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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Incident Code

CI190

Incident date

February 16, 2016

Location

الرحمانية, Ar Rayhaniyah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.39202, 42.88929 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident previously untracked by Airwars, CENTCOM issued a statement on July 28th 2016 saying that it had injured a civilian during an airstrike on Ar Rayhaniyah:

The official release noted that “On February 16, 2016, in Ar Rayhaniyah, Iraq near Mosul, during a strike on an ISIL vehicle, it is assessed that one person was injured along the side of the road.”

The report suggests that the US’s post strike assessments had identified the casualty. No additional details are presently known.

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest village at 36.384986, 42.888942

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
    1
  • Stated location
    Ar Rayhaniyah, Iraq near Mosul
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF107295
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 28, 2016

  • On February 16, 2016, in Ar Rayhaniyah, Iraq near Mosul, during a strike on an ISIL vehicle, it is assessed that one person was injured along the side of the road.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 15th-16th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL bunker.
And for February 16th-17th, it had reported that “Near Mosul, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL supply cache and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI208

Incident date

March 26, 2016

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

Eight civilians were reported killed after missiles of unknown origin struck the Al Noor quarter and Aisha mosque in western Mosul.

NRN News published a detailed report: “Our Nineveh correspondent reports that four men, two women and two children were killed after the fall of a number of missiles on the neighbourhood of Al Noor to the west side of the city of Mosul.

One rocket landed on the Aisha mosque, injuring a number of civilians; while another landed on a house killing one person and injuring several others.

Our correspondent also said that one rocket landed on a vegetable stand, killing the shop owner and a woman who was shopping for vegetables. One of the rockets hit a house near the Tahir Zanawh mosque, killing a woman and her two young children, while another missile hit the adjacent neighbourhood killing one person and wounding several others.

Our correspondent said that the rockets which landed were about 30 to 40 centimetres long with a diameter of 10 centimetres, noting that according to witnesses they were believed to have come from the eastern side of the city.“

Yaqen said airstrikes by both Iraq and the Coalition had targeted the city, along with heavy artillery shelling by the Peshmerga.

Later the victim names of the family members have been published.

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.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Saud Nemat
Adult female killed
Ahmed
Age unknown male killed
Mahmoud
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • 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 attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Damaged vehicles following a rocket strike on west Mosul, March 26th (via NRN News)
  • An image of the victim (Ahmed) who was killed after the rocket strike on west Mosul, March 26th (via Mohammed Al . Majouli FB page).
  • An image of the victim (Suod Nemat) who was killed by a rocket strike on west Mosul, March 26th (via NRN News).
  • An image reveals the destruction that followed a rocket strike on a civilian house in west Mosul, March 26th (via NRN News).
  • An image shows the two children who were killed by a rocket strike on west Mosul, March 26th (via NRN News).
  • An image reveals the damage of a vehicle that followed a rocket strike on west Mosulm March 26th (via NRN News).
  • A Picture reveals the destruction that followed a rocket strike targeting a civilian house in west Mosul, March 26th (via NRN News).

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
    38SLF293239
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020

  • March 26, 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. 2916/CI208 38SLF293239

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”

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
    8
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • 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 attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI231

Incident date

April 20, 2016

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

An alleged Coalition airstrike on a bank in Faisaliah reportedly killed six students and injured a further eight civilians.

According to NINA, “The international Coalition bombed on Thursday [April 21st] the Um Al- Rabiein bank in the Al Faisaliah area in the north of Mosul, which led to the martyrdom of six students who were in the nearby bank and wounding eight others.”

Local blogger Salam Hamdoon claimed the strike took place at 10 am during peak time when the area was crowded with civilians.

In the first of their March 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 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
    6
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from 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
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF339240
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • April 20, 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. 2947/CI231 38SLF339240

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reports for April 19th-20th 2016 that “Near Mosul, nine strikes struck an ISIL staging area, an ISIL-used power plant, and four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL assembly areas, three ISIL supply caches, an ISIL mortar system, and two ISIL vehicles and denied ISIL access to terrain.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS222

Incident date

June 1, 2016

Location

السكاوية, Al Sakkawya, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.510278, 38.019444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One adult civilian male named as Saif Al Din Mohammad Al Sheikh was reported killed by a single source.

According to the Syrian Network, “Fixed-wing international coalition forces warplanes fired a missile that targeted residential houses in Al Sakkawya village, affiliated to Manbej city in the eastern suburbs of Aleppo, which resulted in the killing of the young man Saif Al Din Mohammad Al Sheikh. The village was under the control of ISIS on the day of the incident and it is now held by the Kurdish-majority Syrian Democratic Forces.”

No other information is presently known.

In the second of their March 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 no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Saif Al Din Mohammad Al Sheikh
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA243329
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • June 1, 2016, in Sakkawya, 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. 2967/CS222 37SDA243329

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reports for May 31st-June 1st 2016 that “Near Manbij, 18 strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units, two ISIL headquarters, two ISIL logistics facilities, an ISIL assembly area, an ISIL weapons cache, and an ISIL training base and destroyed eight ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL headquarters, two ISIL vehicles, two ISIL mortar systems, an ISIL cave entrance, two ISIL communication towers, an ISIL artillery system, an ISIL ammunition storage facility, and six ISIL-used bridges and denied ISIL access to terrain.”

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI260

Incident date

June 30, 2016

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, East [Cultural group], Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.368483, 43.184281 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, a targeted Coalition strike on the local head of ISIL’s sharia courts killed both him and his wife. They reportedly held French passports. The strike targeted the Al-Majmoa’ Al-Thaqafiya area of western Mosul.

In the second of their March 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 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
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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]

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
    38SLF371263
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • June 30, 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. 2985/CI260 38SLF371263

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 29th-30th 2016, the Coalition reported that ” Near Mosul, four strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and an ISIL supply cache.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

CS268

Incident date

July 17, 2016

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5165345, 37.9499531 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Fifteen or more civilians reportedly died in an alleged Coalition night time strike on the Al Hazwana neighbourhood of Manbij, according to multiple reports.

Manbij Mother of all the World said the ‘terrible massacre’ took place near the al Karama school.

The Syrian Observatory issued an urgent call to the Coalition and its allies: “We in the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights call upon the international Coalition to be very careful in the military operation of Manbij, due to the presence of tens of thousands of civilians inside Manbij city, which –iif it continues to be targeted by inaccurate air and missile strikes– will cause tens of new massacres against civilians, of whom 104 at least were already killed [by the Coalition], including 45 children and citizen women.”

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Jassem al Saidi
Adult male Motorbike mechanic, killed with his entire family killed
Bashar Mohammad al Ibbo
Adult male killed
Bashar Mohammad al Ibbo
Adult killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 16
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Bashar Mohammad al Ibbo, reportedly killed in a Coalition strike at Manbij on July 19th (via Manbij Mother of All the World)
  • Al Hazwana neighbourhood al Karama school (via Manbij mother of all the world)

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 July 17th-18th 2016, the Coalition reported: “Near Manbij, 11 strikes struck eight separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 22 ISIL fighting positions.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 16
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI288

Incident date

September 16, 2016

Location

عكاشات, Akashat or Saada, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.6696398, 39.9680901 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged Coalition airstrike in the al Qaim area resulted in the deaths of five civilians including two named children, according to reports.

Yaqein placed the incident on the evening of Saturday 17th. Picture of two unnamed boys emerged the same day, whose deaths were blamed on the Coalition. Two other civilians named as were among those reported killed – and another man was additionally reported killed at Rawa.

Samarra TV located the incident at one of two villages: Local sources confirmed on Saturday, killing a number of civilians, including children, caused by aerial bombardment targeted Akashat and the village of Saada and hand-Obeidi areas in the district-based western Anbar.

Reporting for this event and that above (at Rawa) remains confused.

Given reported British incidents in the area that day, Airwars flagged the incident to the UK’s MoD which said we can confirm that there was no UK involvement in the event.

In their May 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.

The victims were named as:

Omar Abdel Karim
Age unknown male Via Algrbia Alhadath killed
Abu Fatima al-Kubaisi
Age unknown male Via Algrbia Alhadath killed
Abdel Karim
Age unknown male Via Rawa killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Picture one of two boys reportedly killed in an alleged Coalition strike at Al Qaim on September 15th-16th 2016 (via news of Iraq)
  • Picture one of two boys reportedly killed in an alleged Coalition strike at Al Qaim on September 15th-16th 2016 (via news of Iraq)
  • An image reveals the destruction that followed an alleged Coalition strike at Al Qaim on September 15th-16th 2016 (via samarra tv)

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
    37SET897259
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2020

  • Sept. 16, 2016, in Akashat, 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. 3048/CI288 37SET897259

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For September 16th-17th 2016, the Coalition reported no strikes near al Qaim, though did declare others in Anbar province: “Near Hit, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a building… Near Ramadi, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and a staging area and destroyed a fighting position and a building.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI296

Incident date

October 17, 2016

Location

Makkuk (near Qaryah), Nineveh, Iraq

Airwars assessment

Local eyewitness said that two children were killed and another injured badly when Coalition airstrike targeted an ISIL building in Makkuk village in Makhmur near Qayyarah at 10.10am.

While al Rafidain made no mention of civilian casualties, it reported “a rocket attack caused the destruction of an ISIL facility in Qayyarah.”

 

The incident occured at 10:10:00 local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Makkuk (Qayyarah), Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 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
Official source

For October 17th-18th 2016, the Coalition reported that ” Near Qayyarah, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units and a mortar position; destroyed an ISIL-held building, a mortar system, an oil tanker truck, and a rocket-propelled grenade; and damaged a vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]