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

CS1979

Incident date

February 22, 2022

Location

الدحلة, Al Dahla, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian, named in local sources as Ibrahim Khalif Ali Al-Ammar, aged 52, was reportedly killed during a Syrian Democratic Forces and US-led Coalition raid on the village of Al-Dahla, in the countryside of Deir Ezzor, at dawn on February 22nd 2022. According to local sources, he was shot at dawn when his house was raided.

The US-led Coalition was reportedly providing “aircraft” support. SANA reported that they carried out an airdrop operation.

Euphrates reported that Mr. Al-Ammar worked in the fertilizer and grain trade.

@DeirEzzorNow tweeted that “the raid took place without helicopters, as forces from HAT and the coalition raided the house of Ibrahim Al-Khalif Al-Ammar, and the goal is to arrest his brother Hassan, who was said to be an arms dealer, as they live in two adjacent houses in one yard.” They reported that his brother was arrested during the operation.

Another local source tweeted that the town was raided at night, “with a patrol of twelve cars.” Ath Press added that the raid was carried out by members of the “Miliary Council in Deir Ezzor”, led by Ahmwd Al-Khabeel… came with the aim of putting pressure on Al-Ammar and his brother with the aim of blackmailing them and forcing them to pay the money as a kind of royalty, and after he refused several times the raid took place.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights did not mention the detail about Mr. Al-Ammar’s brother and instead said that he was trying to be arrested during the raid, and that because he refused to surrender, he was arrested and shot dead.

Shaam reported that “activists in the Furat Post network said that SDF members shot Ibrahim Khalif Ali Al-Ammar, after he tried to prevent them from entering his house because of the presence of women and children.”

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Khalif Ali Al-Ammar
52 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ibrahim Khalif Al-Ali Al-Ammar, reportedly killed by a SDF and US-led Coalition raid in Al-Dahla on February 22nd 2022 (Image via @nahermedia / Twitter)

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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS540

Incident date

February 27, 2017

Location

المنصورة, Al Mansoura, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.83917, 38.74288 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A reported Coalition strike on an ISIL HQ which killed and injured up to a dozen militants also led to the injuring of three civilians, according to a single source.

According to Smart News Coalition planes launched an attack at al Mansoura “on an ISIL headquarters, killing five elements and wounding six others, including a deputy administrator, called Abu Talha Ansari.”

Syria News Desk also reported that the HQ was hgit – but said that three civilians were among a dozen people injured in the raid.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Al Mansoura (Raqqah), Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV7677966141
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For February 26th-27th the Coalition reported that “Near Ar Raqqah, eight strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and an ISIS staging area and destroyed four fighting positions, two ammo caches, a mortar system, a vehicle, a chemical weapons facility and an ISIS headquarters.“

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

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

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI684

Incident date

May 3, 2017

Location

Mosul, Al Hermat, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.323338, 43.112861 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured in a mortar strike by an unknown party on al Hermat in West Mosul, according to an eyewitness.

Amnesty International provided the following field report to Airwars citing an eyewitness: “At the time of the explosions and the bombings, the windows would shatter, and shrapnel would fly everywhere. Because of this, all of my family was staying under the stairway. At 2.30pm on 3 May, I crept out to take a peak out the window, to see what was going on, and just as I was going back to them, the mortar exploded in the street outside our house. I was so afraid when I heard the sound of it. Out of all of the family, I was the one who got to really experience the mortar – only I was injured. I got a piece of shrapnel in my side.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 28, 2018
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 2nd-3rd the Coalition stated: “Near Mosul, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and a sniper team; destroyed two fighting positions, two artillery systems, a heavy machine gun, a medium machine gun, and an ISIS staging area; and suppressed nine mortar teams.”

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI729

Incident date

May 23, 2017

Location

الموصل: غرب/الجانب الأيمن, Mosul, West Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.336843, 43.117979 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition reported that it did not carry out strikes in the area of where civilian casualties were alleged in social media reports. This allegation was previously unknown to Airwars.

The report stated as follows: “May 23, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media: The report contained insufficient information on the time, location and details to assess its credibility.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017
  • The report contained insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 22nd-23rd, the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and a sniper; destroyed 20 fighting positions, seven VBIEDs, six medium machine guns, five rocket-propelled grenade systems, three rocket systems, a weapons cache, a command and control node, a vehicle, a mortar system, a house-borne IED; damaged 21 ISIS supply routes, a tunnel, a fighting position; and suppressed four ISIS tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1255

Incident date

July 23, 2017

Location

دير الزور, Hamidiya, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.33, 40.145833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported multiple airstrikes across Deir Ezzor province, with Euphrates Post saying that an unspecified number of civilian casualties occurred.

According to @ALSharqia24, “air raids targeted the Hamidiya, Knamat, Panorama, Baghiliya and the vicinity of the military airport.”

Only one source, @TAHRIR_ALSHMA, said that the Coalition carried out the strikes. The others didn’t identify the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 23rd – 24th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle, an oil tanker, and an oil storage tank.“

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

In the last week (20th-27th) France reports carrying out two strikes in Raqqah, destroying two ISIL combat positions. Task Force (TF) Wagram carried out 21 artillery strikes in Mosul. The overall record of air activity since September 19th 2014 amounts to 1,324 strikes, 2,092 targets destroyed and 6,857 sorties.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, Dans la ville de Raqqah, Daech continue de perdre du terrain, jour après jour, face aux Forces Démocratiques Syriennes. Les combattants terroristes continuent néanmoins de disposer de solides positions défensives dans le cœur de la ville, à partir desquelles ils mènent des contre-attaques régulières et des actions de harcèlement. En Irak, Les forces de sécurités irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations de sécurisation de la ville de Mossoul, face à des équipes isolées de combattants qui continuent de mener des actions symboliques de harcèlement. Dans le même temps, Daech consolide ses positions autour de Tal Afar, pour tenter de résister à l’offensive prochaine de la Coalition pour libérer aussi cette ville. Daech poursuit par ailleurs ses actions de diversion et de harcèlement, en se concentrant dans les régions de l’Anbar et d’Hawijah. Certaines actions ont également été menées cette semaine dans l’Ouest de l’Irak, dans la région de Rutbah. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 45 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 04 missions de recueil de renseignement et 06 de ravitaillement en vol. Un C135-FR récemment déployé a en effet réalisé de nombreuses missions en quelques jours à peine, soutenant ainsi, à son niveau, la bascule des efforts de la Coalition vers les autres bastions de Daech. Deux frappes ont été menées dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah, détruisant deux positions de combattants ennemies, au contact des troupes alliées engagées. De ces positions, des tireurs de Daech tenaient sous leur feu les soldats alliés à une centaine de mètres à peine. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a réalisé 21 missions de tir dont 07 de harcèlement et 14 d’éclairement. Ces missions interdisent une offensive de contre des terroristes vers Mossoul. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève à 1 324 frappes, 2 092 objectifs détruits et 6 857 sorties. Le bilan global de l’activité artillerie atteint 1 331 missions.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI839

Incident date

September 7, 2017

Location

عنه, Anah, near Rafidain Bank, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.37167, 41.98286 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Yaqein reported on the aerial bombardment of International Alliance aircraft on the districts of Anah, injuring 7 civilians. However, in two later reports, the news agency stated that the Iraqi army launched air raids targeting residential areas. The US-led Coalition later accepted responsibility for the event, saying it had unintentionally injured seven civilians.

The Iraqi Spring Media quoted the town council chief Abdul Karim al-Ani who confirmed the injury of 7 civilians, including children. He also stated that the Rafidain Bank was targeted.

In its July 2018 monthly report, the Coalition noted: “September 7, 2017, near Anah, Iraq, via Airwars report. During a strike on Daesh command and control nodes, seven civilians were unintentionally injured.”

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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention that the alleged Coalition airstrike targeted the Rafidain Bank in the center of Anah. The coordinates for the Rafidain Bank are: 34.372268, 41.983302. The bank itself doesn’t seem to be damaged, but on satellite imagery available to Airwars structural damage to a building in the vicinity can be seen between June 24 and September 19, 2017

  • The Rafidain Bank and the location at which structural damage can be seen on satellite imagery between June 24 and September 19, 2017

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Bing

  • MGRS coordinates

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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 injuries conceded
    7
  • Stated location
    near Anah, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SGU743074
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • September 7, 2017, near Anah, Iraq, via Airwars report. During a strike on Daesh command and control nodes, seven civilians were unintentionally injured.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 6th – 7th the Coalition reported “Near Al Qaim, one strike destroyed two ISIS front-end loaders.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI765

Incident date

June 15, 2017

Location

القائم‎, Al Qa’im, Al Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.366944, 41.138889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident previously untracked by Airwars, the Coalition confirmed on Oct. 27, 2017 that it had unintentionally killed four civilians.

The provided coordinates placed the event in the near Al Qa’im town in the Al Anbar Governorate.

There are currently no further details known about the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

  • 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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2018
  • 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 US-led Coalition did not report any strikes near Al Qa’im on June 15th, 2017.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

In the past week, France reports his 31 sorties, 28 of which were Armed Reconnaissance or Ground Support (CAS) and 3 were intelligence gathering. Two strikes were conducted by French planes in Iraq and Syria, one in the west of Raqqah city, and the other in the Al Qaim region, both against ISIL fighters. Task Force Wagram carried out 80 artillery strikes in Mosul.

CHAMMAL APPRÉCIATION DE SITUATION En Syrie, Daech a continué cette semaine de perdre du terrain face aux Forces Démocratiques Syriennes (FDS). À Raqqah les combattants terroristes ont à nouveau perdu un vaste secteur au Nord de la ville. Les FDS ont également réussi à percer les premières défenses et à prendre solidement pied dans plusieurs quartiers à l’Est de la ville. Les terroristes conduisent cependant une défense très dure en s’appuyant sur un terrain systématiquement piégé et sur les quartiers les plus densément urbanisés. Ceci laisse présager d’une progression lente et difficile une fois les premiers faubourgs conquis. En Irak, Daech en dépit de nombreuses actions asymétriques a connu plusieurs revers cette semaine dans la plaine de Ninive (à l’ouest de Mossoul), et est désormais en phase d’être chassé de cette partie de la frontière irako-syrienne. À Mossoul les combats sont toujours concentrés dans les quartiers immédiatement au nord de la Médina, et notamment celui de l’hôpital transformé par Daech en solide position défensive. La progression des FSI reste difficile en raison d’un grand nombre d’actions de harcèlement à base de tirs de mortier et par l’utilisation quasi systématique de boucliers humains. À l’ouest de la ville, la 15e Division a lancé une offensive depuis Badush. Elle est parvenue à élargir la zone sous contrôle des FSI vers l’ouest et ainsi réduire encore un peu plus la liberté de circulation de Daech. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE CHAMMAL Appui feu – TF Wagram La Task Force (TF) Wagram a appuyé cette semaine l’offensive de la 15e division irakienne en direction de l’Ouest visant à élargir la zone sous contrôle des FSI. Elle a réalisé 80 missions de tir en appui des unités irakiennes dont plus de la moitié ont été menées pour harceler les combattants de Daech, soit pour les empêcher d’occuper une position, soit pour les en déloger. Les autres missions étaient des tirs d’éclairement ou fumigène. Appui aérien au Levant Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 31 sorties aériennes dont 28 de reconnaissance armée ou d’appui au sol (CAS) et 3 de recueil de renseignements. 2 frappes ont été conduites par les avions français en Irak et en Syrie, l’une à l’Ouest de la ville de Raqqah, et l’autre dans la région d’Al Qaim, toutes deux contre des combattants de Daech.

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Elsewhere, two mixed pairs of Tornados and Typhoons operated over northern Iraq. A Daesh mortar was engaged east of Tal Afar, while six positions in Mosul, including machine-gun and sniper teams, were struck using a mixture of Paveway IVs and Brimstones.’

Summary

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

Incident Code

CS1941

Incident date

December 21, 2019

Location

دوار قرموطي, Qarmouti Roundabout, Hassaka, Syria

Geolocation

37.049272, 41.205214 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Manar Saqer, female, aged 27, was reported killed on December 21st 2019, after she was run over by a US-led Coalition vehicle (truck) near Qarmouti square in Qamishli, Syria, according to local sources.

Manar was reported hit while she was returning back from her work around 17:30 local time. Another source believed the victim killed in the accident was a child.

Qamishli for Everyone reported: “Manar Saqer, a 27-year-old girl, was run over by a loader last night [DEc 21st] at about half past five on the Amouda road near Qarmouti roundabout next to the auto oil store during her return from work. This resulted in the amputation of her legs in hospital, where she later passed away”.

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 event as “non-credible”, stating that the allegation “refers to a vehicular accident, not a Coalition force engagement”.

The incident occured at approximately 5:30 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

27 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Qarmouti Roundabout (دوار قرموطي), sometimes called Osman Sabri roundabout, on the road that connects the city of Al Qamishli (القامشلي) to the town of Amuda (عامودا‎) towards the west. The exact coordinates for the roundabout are: 37.049272, 41.205214.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFB960026
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 14, 2020
  • Dec. 21, 2019, Al Hassaka, Syria, via Airwars report. This allegation refers to a vehicular accident, not a Coalition force engagement. 3216/CS1941 37SFB960026

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]