events.

The lowest death count at the Osman Bin Affan Mosque was given at 8, by Smart News. It said that bombing caused the deaths of more than 40 people, “including eight civilians”. The source went on to say that the rest of those killed were “elements of Daesh, mostly Iraqis.” It should be noted, however, that “elements of Daesh” does not specifically refer to ISIS fighters and can also include ISIS family members, which may explain why other sources put the death toll higher.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “at least 16 civilians, including five children, were killed as International Coalition forces warplanes fired missiles on Othman Bin Affan Mosque, also known as Hajji Mohammad Mosque, in al Boubadran neighborhood in al Sousa town”.

Marsad Al Hasaka put the death toll higher at 23 civilians including 3 children, of whom it said 6 were overall reportedly Syrians and the rest of Iraqi nationality. It added that 11 members of ISIS also died, noting that the airstrike hit the mosque and surrounding houses.

The majority of sources put civilian deaths in the range of between 30-46, although some sources referred to the total while others refer to the number as civilian casualties.

For example, Euphrates Post said that a total of 37 people, including a large number “members of Daesh” died, whereas Sana News said that 37 civilians were killed.
Sana’s sources stated that the death toll was likely to rise as most of the wounded sustained serious injuries and many people remained trapped under the rubble of destroyed homes.

Al Jazeera quoted German medical sources of the opposition in Deir al-Zour, stating that in total more than 35 people were killed and 60 others wounded. In addition, “the sources pointed out that a number of bodies and wounded are still under the ruins of the mosque, which was completely destroyed…”

Sound and Picture put the death toll even higher, at 46 civilians with 100 wounded. In a subsequent post, this source posted a video reportedly showing F-16 international coalition planes flying over the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor just minutes before the airstrike.

A number of  sources, including Baladi, @saaraaa2011 and @NorsForStudies tweeted that as many as 70 civilians died in this event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 70
  • (3–5 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–100
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Video posted on the Sound and Picture Facebook page on the 20th of October 2018, allegedly showing the aircraft responsible for the airstrike.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The supposed aftermath of the alleged Coalition airstrike on Osman Bin Affan Mosque in the village of Al-Sousse, Oct 19th. In fact these images relate to an event in the same village the previous day.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 18th – 19th, the Coalition reported: “Near Abu Kamal and Hajin, 10 strikes engaged 29 tactical units, and destroyed two command and control centers, one IED facility, one vehicle-borne IED facility, one mortar team headquarters, one building and two staging areas."

For October 19th-20th: “Near Hajin, 10 strikes engaged 11 tactical units, and destroyed one vehicle-borne IED, one armored vehicle, three vehicles and five supply routes."

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

France report that between Oct 17th-23rd, the three CAESAR guns of Task Force Wagram conducted 17 firing missions, from Iraqi territory. Aircraft carried out 18 sorties and conducted eight strikes north of Abu Kamal in Syria.

OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie L’opération pour reprendre la poche d’Hajine dans la moyenne vallée de l’Euphrate, lancée le 10 septembre, se poursuit. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak En Irak, les opérations de sécurisation des forces de sécurité irakiennes (FSI) se poursuivent sans évènement particulier relevé cette semaine. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Le dispositif français déployé au Levant n’a pas évolué en volume. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate. La Task Force Wagram appuie l’offensive des forces démocratiques syriennes contre Daech dans la région d’Hajine. Les trois canons CAESAR ont ainsi réalisé, depuis le territoire irakien, 17 missions de tir (éclairement, harcèlement, destruction – bilan du 17 au 23 octobre inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 1992 missions de tirs. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des opérations. Au sein de la coalition, les aéronefs français basés en Jordanie et aux Émirats arabes unis poursuivent leurs actions contre Daech. Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 18 sorties aériennes (bilan du 17 au 23 octobre inclus) et conduit 8 frappes, en appui des FDS au nord d’Abou Kamal en Syrie. Bilan total de l’action du pilier appui aérien depuis le 19/09/14 : 8582 sorties / 1472 frappes / 2271 objectifs neutralises.

Dutch Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For Oct 17th-24th, Dutch MoD reports that Dutch F-16s supported ground troops during nine missions. Weapons were deployed in six of these missions – against ISIS fighters and vehicles near Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor.

Midden-Oosten In de strijd tegen terreurorganisatie ISIS ondersteunden Nederlandse F-16’s grondtroepen tijdens 9 missies. Bij 6 zijn wapens ingezet tegen ISIS-strijders en voertuigen. Dat gebeurde in de provincie Deir al Zour, in de omgeving van Abu Kamal.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 70
  • (3–5 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–100
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]