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

CI080

Incident date

July 1, 2015

Location

تل الرمان, Mosul, Tel Ruman, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3154191, 43.088851 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

There were claims that up to 22 civilians were killed and 16 injured in Coalition airstrikes to the west of Mosul. Women and children were reported to be among the casualties.

In a January 2016 report, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq noted: “According to a source, on 1 July, 17 civilians, including four children and six women, were reportedly killed in an airstrike conducted in the al-Rifaie area of western Mosul, Ninewa. 11 other civilians were reportedly wounded. UNAMI/OHCHR was unable to verify the status of all the casualties nor who was responsible for the airstrike.”

In its monthly civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the Coalition assessed the event as ‘non credible’, noting that “July 1, 2015, in Mosul, 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. 2782/CI080 38SLF284206”.

Coalition officials also provided Airwars with a geolocation to within 100 metres of the area reviewed. However, in light of the UN placing this event in the Rifai area of Mosul, the Coalition has re-opened this event for review.

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition again 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17 – 22
  • (4 children6 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–16
  • 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, Unknown
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention two different neighbourhoods in the city of Mosul: the National Iraqi News Agency reports the strike to have targeted the neighbourhood of Tel Ruman (تل الرمان), for which the coordinates are: 36.3154191, 43.088851. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq mentioned the neighbourhood of Rifai (الرفاعي), for which the coordinates are: 36.354417, 43.098020.

  • The neighbourhoods of Tel Ruman (تل الرمان) and Rifai (الرفاعي) in the west of city of Mosul

    Imagery:
    © 2019 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF293249
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • Dec 5, 2019
  • July 1, 2015, in Mosul, 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. 2782/CI080 38SLF284206

  • July 1, 2015, in Mosul, 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. 2782/CI080 38SLF293249

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Two strikes were reported in the vicinity for June 30th-July 1st 2015: “Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck an ISIL staging area, an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL building.”

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17 – 22
  • (4 children6 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–16
  • 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, Unknown
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI386

Incident date

January 3, 2017

Location

Mosul, Ma’moon, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.310611, 43.109528 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 22 civilians were reported killed, and 29 injured, in airstrikes by an unspecified party in eastern Mosul according to local media.

Citing a local source, Shafaaq reported that five people were killed and four others wounded after an “unidentified warplane” opened fire from it’s “machine gun” in southeast Mosul.

One relative posted on Facebook that their cousin, Younis Hassan Abdullah al-Badrani was killed along with 10 family members in an aerial bombardment.

Iraqi Spring Media Center reported a total of 22 civilian deaths and 29 injuries, “mostly women and children” in Coalition airstrikes on the eastern side of Mosul.

According to Team Correspondents, the deaths occurred in “Mushayrifa, New Mosul and Hermat and Ma’moon neighborhoods.”

Buzzfeed reported in 2017 that 15 civilians died in an event at Mamun:

Neighborhood: Hay al-Mamun
GPS Coordinates: 36.310611, 43.109528
Date and approximate time: January 3, 2017, around noon
Casualties: 15 civilians, including women and children.
Comments: Another targeted strike that seems to have been either a misfire or the result of bad intelligence/surveillance. Witnesses said kids were playing on the streets outside, there were women on the rooftops. Not clear what the target would have been. I believe this was two houses set close together.”

The incident occured around midday.

The victims were named as:

Younis Hassan Abdullah al-Badrani
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 22
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    29
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Younis Hassan Abdullah Al Badrani, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the Domiz neighbourhood, Mosul, January 3rd (Facebook)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

The news outlet, Buzzfeed, published precise coordinates for an alleged civilian casualty incident in Mamoon (المأمون) area, for which the coordinates are 36.310611, 43.109528. However, on the same day, local reports reference strikes on multiple neighbourhoods: (الموصل الجدیدة) New Mosul 36.3323266, 43.1050515, (مشیرفة) Meshrfa: 36.376753, 43.049025 and (الهرمات) Haramat: 36.3635566, 43.0702686.

  • The location provided by Buzzfeed in Mamoon (المأمون) neighbourhood, Mosul.

    Date taken:
    December 29, 2019

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

  • Coordinates: 36.310611, 43.109528

    Date taken:
    December 29, 2004

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3027720059
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For January 2nd-3rd publicly stated: “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units; destroyed three buildings, a heavy machine gun, two mortars, a piece of engineering equipment, a VBIED, and a front-end loader; damaged 17 supply routes; and suppressed four mortar teams.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 22
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    29
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS278

Incident date

July 23, 2016

Location

النواجة, Al Nawaja, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5157758, 38.0029106 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 22 civilians were reported killed at the village of al Nawaja, as the Coalition-supported offensive continued. However the Coalition later denied responsibility for the incident, noting that “the JCTF did not conduct any strikes in that geographic location.”

According to one source, “al Nawaja village is divided into two neighbourhoods. The eastern side is now under SDF control, while the western side’s al Maghmoureen neighbourhood [al Kamlak] is still under IS control.

According to the Syrian Observatory, “confirmatory sources [reported] that the international coalition’s warplanes targeted areas in al-Nawajah village located to the east of Manbij city in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo. The airstrikes killed and injured 15 people at least, and some of the wounded are still in dangerous situation.” Manbij Documentation Agency placed the death toll at 15, while Manbij Mother of All the World reported up to 20 casualties – but said getting information was proving difficult because of an “unprecedented media blackout.” Manbij Direct said 10 died with 15 injured. It listed some of the dead.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Aziz al Barhawi
25 years years old male
Khaled Aziz al Barhawi
5 years years old male killed

The victims were named as:

Khaled Ibrahim al Khalil
4 years years old male killed
Ramadan Juma’a al Illo
30 years years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 22
  • (2 children2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 22nd-23rd 2016 the Coalition publicly reported that “Near Manbij, nine strikes struck nine separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 12 ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 22
  • (2 children2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI664

Incident date

April 24, 2017

Location

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

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, 22 civilians died and 48 were injured in air raids on several neighbourhoods in West Mosul.

While Al Jazeera (referring to an ISIL source) and a tweet by @aisha_iq95 said the Coalition was responsible, other sources spoke both of Coalition and Iraqi forces aircraft carrying out the airstrikes.

The incident was first reported on April 24, 2017 at 8:37 pm by Correspondences Team.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    22
  • Civilians reported injured
    48
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Tweet blaming the Coalition for "22 martyrs and 48 wounded"

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention “several neighbourhoods” in West Mosul, and do not identify neighbourhoods. The generic coordinates for West Mosul ( الموصل: غرب/الجانب الأیمن ) are 36.336843, 43.117979

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
  • Jan 25, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 23rd-24th: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed 11 fighting positions, eight heavy machine guns, four rocket-propelled grenade systems, two ISIS-held buildings, one ISIS-held bridge, and a VBIED; damaged 14 ISIS supply routes and a fighting position; and suppressed four rocket teams, three mortar teams, and an ISIS tactical unit.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    22
  • Civilians reported injured
    48
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1352

Incident date

August 7, 2017

Location

Hisham ibn Abdul Malik, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.949243, 39.011009 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Twenty two civilians including 15 women reportedly died and dozens wounded in alleged Coalition airstrikes behind al-Andalus bakery in the city of Al-Raqqa. There is – according to research done by Amnesty and Airwars – no precise location for the building.

According to a tweet from @PalmyraRev1 it was mostly “women, children and the elderly” who were killed in the bombardment. Nearly all sources blamed the International Coalition for the attack.

Shaam News Network and other sources described the 22 killed as displaced citizens who had fled the city of Palmyra due to Russian and Assad regime strikes on that city and its environs. Activists said that the people killed comprised of two families, the Mrawah and al-Tawab families, victims are named below.

Shaam News Network pointed out the possibility that the names given may be different to the names of the people that had died, due to the media blackout and the strict censorship imposed by IS on the media. Following extensive Amnesty field research and interviews they uncovered “Four members of the Mrawah family were killed: Jihad Mrawah’s wife, Ali Mrawah’s wife (Ali is son of Jihad’s brother), Hsein Mrawah (father of Jihad and Grandfather of Ali) and Jihad’s mother.”

The evidence provided by Airwars corroborates the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality” where it states,”At least 22 civilians were killed when an air strike struck outside their home and the taxi outside smashed into the house as visitors were getting off and into the house, killing both the hosts and the visitors.”

The report adds that the victims were killed when plane struck outside their home and a taxi outside smashed into a building as visitors were getting being dropped off and entering the building to visit the Tawab family, also from Palmira. Members from both families were killed.

In July 2019 the Coalition announced that it had assessed this allegation of civilian harm to be non-credible. Their monthly civilian casualty report noted: “After a review of available information 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 (4)

Adult female killed
Adult female Ali is son of Jihad’s brother killed
Adult male father of Jihad and Grandfather of Ali killed
Adult female killed

Family members (7)

The victims were named as:

Fatthiya Mohammed Al A’sher
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    22
  • (2–5 children15 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • 'Massacre massacre committed by the aircraft of the International Alliance of the rights of displaced families of the # Palmyra in the city of Al-Raqqa killed more than 22 civilians, mostly women, children and the elderly.'

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the city of Raqqa, for which the generic coordinates are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148. One source (Smart) mentions clashes in Hisham ibn Abdul Malik neighbourhood, for which the coordinates are: 35.940907, 39.019103. The Amnesty International report concluded that the building was “by Hadiqat al-Rashid, behind al-Andalus bakery”, however there was no precise location for building. “mkhbz alandls” is the location of the bakery. 

  • The neighbourhood of Hisham bin Abdul Malik (هشام عبد الملك) in the city of Raqqa

    Imagery:
    © 2019 Google

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
  • Stated location
    in Raqqa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV011782
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2019
  • Aug. 7, 2017, in Raqqa, Syria, via Amnesty International report. After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 7th-8th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 25 strikes engaged 17 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 37 fighting positions, two command and control nodes, two weapons caches, two vehicles, and a weapons depot.” It additionally reported that “On Aug. 7, near Raqqah, Syria, six strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions, an ISIS communications tower, and a mortar system.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    22
  • (2–5 children15 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1236 RS2350

Incident date

July 19, 2017

Location

زور شمر, Zor Shamer, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.78379, 39.36559 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 22 civilians including as many as 11 children died in airstrikes on Zor Shamer, according to local media – though reports were conflicted as to whether the US-led Coalition or Russia were to blame.

There were no reports of injured civilians.

@eldorar, Syrian free army, Ahmad Shibli and the Smart News Agency pointed towards the Coalition – as did the Syrian Network for Human Rights, who put the death toll at eight.

@ShahbaPress reported that of ten civilians killed seven were from the same family.

Other deaths counts varied between 10 and 15.

According to Baladi, “Coalition aircraft killed 12 civilians, mostly children and women, in a bombing onthe village of Zour Shamr. Civilians were leaving the village in response to a coalition request to do so. The Coalition had dropped leaflets asking civilians to evacuate. They were therefore surprised by the bombing.”

However, other sources – including Sawarim and Shaam and Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS) – blamed Russia. RBSS put the death toll at more than 22 including 11 children, reporting that the victims included seven people from the family of Haj Hassan al-Hammadi and the wife of Walid al-Taka in addition to two of her daughters.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights pointed towards the Coalition, putting the death toll at 15 including three children and four women.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Adult female named by RBSS and Hasaka Rasd killed
18 years old male named by RBSS and Hasaka Rasd killed
15 years old named by RBSS and Hasaka Rasd killed
8 years old named by RBSS and Hasaka Rasd killed
5 years old named by RBSS and Hasaka Rasd killed

Family members (1)

Age unknown named by RBSS and Hasaka Rasd killed

Family members (1)

Age unknown named by RBSS and Hasaka Rasd killed

Family members (1)

Family of Ahmed Hassan Al – Hammadi
Age unknown named by RBSS and Hasaka Rasd killed

Family members (1)

Age unknown named by Ar Raqqa Al Mydanya killed

Family members (1)

Age unknown named by Ar Raqqa Al Mydanya, missing killed

Family members (3)

Adult female killed
Child female killed
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 22
  • (5–11 children2–4 women1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (27) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 19th-20th: “Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, a supply cache, and a tunnel; and suppressed a mortar team.” It additionally reported that “On July 19, near Raqqah, Syria, 19 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units; destroyed 34 fighting positions, two IEDs, and a VBIED; and damaged four fighting positions and a mortar position.” And also that “On July 19, near Raqqah, Syria, two strikes destroyed two ISIS fighting positions and a storage facility and suppressed a mortar system.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘ Wednesday 19 July – Tornados destroyed an explosives warehouse in northern Iraq, whilst Typhoons and Tornados struck a command post and defensive position in Raqqa…Update: air strikes against Daesh – GOV.UK In northern Iraq, intelligence had identified a warehouse near Hawijah in which large quantities of homemade explosives were being stored by Daesh. A flight of RAF Tornados attacked the building with two Paveway IV guided bombs, and demolished it on Wednesday 19 July. A mixed pair of one Tornado and one Typhoon meanwhile provided close air support to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighting to clear the terrorists from Raqqa. A coalition surveillance aircraft identified a Daesh defensive position, and our aircraft conducted a successful attack with a Brimstone missile. A terrorist command post was also identified within the city, and this was struck with two Paveway IVs.’

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 22
  • (5–11 children2–4 women1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS497

Incident date

February 16, 2017

Location

مزرعة تشرين, Tishreen Farms, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.132398, 38.869372 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A reported airstrike at Tishreen Farms killed up to 22 non-combatants, according to reports. Both Russia and the Coalition were blamed, though the latter denied responsibility.

Asharqiya Voice reported the deaths of 10 people, while Raqqa is Being Slaughtered described “a massacre against 14 civilians after Coalition planes bomb Tishreen farm north of Raqqa.”

Smart said that “the warplanes launched raids on the areas of Kabish Sharqi and Tishreen farms which killed eight civilians and injured 14 others including 5 who were critically injured.”

However, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently later appeared to change their position and reported that this was a Russian strike, killing 14 non-combatants.

The Brigade of Raqqa’s Rebels and Arkhamis al Arabi also blamed Russia.

According to Syria news desk to “22 civilians were killed, including seven members of one family, and more than 30 others injured, at noon today, due to the international targeting the village of Tishreen farm with six raids”.

Euphrates Post published a video showing “long range winged rockets fired by Russian bombers on targets in the city of Raqqa.”

In its June 2017 report the Coalition denied responsibility: “5. Feb. 16, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via social media report: No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties. The closest strike to the report of possible civilian casualties was 4 km away.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Age unknown male Killed with two of his children killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 22
  • (1–5 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Translation: raqqa - international coalition planes commit a massacre killing more than 14 civilians after bombings tishreen farm north of the city with several air raids.
  • Translation: media office of the brigade of Raqqa’s rebels - raqqa - 14 martyred after Russian enemy raids on a market in Tishreen farm in northern raqqa.
  • Translation: coalition planes commit a massacre killing 14 civilians after bombing commercial shops near the bakery in Tishreen farm west of Hazima north of raqqa.
  • Translation: it wasn’t the coalition who committed the massacre in raqqa at dawn today but Russian has confessed to the massacre that left dozens of victims after Tishreen farm was targeted.
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 Tishreen Farm, near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 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

For February 16th-17th it noted: “Near Ar Raqqah, 17 strikes engaged two ISIS staging areas and an ISIS tactical unit; and destroyed four tunnels, three fighting positions, three ISIS-held buildings, two weapons storage areas, two ISIS headquarters, a VBIED storage facility, a fuel station and a bridge.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

[France reports that over the last week they carried out 32 sorties and seven strikes destroying seven ISIL targets. five strikes were in the Mosul and Sinjar region andtwo were in the Raqqa region of Syria. Strikes targeted ISIL fighters and shooting positions. After two months of presence and operational missions in Operation Chammal, the two Rafales, deployed as reinforcements, left the Middle East. The number of French Rafale deployed in Operation Chammal, has now returned to 12.]

‘Chammal APPRECIATION DE SITUATION Sur l’ensemble du théâtre du Levant, la situation a peu évolué, au sens géographique du terme, cette semaine. En Irak, la phase de sécurisation de Mossoul Est se poursuit et les forces de sécurisation se réarticulent pour libérer l’Ouest de Mossoul. Néanmoins, Daech continue de les harceler et durcit encore ses défenses dans la partie occidentale de la ville. La capitale irakienne reste plongée dans une situation sécuritaire difficile en raison des attentats perpétrés. En Syrie, les forces démocratiques syriennes ont progressé, notamment dans la partie Nord-Est de Raqqah. À Al Bab, le recul de Daech se poursuit au sein même de la ville même si la complexité des interactions entre protagonistes représente toujours un frein aux avancées tactiques. ACTIVITES DE LA FORCE CHAMMAL Appui aérien Cette semaine, alors que la pause opérationnelle générée par la phase de sécurisation de Mossoul-Est se poursuit, les aéronefs ont réalisé 32 sorties aériennes dont 30 de reconnaissance armée ou d’appui au sol (CAS), et 2 de recueil de renseignement. 7 frappes ont été réalisées pour détruire 7 objectifs, dont 5 en Irak dans la région de Mossoul et de Sinjar, et 2 en Syrie dans la région de Raqqah. Les frappes ont ciblé des groupes de combattants, des positions de tir ou des pick-up de Daech. Après deux mois de présence et de missions opérationnelles au sein de l’opération Chammal, les deux Rafale de l’armée de l’air, déployés en renfort sur la base de Jordanie pendant la période d’absence de porte-avions, sont rentrés en métropole. Le nombre de Rafale français déployés en opération Chammal, est désormais revenu à 12 chasseurs. Appui artillerie : Depuis ses deux emprises au Nord et au sud de Mossoul, la TF Wagram a été largement sollicitée cette semaine avec près de 25 missions d’appuis réalisées. Depuis son emprise près de Mossoul, les artilleurs ont appuyé les troupes irakiennes pour des missions d’éclairement destinées à gêner les mouvements de Daech et les tentatives de franchissement du Tigre ou des missions d’interdiction et de destruction contre des positions ennemies. Depuis Qayyarah, la TF Wagram a conduit 11 missions d’éclairement afin de harceler les positions ennemies et faciliter l’action des Forces irakiennes dans la région de la poche d’Hawijah.’

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 22
  • (1–5 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1576

Incident date

October 4, 2017

Location

Al Shuhadaa, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.96377, 39.007897 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 13 and 21 civilians reportedly died following airstrikes on al Shuhadaa neighbourhood north of Raqqah city, according to local sources. The civilians were said to have gathered around a water well in the area. This was the second reported attack on the city’s water supply in two days.

Shahba Press said it had documented 13 killed, including seven children and “dozens” wounded, Fifteen were allegedly killed by Al Raqqa Truth. All other sources suspected 13 killed and all bar three directly blamed the US-led Coalition.

UNOCHA also blamed the Coalition, noting in a later report that “On 3 October, airstrikes in Al-Shuhadaa neighbourhood in northern Ar-Raqqa city also hit water wells where a group of civilians were gathering, reportedly killing at least 21 people, including three children, and injuring many others. As a result, the last two wells in the city reportedly became inoperable.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 21
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Shuhadaa mosque (لشهداء حي) near the water tower on Al Qitar street (القطار), for which the approximate coordinates are: 35.963770, 39.007897. Sources mention that strikes “hit water wells where a group of civilians were gathering (…). As a result, the last two wells in the city reportedly became inoperable.”

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Shuhadaa mosque (لشهداء حي) near the water tower on Al Qitar street (القطار).

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 3rd – 4th the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, 30 strikes engaged 16 ISIS tactical units; destroyed 14 fighting positions, two vehicles, and a logistics node; and suppressed four fighting positions.” It additionally reported that “On Oct. 3, near Raqqah, four strikes destroyed three ISIS fighting positions and a VBIED.” And that “On Oct. 3, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike destroyed an ISIS communication system.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 21
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]