US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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US-led Coalition
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Incident Code

CI143

Incident date

November 19, 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

At least ten civilians were reported killed and 13 or more injured, after a Coalition strike at 8.30am which targeted a Daesh IED facility also reportedly hit a next-door dairy factory in Mosul.

According to the local Nineveh Reporters’ Network, the attack “killed all elements of the organization [Daesh] who were inside the booby-trapping plant, but also damaged a large dairy building next door, killing approximately five civilian workers and injuring 13 others.”

The minimum death toll was later raised to ten, with one victim named as Yasir Nazir al-Tai Abu Mustafa, a 45-year old father. NRN later published an interview with a neighbour: “Yasir had four children, the eldest a student in the first year at intermediate school. Yasir was working as a taxi driver too, because of the bad economic situation and to protect his family from poverty and hunger… We have lost a dear friend and a good brother to us.”

With claims that as many as 50 civilians were killed and injured, the event led to fresh calls for the Coalition to be more careful in its targeting of the city.

In a later statement to CBC News, Canadian Forces Major General Charles Lamarre said the strike had been reviewed and “did not reveal any information to suggest that civilians had been harmed or killed… The nearest structure to the strike was well outside of the explosive radius of the weapons used‎.”

However graphic video footage released by Islamic State showed not only the apparent destroyed IED facility but also a badly damaged adjacent building, including dead and injured persons.

See also CI143.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Yasir Nazir al-Tai Abu Mustafa
45 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 13
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–28
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of Canadian strike at Mosul November 19th which reportedly killed 10 civilians (via Nineveh Reporters Network)
  • Yasir Nazir al-Tai, a father of four reportedly killed in a Canadian strike (via NRN News)
  • Another image of the aftermath of the attack (via NRN)
  • Another image of the aftermath of the attack (via NRN)
  • Another image of the aftermath of the attack (via NRN)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition has confirmed targeting an IED facility in the city on November 19th 2015: “Near Mosul, one strike struck an ISIL weapons vehicle borne improvised explosive device manufacturing facility.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 13
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–28
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI207

Incident date

March 25, 2016

Location

Mosul, Tanak neighbourhood, Nineveh, Iraq

Airwars assessment

Local residents told Airwars researchers that two entire families – 21 people in total – died as a result of alleged Coalition air strikes on their house in Tanak neighbourhood in East Mosul, on March 25th 2016. This was reported in an interview with two witnesses, Jassim Khalaf and Mohammed Sabri, on June 11th 2017. The witnesses told Airwars that eight people belonged to the family of Ahmad Al Ehemed. Thirteen other victims were relatives of Mohamed Fathi Mosa.

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
    21
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

    • English
    • English
    • English
    • English
    • English
    • English

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
    38SLF260229
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020

  • March 25, 2016, 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. 2915/CI207 38SLF260229

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 26th-27th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun position, an ISIL anti-air artillery piece and two ISIL fighting positions and suppressed an ISIL mortar position and two ISIL tactical units”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

    • English
    • English
    • English
    • English
    • English
    • English

Incident Code

CI239

Incident date

May 19, 2016

Location

معسكر الغزلاني, Mosul, Ghazlani, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.302955, 43.128271 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, Yaqen, claimed that 40 civilians were killed and injured in Coalition airstrikes on Mosul.

According to the local news group, “A source said that ‘the bombing targeted areas of the Ghazlai camp project as well as the University of Mosul, and the shelling was followed by another bombing which targeted the same areas after the gathering of civilians and ambulances at the first bombing site.’ The source added that ‘serious damage was caused to civilian houses and shops near the shelling areas.‘”

No additional information is presently known.

Responding to a request for clarification about possible involvement given declared UK strikes near Mosul that day, the MoD told Airwars that “after extensive research, we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the alleged event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 40
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–30
  • 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 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 May 18th-19th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL assembly areas and an ISIL vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 40
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI271

Incident date

August 1, 2016

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.3957715, 40.9943684 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources claimed that Coalition airstrikes had struck neighbourhoods in Qa’im City resulting in 9 civilian deaths – 5 children and 4 women- and 10 injuries. According to Iraq Spring, five homes were hit. ISIL’s media arm later issued a graphic video showing significant destruction at the scene and the bodies of four young children.

However, the Coalition told Airwars that There were no CJTF-OIR strikes in or near Al Qaim between Aug. 1 and Aug. 3.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (5 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ 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
Official source

No Coalition strikes were reported at Al Qaim for July 31st-August 1st 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (5 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI335

Incident date

November 13, 2016

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.3957715, 40.9943684 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five people, including 3 children and a woman, were killed following the alleged Coalition airstrike according to local accounts, including ISIL-controlled media.

ISIL controlled Al-A’amaq reported that US airstrikes killed three children and a woman and a man, and a further eight children and four women were injured. More than five other reports, including one by the Iraqi Spring Media Center, contained the exact same figures.

Yaqein had slightly more information, reporting that 20 civilians, mostly women and children were killed or wounded when Coalition raids targeted two houses. It said that 12 women and children were injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–12
  • 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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A picture shows smoke rising from the scene of a reported Coalition strike in Al Qa'im, Anbar on Nov 13th (via yaqein)

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 Qa'im, Iraq
    Nearest population center

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
Official source

For November 12th-13th, the Coalition reported “Near Rawah, one strike destroyed a bunker.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–12
  • 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

Incident Code

CI402

Incident date

January 7, 2017

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Dargizliya, Nineveh, Iraq

Airwars assessment

A UN report on the protection of civilians in context of Nineveh operations and the retaking of Mosul stated: “In the morning of 7 January, 15 civilians, including two women and three children, were alleged to have been killed in an airstrike targeting ISIL vehicles at the Hamameel roundabout in the Dargizliya neighbourhood of eastern Mosul.”

Airwars researchers have so far identified no known public allegations of civilians killed or injured relating to this incident.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • 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
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 6th-7th the Coalition publicly stated that: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged five ISIL tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, two VBIEDs, two ISIL-held buildings, two heavy machine guns, two weapons caches, an IED, a mortar system, a homemade explosives facility, an ISIL headquarters building, a supply cache, and a mobile artillery system; damaged 21 supply routes; and suppressed five tactical units.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI435

Incident date

January 19, 2017

Location

الرفاعي, Mosul, Rifai, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3558497, 43.0937862 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said 14 civilians were killed and 6 injured, mostly children and women, in Coalition airstrikes that had targeted their homes in Rifai neighbourhood northwest of Mosul.

Iraqi Spring Media Center said that seven children, four women and three men were killed as a result of the bombing on their homes.

On March 4th the Coalition announced that it was assessing one event in Mosul for January 19th – with an official confirming to Airwars that the alleged event was at al Rifai. In April it noted: “Jan. 19, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report: No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • (7 children4 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (7) [ 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
  • Apr 1, 2017

  • No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 18th-19th the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Mosul, four strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units, destroyed 49 watercraft, three ISIL-held buildings, four fighting positions, three mortars, three barges, two vehicles, a VBIED facility, a command and control node, and three excavators; suppressed an ISIL tactical unit; and damaged two tunnels and 12 supply routes.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • (7 children4 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI471

Incident date

February 20, 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

Local and press sources said that 89 civilians, including 32 children, were killed and 134 others injured due to Coalition airstrikes and artillery shelling during the last 72 hours in the west of Mosul. We have reduced the figure to between 60-80 civilian deaths and 80-100 injuries for February 20th-21st in order to avoid double counting fatalities.

Adding these numbers to those of recent incidents in Mosul, Yaqein stated that: “The death toll and number of wounded of retaliatory aggression (government and international) on the right side of Mosul in Nineveh province, which started its operations around three days ago, rose to more than 220 civilians.

Iraq News quoted the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights, which said that “because of inaccurate bombing by the international Coalition planes, 1428 civilians were killed during one month in the city of Mosul.”

In the third of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that the allegation provided insufficient information on the timing and location of the strike to make a determination.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    60 – 80
  • (32 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    80–100
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF310229
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 14, 2020

  • Feb. 20, 2017, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. This report contains insufficient information on time, location, or details to assess its credibility. 3083/CI471 38SLF310229

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 19th-20th the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and two ISIS staging areas; destroyed five mortar systems, four vehicles, three supply caches, three artillery systems, two command and control nodes, an ISIS headquarters, an IED facility, a heavy machine gun, a logistics node and a fighting position; damaged 15 supply routes; and suppressed nine mortar teams and an artillery team.”

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
    60 – 80
  • (32 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    80–100
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]