US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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Incident Code

CS1948

Incident date

June 24, 2020

Location

الطريق بين بنش ادلب, Road between Idlib and Binnish, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.948631, 36.672105 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A civilian was reportedly killed in alleged US-led Coalition or Turkish drone strikes on the road between Idlib city and Binnish, Idlib governorate, on June 24th, 2020, according to local sources.

The Syrian Civil Defence in Idlib told Smart New Agency that “an ammunition drone had targeted a Santa Fe car with missiles and destroyed it completely, indicating the death of an unidentified person inside.” The SCD added that another unidentified person, thought to be a civilian, was killed as he was riding his motorbike in the vicinity of the explosion. SCD teams worked to extinguish the fire and collected the human remains.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “a civilian on a motorcycle was killed near the site where a drone targeted a military vehicle driven by a commander in the Ethbatu operations room on the road between Idlib and Binish. The attack killed the commander instantly.”

While the SOHR initially reported that the US-Coalition had likely been responsible, it later wrote that “sources suggested that the drone that targeted the commander was Turkish, while a Coalition drone was flying over Idlib coinciding with the attack.”

Smart News Agency and @HoseenAdnan reported that the killed militant was Abu Adnan Al Homsi from the Al Qaida linked group Hurras Al Din.

In the third of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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, Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers putting out fire after alleged US-led Coalition or Turkish airstrikes on a vehicle in Idlib governorate on June 24th, 2020 (via SCD on Facebook).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers extinguishing fire after alleged US-led Coalition or Turkish airstrikes in Idlib governorate on June 24th, 2020 (via SCD on Facebook).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers recovering human remains after alleged US-led Coalition or Turkish airstrikes in Idlib governorate on June 24th, 2020 (via SCD on Facebook).
  • Translation: "A circular image of a car that was targeted by an airline belonging to the International Alliance on the road between Idlib and Binnish" (via @moha7_othman).
  • The destroyed vehicle after alleged US-led Coalition or Turkish drone strike on the road between Idlib city and Binnish on June 24th, 2020 (via @moha7_othman).
  • Militant Abu Adnan Al Homsi was reportedly killed in alleged US-led Coalition or Turkish drone strikes on the road between Idlib and Binnish on June 24th, 2020 (via @HoseenAdnan).
  • Translation: "We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return..! Bleed to the Muslim Ummah The news of the martyrdom of the administrative Mujahid brother in the organization of Guardians of religion Abu Adnan Al Homsi, after he was targeted by a raid from an American crusader plane on the road to the city of Bunche in Idlib countryside and God is the helper. Oh God, accept him in the martyrs and raise his rank in the Gardens of Mole" (via @HoseenAdnan).

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck on a road between Idlib (إدلب‎) and Binnish (بنش) to the east. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates between these two points are: 35.948631, 36.672105.

  • Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck on a road between Idlib (إدلب‎) and Binnish (بنش) to the east.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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
    37SBV900807
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 14, 2020

  • Jun. 24, 2020, in Idlib, 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. 3202/CS1948 37SBV900807

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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, Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI881

Incident date

June 30, 2020

Location

بين أبو زوير وحدود حي الحديثة, Between Abu Zuwair and the Al Haditha district border, Saladin, Iraq

Geolocation

35.030418, 42.790203 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians were reported killed in Abu Zuwair, Baiji in Iraq on June 30th, 2020 when a US-led coalition drone bombed them after they carried wreckage of a US-led coalition drone that had crashed earlier on that day. Local reports said that the raid resulted in killing up to four shepherds and the destruction of the drone wreckage that they carried and their vehicle.

@firas1alhashmy reported that the US drone (MQ-1C Gray Eagle) crashed and then a number of shepherds who gathered around were killed after they were attacked by another US drone.

@MaithamAlhmdy tweeted that ” A US plane crashed in Abu Zuwair, in the depth of Baiji Island. The plane was captured by shepherds near the demarcation border with the district. Another drone chased after the shepherds and bombed their vehicle. The shelling destroyed the vehicle, killing the citizens immediately.”

@Mustafa__Kurde said that the drone crashed after carrying out an airstrike on Jabal Makhoul. “An American drone crashed in Abu Zuair area between Baiji  and Haditha, northwest of Salah al-Din, after carrying out an air strike on Jabal Makhoul.”

Yesiraq.com said that Al-A’alam Iranian TV Channel said that US drone that crashed was targeted and downed by the Iraqi resistance. Al-A’alam said “A US plane was shot down by Iraqi resistance fires in the Abu Zuwair area in the depth of Baiji Island in Salah al-Din.”

@sumeri129 said that the American airstrike came as revenge for the downed drone. “An American drone crashed, west of Baiji, followed by an American retaliatory raid targeting shepherds , who were killed. ”

Sotaliraq said that after some local shepherds caught the drone, they were bombed. They were killed as a result and Pickup vehicle was destroyed.

While most sources said those killed were sheep herders, @DrJohnHanaDahle said that those killed were found to be members of the Popular Mobilization Forces.

In the third of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (2–4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This image might not be linked to this incident.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck between Abu Zuwair (ابو زوير) and the Al Haditha (حديثة) district border.  to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Abu Zuwair are: 35.030418, 42.790203.

  • Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck between Abu Zuwair (ابو زوير) and the Al Haditha (حديثة) district border.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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
    38SKD986786
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 14, 2020

  • Jun. 30, 2020, in Abu Zuwair, 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. 3201/CI881 38SKD986786

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (2–4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1949

Incident date

September 29, 2020

Location

جديد عكيدات , Jadid Akidat, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.257075, 40.357393 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that a civilian was killed and two others were wounded when the US-led Coalition forces and SDF undertook a landing in Jadid Uqaydat in Deir Ezzor on September 29th, 2020. Two other people, described as oil merchants, were reported arrested as a result of the operation.

The killed person was named by local sources as Faisal Al-Khalfu, nicknamed Dakar. Another version of the name and the nickname was also circulated as Faisal Al-Hussein, nickname Abu Marar. The two arrested people were named as Ghannam Al-Mahmoud Al-Haloush, and his nephew Kamel Hisham Al-Haloush.

Local sources said the operation aimed at looting civilians’ money under the accusation that they were affiliated with ISIS.

Furat Syria reported that “During the last hours of the dawn today, Tuesday, intense gunfire took place in the neighborhoods of the town following a landing by helicopters that were flying over civilian homes. The shooting during a raid on some houses killed one person and wounded two others, in addition to the arrest of two people from the town. Faisal al-Khalafu, Abu Marar, aged 50, was killed during the raid, and two others were wounded during the clash. US forces also arrested Ghannam Mahmoud Al-Haloush and Kamel Hisham Al-Haloush on charges of belonging to ISIS.”

@OIRSpox tweeted saying that this operation is part of keeping up the pressure on ISIS and that the US-led Coalition removed what it described as three terrorists from Jadid Uqaidat. However, Euphrates eyes said that the killed person, Faisal Al-Hussein, was a civilian and didn’t affiliate with any party.

In a civilian casualty assessment released July 10th 2021, the Coalition classed this event as ‘non credible’, claiming that “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.”

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Faisal Al-Khalfu -Al Hussein فيصل الخلفو- الحسين
50 years old male Nicknames: Dakar and Abu Marar killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected attacker
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Post Translation: SDF militia kills the civilian Faisal Al Hussein from the Jadid Akidat, aka Abu Marar, and steals the money of civilians under the pretext that they belong to ISIS.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Jadida Akidat (جديد عكيدات), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.257075, 40.357393. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known 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
    37SFV234023
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 10, 2021

  • Sep. 29, 2020, in Jadid Akidat, 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. 3287/CS1949 37SFV234023

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

OIR Spokesman Col. Wayne Marotto
@OIRSpox
@CMOC_SDF and @CJTFOIR are keeping up the pressure on Daesh. Early this morning we removed three terrorist fighters from Jadid Uqaydat, Syria. Together, we’ll keep fighting to keep Syria safe from Daesh. #defeatdaesh

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected attacker
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1951

Incident date

October 16, 2020

Location

المجيد أو المجبل, Al Majid or Al Majbal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.504595, 40.656100 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A possible civilian male was killed in an alleged US-led Coalition airdrop operation in the village of Al Majbal or Al Majid, Deir Ezzor governorate, on October 16th, 2020. While some local sources reported that the man was a civilian, others wrote the man was suspected of being affiliated with ISIS or a previous member of pro-Turkish factions. Two other civilians, including a woman, were reportedly injured.

Al Khabour reported that the Coalition operation targeted the house of Al Hawash Al Trifin in Al Majbal village, around 2 AM on October 16th. An hour later, Al Hawash, reportedly a civilian, was arrested.

According to Al Khabour, the civilian Asad Suleiman Al Sawadi was killed “with a direct bullet wounding him in the neck, killing him immediately, as he stood in front of his window.” The operation reportedly lasted until 5 AM.

According to a DeirEzzor24 correspondent, “the operation resulted in one death, two injuries, including a woman, and one arrest, in addition to the bombing of an abandoned house in the village”.

The DeirEzzor24 report also stated that four Coalition helicopters carried out the operation with a joint Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) ground force. The Coalition “called on the people through loudspeakers to stay at their homes and not to leave them, and to separate women and children from youths and men”.

JisrTV wrote that the operation targeted people suspected to be affiliated with ISIS, “while one of the wanted persons was killed while trying to arrest him”, adding that “SDF forces carried out raids in a number of houses, combing them, and blew up a house”.

The official spokesperson for Operation Inherent Resolve (@OIRSpox) tweeted on October 16th: “This week Iraqi and Syrian partners did 32 #defeatDash operations, saving local communities from 41 #Daesh terrorists”.

Zengin wrote that the operation “led to the death of a person and the injury of his wife, who was a former member of the ranks of the pro-Turkish factions.”

In its January 2021 monthly civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition determined this event to be ‘non credible’, asserting: “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.”

The incident occured between 2:00 am and 5:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Assad Yassin Al Sawadi أسد ياسين السوادي
Adult male killed
Wife of Assad Yassin Al Sawadi
Adult female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Assad Yassin Al Sawadi was killed in an alleged joint US-led Coalition and SDF airdrop operation in Al Majid or Al Majbal on October 16th, 2020 (via Euphrates Eye).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck within the village of Al Majbal (المجبل) or Al Maijd (المجيد), allegedly within the Suwar (صور‎) subdistrict. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Suwar are: 35.504595, 40.656100.

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 al Majid, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV501302
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 6, 2021

  • Oct. 16, 2020, in Al Majid, 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. 3289/CS1951 37SFV501302

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1953

Incident date

November 7, 2020

Location

غريبة الشرقية, Ghariba al-Sharqiya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.622001, 40.770607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One person was reported killed in an alleged US-led Coalition and QSD/SDF joint security operation/landing in Ghariba al-Sharqiya in Deir Ezzor, Syria on November 7th, 2020.

Some of the local sources which reported the incident said the person killed was an internally displaced person (IDP), and others described him as an ISIS member.

For example, a source told Euphrates Post that “a person was found killed by several bullets near the Khabur River after the SDF withdrew from the village after conducting of the operation. The sources said the person is called Abu Fatima, a displaced from the city of Albu Kamal, east of Deir Ezzor, who has been living with his family in the aforementioned town for four years.”

Euphrates Post later followed up, saying that the man, Mohia Abdullah Al-Dibs, aka Abu Fatima, “is one of ISIS security people and an assistant of Saddam Al-Jamal in what was called the Islamic State.”

The Khabour Facebook page instead identified the slain man as an IDP.

In a civilian casualty assessment released April 2021, the US-led Coalition declared this event to be ‘non credible’, noting: “Nov. 7, 2020, in Ghariba al-Sharqiya, 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.”

However this did not explain several local reports that SDF forces (and possibly Coalition special forces) had been dropped into the village by Coalition helicopters.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 man)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown, Unknown
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One person was killed in a joint SDF/US led coalition security operation in Ghariba al-Sharqiya in Deir Ezzor on November 7th, 2020. (via EuphratesPost0.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the banks of the River Khabour (نهر الخابور), located west of the village of Ghariba Al Sharqiya ( غريبة الشرقية). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Ghariba Al Sharqiya are: 35.622001, 40.770607.

  • Reports of the incident mention the banks of the River Khabour (نهر الخابور), here marked in red, located west of the village of Ghariba Al Sharqiya ( غريبة الشرقية).

    Imagery:
    Google Image

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
    37SFU603434
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 16, 2021

  • Nov. 7, 2020, in Ghariba al-Sharqiya, 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. 3291/CS1953 37SFU603434

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Nov. 7, 2020, in Ghariba al-Sharqiya, 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. 3291/CS1953 37SFU603434

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown 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 Ghariba al-Sharqiya, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU603434
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

Unknown
  • Apr 16, 2021

  • Nov. 7, 2020, in Ghariba al-Sharqiya, 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. 3291/CS1953 37SFU603434

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 man)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown, Unknown
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1954

Incident date

December 30, 2020

Location

الطريق الواصل بين سلقين و بلدة اسقاط, The road between Salqin and Isqat, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.142999, 36.464729 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two local sources reported that a civilian was wounded in an alleged US-led Coalition drone strike on a vehicle on the road between the city of Salqin and the town of Isqat in Idlib countryside on December 30th. Two other sources stated that there had been no reports of casualties.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported: “A person was wounded, this afternoon, Wednesday, December 30th, as a result of unidentified aircraft targeting a car on the road between the city of Salqin and the town of Isqat in the northwestern countryside of Idlib.” Shaam News wrote: “A man was wounded when an unidentified aircraft targeted a vehicle on the road between Salqin city and the town of Isqat.”

@IdlibPlus tweeted that the drone belonged to the US-led Coalition, but wrote that there were no casualties. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported that there had been no casualties reported thus far in an alleged US-led Coalition drone strike.

On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition reported this incident to be “non-credible”, stating that “After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Vehicle reportedly targeted by alleged US-led Coalition drones on the road between Salqin and Isqat, Idlib, on December 30th, 2020 (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers at the site after alleged US-led Coalition drones on a vehicle on the road between Salqin and Isqat, Idlib, on December 30th, 2020 (via Syrian Civil Defence).

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck on the road connecting the city of Salqin (سلقين) to the town of Isqat (إسقاط). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for a middle point on this road are: 36.142999, 36.464729. Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 36.143, 36.46472.

  • Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck on the road connecting the city of Salqin (سلقين) to the town of Isqat (إسقاط).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1955

Incident date

January 9, 2021

Location

العزبة, Al Azbat, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.321848, 40.307980 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A 7-year-old child was killed and his mother and brother were injured when an alleged US-led Coalition mortar shell hit the family’s home in the town of Al Azbat, Deir Ezzor governorate, on January 9th, 2021. Local sources reported that the incident occured during a military training near the Coalition base near the Koniko oil field.

According to a Euphrates Post correspondent, “a mortar shell landed in a house in the vicinity of the Koniko oil field base, east of Deir Ezzor, during training of the American forces.” The source added that the “the shell landed in the house of the civilian Hani Hussein Al Toukan, killing his son Ahed and seriously injuring his wife and other son, Fahed.” The US forces reportedly brought the victims to a nearby medical point.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights wrote that “a child was killed and his mother was injured, as a result of an unknown explosion near their house in the Azbat area north of Deir Ezzor city, Koniku Oil, where the International Coalition forces and the SDF conduct joint military exercises.”

Several other sources wrote that the civilian house was targeted. @SyriawatanNews, for example, tweeted that “the ‘American occupation’ forces present in the Koniko oil field targeted the town of Ezbet in the northern countryside of Deir Ezzor with mortar shells, killing a child and wounding others.”

@SalamaAlhussein tweeted that it was not the village of Al Azbat that was hit, but the village of Khasham. All other sources mentioned Al Azbat village.

In a civilian casualty assessment released April 16th 2021, the Coalition classed this event as ‘non credible’, claiming that ” 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.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ahed Hani Al Toukan عهد هاني الطوكان
7 years old male killed
Wife of Hani Hussein Al Toukan زوجت هاني حسين الطوكان
Adult female mother of Ahed Hani Al Toukan injured
Fahed Hani Al Toukan فهد حسين الطوكان
Child male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 targets
    Other, Unknown

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: “The child Ahed Hani Al Toukan was killed and all his family members were injured when a mortar shell fell on his home in the village of Khasham, east of Deir Ezzor, from the Coalition forces stationed in the Koniko field, where a patrol of the American forces brought the child and his mother to the hospital” (via @SalamaAlhussein).
  • The boy Ahed Hani Al Toukan was killed when his home was hit by an alleged US-led Coalition mortar shell in Al Azbat on January 9th, 2021 (via @SalamaAlhussein).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Al Azbat (العزبة) area, south of the Conoco Oil Refinery, for which the generic coordinates are: 35.321848, 40.307980. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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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 al Azbat, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV188095
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 16, 2021

  • Jan. 9, 2021, in al Azbat, 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. 3293/CS1955 37SFV188095

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 targets
    Other, Unknown

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1956

Incident date

February 25, 2021

Location

حارم, Harem, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.213082, 36.519177 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Some local sources which reported the sounds of an explosion from an alleged US-led coalition drone strike in Harem, Idlib said that three ‘people’ were injured as a result of that on February 25th, 2021.

While most sources didn’t specify identities of those injured, @AlnahdaNews_24 said they were militants. “An unknown drone struck a point in the town of Harem in the northern countryside of Idlib, wounding three militants.”

Shaam Network and @NagiNajjar reported that three ‘people’ were wounded when a drone struck them in Harem, Idlib on Feb 25th.

Though Shaam Network didn’t blame any belligerent, @NagiNajjar attributed the attack to the US-led Coalition saying: “News of the cause of the explosion in the city of Harem is the targeting of a person by the international coalition, but his identity is not known yet.”

@AmmarAlzeer tweeted that “The International Coalition aviation launches several air strikes near the Harem area in the northern countryside of Idlib.”

However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the cause of the explosion is not known. They said that the explosion coincided with the presence of Coalition drone in the air, but it is unclear whether it is a Coalition strike or the detonation of a mine cave during the search for antiquities in the area.

Also Aram reported both stories. It said that an area of the military factions in Harem was hit by an explosion, either by a US-led coalition bombing, or by the explosion of mines during a search for antiquities in the area. “A video recording of the targeted site, showed that the target area was mountainous and contained rocks, and the bombing led to digging a hole in the place. The spokesman indicated in the recording that they did not know what the exact target was (a missile – a raid – an explosion) and explained that it did not lead to any damage.”

Local activists told Aram network that the explosion caused three casualties, which were transported to Harem Hospital, and most likely the result of an airstrike carried out by an International Coalition warplane on a point of the “Guardians of Religion Organization” faction in the Kfarmou region of Harem district.

They indicated that the aircraft belonging to the international coalition flew over the sky of the city of Idlib, the city of Salqin, and the city of Harem, on the border with Turkey, after the aforementioned targeting. Meanwhile, “Idlib Governorate Radio” denied on its Facebook page the news of the coalition raid in the vicinity of Harem, explaining that the explosion was caused by landmines that were detonated to search for antiquities by unknown persons.

In a civilian casualty assessment released July 13th 2021, the Coalition classed this event as ‘non credible’, claiming that “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.”

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported injured
    3

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The surrounding of Harem.
  • Caption translation: An unknown explosion in Harem in the Idlib countryside is believed to have been caused by an airstrike carried out by the International Coalition.
  • Image of a cave that some local sources said was detonated in Harem on February 25th in search of some antiquities. (image via Aramme).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Harem (حارم), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.213082, 36.519177. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    37SBA769104
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 13, 2021

  • Feb. 25, 2021, near Harem, 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. 3294/CS1956 37SBA769104

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported injured
    3

Sources (14) [ collapse]