US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

Belligerent
US-led Coalition
Country
Iraq
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Incident Code

CI841

Incident date

September 7, 2017

Location

Abassi, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.274354, 43.595467 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 12 and as many as dozens of civilians were reported killed following alleged US-led Coalition airstrikes on Abbasi, Huweija in the Tamim province.

According to Al-Rafiden the Coalition launched 17 raids on the Huweija area. The Coalition was accused by the outlet of a bombardment on the city, that killed and wounded dozens of civilians; Yaqin cited well-informed sources who said that militias on the ground exceeded 40, 000 fighters, and were operating in conjunction with Coalition planes over-head.

In a subsequent report, a local source spoke to Yaqin, claiming that the bombing killed at least 12 people and destroyed a number of buildings – referring specifically to Abassi. In a third report, the number claimed killed in the Huweija area by the Coalition was suspected of being about 100. However, it appears that this is a general number over a longer period.

All sources blamed the US-led Coalition for the incident.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • News covers the coalition airstrike on Huweija in the Tamim province where civilians were reported killed (via Al Rafidain Channel)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the area of Abbasi (العباسي), Huweija, in the Kirkuk/Tamim province. It is unclear from reports if this means the town of Al-Abbasi (for which the coordinates are: 35.274354, 43.595467), or elsewhere in the subdistrict

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 Abbasi, Hawijah, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018

  • 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
Official source

For September 6th – 7th the Coalition reported “Near Al Huwayjah, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed five oil stills, two ISIS-held buildings, two ISIS headquarters, and a front-end loader.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI873

Incident date

October 31, 2017

Location

الباغوز, Al Baghouz (near al-Qaiem, Iraq), Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

34.43438, 41.008 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 announced the injuries of two civilians in an event near al Qaim.

Their June 2018 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike destroyed Daesh headquarters, two civilians were unintentionally injured.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box. This placed the strike at the village of Al Baghouz, only a few hundred metres from the Syrian-Iraqi border.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 injuries conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near al-Qaiem, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU845121
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018

  • October 31, 2017, near al-Qaiem, Iraq, via self-report. During a strike destroyed Daesh headquarters, two civilians were unintentionally injured.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 30th-31st the Coalition reported: “Near Al Qaim, four strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed an ISIS vehicle, a staging site, a mortar firing position, and damaged 13 ISIS supply routes.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI030

Incident date

January 22, 2015

Location

خزيمة, Aski Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.5141719, 42.7367306 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An internal CENTCOM report identified concerns of civilian fatalities raised by local Nineveh MP Abd al Rahman al-Luwayzi.

According to the MP, “Arab families, fleeing the area of Aski Musil were targeted by coalition aircraft, killing or wounding ‘scores of civilians.” The town is situated on the banks of the Tigris River to the north west of Mosul, and is easily identifiable on most maps.

Despite the report, CENTCOM determined that there was “insufficient information to determine time and location of the incident.” As a result the claims were deemed “Not credible. No further inquiry required.”

There was no attempt by the Coalition to contact Mr al-Luwayzi at the time, the MP later told Airwars.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    a:1:{i:0;s:5:"other";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    Ninawa ProviNe, Iraq.
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015

  • Open source. Insufficient information.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

COALITION-ASSESSED CASUALTY INCIDENT

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI061

Incident date

April 20, 2015

Location

فايده, Fadhiliya, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.5125336, 43.2689667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An airstrike on the village of Fadiliya near Bashiqa, north of Mosul, killed between 5 and 11 civilians according to reports.

NINA, citing a peshmerga source, said that three Daesh militants and 11 non-combatants died in a coalition strike. In contrast Arb-q cited a security source as saying that an unidentified airstrike had killed “five members of one family: the father and mother, and three children.“

BasNews, making no mention of civilian casualties, said that a coalition strike had killed a local Islamic State commander known as Abu A’isha, a Syrian national, and three of his men.

A day later Islamic State reportedly destroyed six empty Christian homes in the town, in what may have been a retaliatory act.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Fadhiliya (فايده), Nineveh Province, Iraq, near Bashiqah town (بعشيقة‎), which is located approximately 17 km North East of Mosul. The coordinates for the midpoint of Fadhiliya (فايده) are: 36.5125336, 43.2689667. A note on alternative Arabic spellings: Kurdish: Fezîle (فەزيلە); Arabic: al-Fāḍliyat (الفاضلية), al-Fāḍliyah (الفاضليه) or Faṣīliyat (فصيلية)  

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 Ba’shiqa, Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • fter 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
Official source

On April 19th-20th the coalition reported four strikes in the vicinity: “Near Mosul, four airstrikes struck an ISIL staging area, destroying four ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL armored vehicle and an ISIL excavator.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI094

Incident date

August 21, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, NINA, reported that a Coalition strike on a house at Hamam al-Alil, near Mosul “led to the martyrdom of all the family that inhabited consisted of nine members, including three children and a woman.“

As NINA noted: “Local residents told the National Iraqi News Agency that the international coalition aircraft bombed a rocket on a house in Hamam al-Alil, which led to the martyrdom of all the family that inhabited consisted of nine members, including three children and a woman. They added that the bodies were handed over to the forensic medicine department in Mosul.”

In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event to be ‘non credible’, noting: “August 21, 2015, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 2812/CI094 38SLF294240”.

The Coalition also provided coordinates showing the area it had assessed, accurate to within 100 metres.

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
    9
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (3) [ collapse]

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, Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF435034
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • August 21, 2015, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 2812/CI094 38SLF294240

  • Aug. 21, 2015, in Hamam al-Alil, 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. 2812/CI094 38SLF435034

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

A number of strikes were reported by the Coalition for August 20th-21st 2015: “Near Mosul, six airstrikes struck three ISIL tactical units and an ISIL mortar firing position and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL excavators, two ISIL heavy machine guns and an ISIL mortar firing position.“

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI127

Incident date

October 18, 2015

Location

القوسيات, Alqosjat, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.4368746, 43.1029299 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what may be a separate incident or confused reporting (see also the Kisik Junction report for this date) there were reports of a family of eight or nine killed at Alqosjat – an event said to have killed a woman and two children.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF300341
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • October 18, 2015, in Alqosjat, 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. 2844/CI127 38SLF300341

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition has publicly reported no strikes for the Mosul area for October 18th-19th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI159

Incident date

December 16, 2015

Location

شارع السكلات, Hit, Alscalt Street, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.628342, 42.8341752 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

It was reported by several sources that the Coalition struck Hit city, resulting in the injury of eight civilians including three children and two women.

According to the local site Hit News, an airstrike struck a militant vehicle carrying weapons, ammunition and food, injuring civilians in the immediate vicinity. The Coalition has confirmed targeting an ‘ISIL home-made explosives cache’ in the city.

However in its July 2017 report, the Coalition classed the event as non credible saying it had not conducted strikes in the vicinity: “Dec. 16, 2015, near Hit, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”

Given that the Coalition had confirmed strikes at Hit on the day, Airwars has requested additional information form the Coalition – and continues to assess this as a possible event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Images of victims and the aftermath of the attack
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 Hit, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 16th-17th 2015, the Coalition reported that “Near Hit, one strike destroyed an ISIL home-made explosives cache.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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]

Incident Code

CI191

Incident date

February 17, 2016

Location

يت, Hit, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.642631, 42.8278537 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to multiple local sources, a Coalition or Iraqi government aircraft struck the Sina’i, Bakir and Jame’iya neighbourhoods in Hit district, western Anbar, resulting in the deaths of 2 or 3 civilians and the injuring of 5 more.

Daesh-linked Al A’amaq said the strikes were the work of the Coalition. The Iraqi Spring Media Center did not specify whether the aircraft were Iraqi or Coalition, while Yagen said the attacks were the work of the Iraq Army.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SKC985246
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020

  • Feb. 17, 2016, in Hit, 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. 2897/CI191 38SKC985246

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 16th-17th 2016, the Coalition reported no airstrikes in the near vicinity of Hit.

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
    2 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]