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

CS473

Incident date

February 3, 2017

Location

Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.

Incident Code

CI558

Incident date

March 18, 2017

Location

Mosul, Nahrawan, Nineveh, Iraq

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on September 1st 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment on claims of civilian harm “near Mosul, Iraq” via an NGO report. According to the Coalition report, “March 18, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report: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. ”

The Coalition shared the location of this assessed strike with Airwars. The location was stated as Nahrawan in West Mosul.

No additional details are presently known.

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.
  • 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 1, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 17th-18th the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed 56 ISIS vehicles, 25 fighting positions, five rocket-propelled grenade systems, two medium machine guns, two mortar systems, and an ISIS VBIED; and suppressed 20 ISIS mortar teams and four ISIS tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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

CS943

Incident date

June 8, 2017

Location

near Al Quriyah (Dayr Az Zawr), Syria, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.953335, 40.534725

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on September 29th 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment on social media claims of civilian harm “near Al Quriyah (Dayr Az Zawr)”. According to the Coalition report, “101. June 8, 2017, near Al Quriyah (Dayr Az Zawr), Syria, via social media 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 Coalition shared the military coordinates with Airwars: 37SFU4013168943.

No additional information is presently known.

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.
  • 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 evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Al Quriyah (Dayr Az Zawr), Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU4013168943
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 7th-8th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed a vehicle.”

In the same report it was mentioned "Additionally, five strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on June 6 that closed within the last 24 hours," one of them was "Near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, one strike destroyed four ISIS oil tanks".

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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

CS971

Incident date

June 12, 2017

Location

near Abu Kamal, Syria, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.452263, 40.918551

Airwars assessment

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.

Incident Code

CS1457a

Incident date

September 9, 2017

Location

البوكمال, Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.78199, 40.82231 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the death of a civilian and the injury of three others in an event near Abu Kamal.

Their February 2018 civilian casualty report noted: “During a Coalition strike that destroyed Daesh weapons facility under and headquarters one civilian was unintentionally killed and three were unintentionally injured.”

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

Airwars had previously thought that this entry in the civilian casualty report was referring to CS1457, however, following an opportunity to clarify this with the Coalition, they confirmed that they were separate incidents.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    1
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    3
  • Stated location
    near Abu Kamal, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV647613
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 22, 2018
  • Sept. 9, 2017 near Abu Kamal, Syria via social media report. During a Coalition strike that destroyed Daesh weapons facility under and headquarters one civilian was unintentionally killed and three were unintentionally injured.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two fighting
positions and a vehicle.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1193 CS302

Incident date

August 26, 2016

Location

الادخار, Raqqa: Al Idkhar, Raqqa, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between five and nine civilians including one child died and up to 20 more were wounded in airstrikes on Al Idkhar neighbourhood of Raqqa, according to sources on the ground – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia, the Assad regime of the US-led Coalition was responsible. Several reports said that strikes occurred near the Yahya Sports Club.

The Smart News Agency, Ara and Syria Mirror blamed the Coalition. Syria Mirror reported that “international coalition warplanes launched three raids on neighbourhoods in the city of Raqqa, on the al Thakana and al Idkhar areas and the area around Al Nawawi mosque. Nine civilians died and others were wounded. Three members of ISIS were reportedly also wounded; two of them were transferred to the city of Mosul for treatment, and the third remains in the National Hospital in Raqqa.”

However, other sources, including Shaam News Network and Step News Agency, attributed the strikes to Russia. Step said that there were two strikes at midnight.
Al Jisr cited the IS media agency Al A’amaq, which claimed that the raids were carried out by Russia and “targeted the homes of civilians”. Activists said that the raids “hit the targeted savings area, resulting in the death of seven civilians and wounding of 20 more, including women and children.”

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently – who put the death count at six and also blamed Russia – identified the following victims: Abdul Karim Awad Al Shalash and his daughter Elisar Abdul Karim Awad Al Shalash.

One source, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, who put the death count at five, said that the Assad regime was responsible.

A number of other sources did not identify the warplanes responsible.

The incident occured around midnight.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Child female daughter of Abdul Karim Awad Al Shalash killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Abdul Karim Awad Al Shalash was killed alongside his daughter Elisar in alleged Russian, Syrian regime or Coalition airstrikes on Raqqa, August 26, 2016 (via RBSS).
  • Damaged vehicle after alleged Russian, Syrian regime or Coalition airstrikes on Al Idkhar neighbourhood in Raqqa on August 26th, 2016 (via RBSS).
  • Damage after alleged Russian, Syrian regime or Coalition airstrikes on Al Idkhar neighbourhood in Raqqa on August 26th, 2016 (via RBSS).
  • Damaged building after alleged Russian, Syrian regime or Coalition airstrikes on Al Idkhar neighbourhood in Raqqa on August 26th, 2016 (via RBSS).
  • Damage after alleged Russian, Syrian regime or Coalition airstrikes on Al Idkhar neighbourhood in Raqqa on August 26th, 2016 (via RBSS).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian, Syrian regime or Coalition airstrikes on Al Idkhar neighbourhood in Raqqa on August 26th, 2016 (via RBSS).
  • Damage to civilian property after alleged Russian, Syrian regime or Coalition airstrikes on Al Idkhar neighbourhood in Raqqa on August 26th, 2016 (via RBSS).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian, Syrian regime or Coalition airstrikes on Al Idkhar neighbourhood in Raqqa on August 26th, 2016 (via RBSS).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian, Syrian regime or Coalition airstrikes on Al Idkhar neighbourhood in Raqqa on August 26th, 2016 (via RBSS).
  • Damaged buildings after alleged Russian, Syrian regime or Coalition airstrikes on Al Idkhar neighbourhood in Raqqa on August 26th, 2016 (via RBSS).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (24) [ 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)

Adult female mother of Ahed Hani Al Toukan 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.

{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[{"type":"Feature","properties":{"stroke":"#ff0000","stroke-width":1,"stroke-opacity":1,"fill-opacity":0},"geometry":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[40.2845047,35.3214981],[40.283303,35.3211479],[40.2823054,35.3207541],[40.2815758,35.3207979],[40.2812218,35.3209117],[40.2807819,35.3210955],[40.2807283,35.3213844],[40.2805566,35.3215595],[40.2803635,35.3215857],[40.2801596,35.3214632],[40.2799129,35.3211743],[40.2796232,35.3209555],[40.2794945,35.3207104],[40.2795588,35.320369],[40.2797198,35.3201589],[40.2800094,35.3200363],[40.2804493,35.3200538],[40.2808141,35.3202114],[40.2810179,35.3202727],[40.2814256,35.3201764],[40.281769,35.3199137],[40.281887,35.3196073],[40.2816939,35.3192047],[40.2817904,35.3189333],[40.2822625,35.3187757],[40.282756,35.3185393],[40.282874,35.3180754],[40.2830672,35.3176201],[40.2836894,35.3171562],[40.2843224,35.3170161],[40.284655,35.3172087],[40.2852451,35.3176814],[40.2857386,35.317839],[40.2862858,35.3180929],[40.286865,35.3185917],[40.2876804,35.3190469],[40.2883241,35.3187318],[40.2882812,35.3179614],[40.2885816,35.3173661],[40.2889573,35.3169811],[40.2891182,35.3166834],[40.2889251,35.3164296],[40.2883672,35.316237],[40.2876698,35.3158868],[40.2872085,35.3155979],[40.2868652,35.315274],[40.2866613,35.3147399],[40.2867042,35.3143985],[40.2871441,35.3141884],[40.2877449,35.3140308],[40.2880453,35.3138294],[40.2882385,35.3134005],[40.2885925,35.3130678],[40.2889466,35.312989],[40.2895259,35.313094],[40.290116,35.3136106],[40.290867,35.3139958],[40.2916502,35.3139433],[40.2920686,35.3136544],[40.2923798,35.3130503],[40.2924012,35.312525],[40.2922403,35.3119297],[40.2919506,35.3114656],[40.2917575,35.3110016],[40.2920365,35.3106952],[40.2924334,35.3106427],[40.2928197,35.3106427],[40.2930128,35.3105989],[40.2931523,35.3104325],[40.293163,35.3100561],[40.2933776,35.309846],[40.2936136,35.3097497],[40.2938925,35.3098109],[40.2940535,35.3100736],[40.294032,35.3103975],[40.2940535,35.311133],[40.2943968,35.3117108],[40.2945255,35.3122711],[40.2946436,35.3128139],[40.2950405,35.3131904],[40.2952873,35.3135668],[40.2953088,35.313847],[40.2947723,35.3140658],[40.2940749,35.3139695],[40.2935921,35.3139082],[40.2931201,35.3139608],[40.2927553,35.3141096],[40.2924656,35.3145473],[40.2924871,35.3152652],[40.2929806,35.3160181],[40.293045,35.3164558],[40.2935385,35.316876],[40.2942037,35.3170686],[40.2951264,35.3164383],[40.2957272,35.3160356],[40.2963924,35.315913],[40.2966284,35.3163508],[40.296564,35.3171212],[40.2961134,35.3186094],[40.2967784,35.3197123],[40.2973363,35.3204476],[40.2993534,35.3207277],[40.300555,35.3202025],[40.3012418,35.318907],[40.3011131,35.3179966],[40.3009414,35.3172962],[40.3011774,35.3166834],[40.301671,35.3161231],[40.3018641,35.3154578],[40.3017139,35.3147224],[40.3014778,35.3141796],[40.3012203,35.3136368],[40.3012418,35.3131291],[40.3018426,35.3127964],[40.3027438,35.3127088],[40.3036021,35.3131291],[40.3041815,35.3133217],[40.3050613,35.3130415],[40.3059839,35.312919],[40.3065848,35.3130065],[40.3070783,35.3134617],[40.3072285,35.3140396],[40.3070783,35.314915],[40.3072929,35.3156154],[40.3083657,35.3161582],[40.309696,35.3163156],[40.3125284,35.315055],[40.3139875,35.3142846],[40.314245,35.3125336],[40.3156183,35.3119033],[40.3168199,35.3129538],[40.3169057,35.3143546],[40.3149316,35.3158954],[40.3133009,35.3172961],[40.3130434,35.319187],[40.314245,35.3201675],[40.3151248,35.320255],[40.3158543,35.3197473],[40.3164337,35.3190995],[40.3173564,35.3189069],[40.3180215,35.3193446],[40.3177855,35.3200449],[40.3176997,35.3211129],[40.3182147,35.3220058],[40.3187726,35.3226186],[40.3204033,35.3229162],[40.3214333,35.3227411],[40.3228495,35.3220758],[40.3240511,35.3212705],[40.3247807,35.3203951],[40.3251884,35.3193971],[40.3256605,35.3184342],[40.3262613,35.3179789],[40.3267548,35.318119],[40.32742,35.3187843],[40.3277204,35.3200449],[40.3273985,35.3211654],[40.3266261,35.3220933],[40.3255961,35.3232838],[40.323429,35.3248596],[40.3233003,35.3245795],[40.3214977,35.3250696],[40.3189658,35.3248596],[40.3176355,35.3246145],[40.3162622,35.3245795],[40.3155755,35.3249297],[40.3146314,35.3262952],[40.3136873,35.3281859],[40.3130004,35.328816],[40.3114126,35.3295863],[40.3103826,35.3295863],[40.3090951,35.328781],[40.3083227,35.3279407],[40.3083656,35.3267152],[40.3086231,35.3254897],[40.3083656,35.3244393],[40.307636,35.3233539],[40.3058765,35.3225485],[40.304117,35.3226536],[40.3033338,35.3228899],[40.3028081,35.3235202],[40.3026042,35.3245356],[40.3028081,35.3250083],[40.3035913,35.3253497],[40.3045032,35.3257611],[40.3047285,35.3262688],[40.304589,35.3269428],[40.3036664,35.3274505],[40.3029153,35.3281507],[40.3026364,35.3289035],[40.3019068,35.3290086],[40.3009627,35.3291836],[40.3010271,35.3298663],[40.3014562,35.3307416],[40.3013275,35.3314944],[40.3005121,35.3317395],[40.2987311,35.3310392],[40.2974865,35.3300064],[40.2959845,35.3301639],[40.2943752,35.3304791],[40.2935383,35.3302165],[40.292959,35.3294812],[40.2925942,35.3284484],[40.2921865,35.3277131],[40.2913926,35.3268027],[40.2903841,35.3254197],[40.2895043,35.3251921],[40.287895,35.3252622],[40.2865431,35.3246144],[40.2857492,35.3243518],[40.2846334,35.3246319],[40.2837966,35.3247544],[40.2834856,35.3246671],[40.2831957,35.3244743],[40.2831637,35.3242206],[40.2833889,35.3238791],[40.284054,35.3233364],[40.2848051,35.3227936],[40.2850626,35.3223735],[40.2849338,35.3218832],[40.2845047,35.3214981]]]}},{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"Conoco Oil Refinery","label-style":"black-white"},"geometry":{"type":"Point","coordinates":[40.319223403930664,35.3429249231336]}}]}

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

CS1988

Incident date

November 22, 2022

Location

الزر, Al Zar, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.124387, 40.432541 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A young man was either injured or killed during a raid allegedly carried out by the Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces in the village of al-Zar the evening/morning of November 22, 2022.

According to @euphratspost, a young man named Ahmed Hussein Ali al-Qubbah was severely injured and a 13 year old named Ahmad Mahmoud al-Hilu was arrest during a raid carried out by the SDF in the village of al-Zar around 2am.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that units affiliated with the SDF, with the support of “International Coalition” aircraft, carried out a raid and arrested a person alleged to be a member of ISIS. At the time of reporting, SOHR did not have information on human losses or material damage.

Nedaa Post referred to the raid as being carried out against “a number of civilian homes” and added that armed clashes between the people in the homes and the SDF resulted in the injury of the young man Ahmed Hussein Ali al-Qubbah when he tried to leave his house.

Baladi News reported that Ahmed Hussein was killed during the raid and Chamtimes referred to the person killed as being a civilian, indicating that Ahmed later died from his injuries. @DeirEzzore identified Ahmed Hussein as being 37 years old and added that he was wounded by a bullet that penetrated his back, paralyzing him.

In a civilian casualty assessment released November 3, 2023, the Coalition classed this event as ‘non credible’, claiming that “After a thorough review of all CJTF-OIR’s strike and operation history, no strike or operation was identified +/-24 hours, in the vicinity of the allegation.”

The incident occured at approximately 2:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Hussein Ali al-Qubbah أحمد حسين علي القبة
37 years old male Possibly killed injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The young man, "Ahmed Hussein Ali al-Qubba," who was injured or killed by alleged Coalition and SDF raids on November 22, 2022. (Image posted by @DeirEzzore)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Zar (الزر), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.124387, 40.432541. 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
    Not yet assessed

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 3, 2023
  • November 22, 2022, near Al Zar, Syria, via Airwars report. After a thorough review of all CJTF-OIR’s strike and operation history, no strike or operation was identified +/-24 hours, in the vicinity of the allegation. 3326/CS1988 37SFU3052887776

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (14) [ collapse]