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

CS1708

Incident date

January 9, 2018

Location

North east of Mayadeen, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.09345, 40.74542 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 announced on March 28th 2018 that it had killed five civilians in an event “near Abu Kamal, Syria”.

According to the official release, ” During a Coalition strike which killed an ISIS leader, approximately 10 ISIS terrorists and destroyed a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device within vicinity of Coalition partner forces it was assessed that five civilians were unintentionally killed.”

Airwars researchers were unable to identify any local claims of civilian harm for that date. However the site Vedeng did note heavy clashes: “Meanwhile, there are at the moment violent battles between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the International Coalition forces on the one hand, and members of Daesh on the other hand inside Soor in eastern Deir Ezzor, where the [SDF] fighters made significant progress inside the town in addition to the destruction of an explosive vehicle for the organization.

In a related context, SDF forces were able to control the town of Granig fully after clashes with elements of the Islamic State, coinciding with raids by international coalition aircraft targeting the town and the vicinity of Hajin city in Abu Kamal.”

The military grid reference provided to Airwars by the US-led Coalition, accurate to within a 100 metre box, suggested a location approximately 20km north east of Mayadeen.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    5
  • Stated location
    Near Abu Kamal, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU591848
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 27, 2018
  • Jan. 9, 2018 near Abu Kamal, Syria via self-report. During a Coalition strike which killed an ISIS leader, approximately 10 ISIS terrorists and destroyed a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device within vicinity of Coalition partner forces it was assessed that five civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For January 9th, the Coalition reported: “Near Abu Kamal, 26 strikes engaged 25 ISIS tactical units and destroyed three ISIS vehicles, a fighting position and a logistics center.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1707

Incident date

January 5–7, 2018

Location

الجردي, Al Jarthi, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.8856493, 40.6237507 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On January 8th, Euphrates Post reported “the martyrdom of Khalid al-Turkawi, a displaced man from Homs governorate, from wounds he sustained as a result of a military air strike targeting his car during the attack on the town of al-Jarthi.”

The victim was also named by Syrian Human Rights Committee which blamed “a military air strike” on his car. Baladi said on January 8th the attack occurred “several days ago” suggesting that any airstrike was the work of the Coalition.

The SDF announced via Twitter on January 8th that it had liberated al Jarthi from ISIS.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khalid al-Turkawi
Adult male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Khalid al-Turkawi, killed in an airstrike on al Jarthi (via Euphrates Post)
  • The SDF announced its capture of al Jarthi on January 8th

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 January 5th-8th the Coalition reported the following:
On Jan. 5 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted three strikes consisting of six engagements against ISIS targets. Near Abu Kamal, three strikes destroyed three fighting positions and two ISIS supply routes.
On Jan. 6 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted seven strikes consisting of 13 engagements against ISIS targets. Near Abu Kamal, seven strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed an ISIS supply route, a VBIED, an ISIS observation post, two fighting positions and an ISIS vehicle.
On Jan. 7 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 17 strikes consisting of 27 engagements against ISIS targets. Near Abu Kamal, 17 strikes engaged 13 ISIS tactical units and destroyed two ISIS headquarters, three logistics centers, two ISIS command and control centers, two fighting positions, two VBIED factories and two ISIS vehicles.”

Both the UK and the Netherlands have reported that they conducted strikes in the vicinity of Abu Kamal in the first week of January 2018.

Unknown
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Saturday 6 January – Typhoons attacked accommodation used by Daesh, including local commanders, in eastern Syria...On Saturday 6 January, two Typhoons conducted a night attack on an isolated building some seven miles north-east of Abu Kamal, used as accommodation by Daesh extremists, including local commanders. A pair of Paveway IVs destroyed the target.’

Unknown
  • English
    /
    Original

'Sunday 7 January saw a Reaper once again working with coalition fast jets over the Euphrates, in support of the SDF. The Reaper observed a group of terrorists assembling under a tree, around twenty miles south-east of Mayadin, allowing a prompt and effective strike by another coalition aircraft, then delivered a further attack using one of its own Hellfire missiles.'

Unknown
  • English
    /
    Original

[The Netherlands report that Dutch F-16s stationed in Jordan have attacked an ISIS formation in support of ground troops. This happened near the city of Abu Kamal in the province of Dayr az Zawr, Syria. The fighter planes supported ground troops during 6 missions, 4 of which were over the Iraqi provinces of Ninawa, Sala ad-Din and Anbar and in the vicinity of Kirkuk. The 5th was above Eastern Syria. Only weapons were deployed during the 6th mission in East Syria.]

‘Weekoverzicht Defensieoperaties Nieuwsbericht | 10-01-2018 | 16:44 De in Jordanië gestationeerde Nederlandse F-16’s hebben ter ondersteuning van grondtroepen een ISIS-opstelling aangevallen. Dit gebeurde nabij de stad Abu Kamal in de provincie Dayr az Zawr in het oosten van Syrië. Nederland neemt boven Irak en Oost-Syrië in coalitieverband deel aan de strijd tegen terreurorganisatie ISIS. Een overzicht van Defensieoperaties in de week van 3 tot en met 9 januari 2018. De jachtvliegtuigen ondersteunden grondtroepen tijdens 6 missies, waarvan 4 boven de Iraakse provincies Ninawa, Sala ad-Din en Anbar en in de omgeving van Kirkuk. De 5e was boven Oost-Syrië. Alleen tijdens de 6e missie in Oost-Syrië zijn wapens ingezet.’

Summary

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

Incident Code

CS1706

Incident date

December 31, 2017

Location

السوسة, Sussah, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.528889, 40.9675 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 12 civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Sussah, according to local media.

Deir Ezzor 24 was one of many sources blaming the Coalition. It put the death toll at five. However, most other sources said that a dozen civilians died, with Eldorar adding that dozens more were injured.

Baladi reported that all the victims were all from one family, “the family of Ali Dahsh.”.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, of the 12 killed at least five were children. Al Araby reported the following: “Local media sources said that warplanes believed to belong to the US-led international coalition shelled the outskirts of the town of Sussah in eastern Deir Ezzor, killing eight civilians, including women and children. She added that all the dead from one family, noting the number of wounded, including those critically injured, likely to increase the number of dead, because of the deterioration of the medical situation in the region.”

 

The incident was first reported on December 31, 2017 at 10:00 am by .

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Five members from the family of Ali Dahsh
killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 12
  • (5 children)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Sussah (السوسة), for which the coordinates are: 34.528889, 40.9675

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 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

For December 30th-31st: “Near Abu Kamal, 10 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed two ISIS command and control centers, a fighting position, an ISIS headquarters and two ISIS vehicles.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 12
  • (5 children)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1705

Incident date

December 30, 2017

Location

البحرة, Al Bahra, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.7475, 40.78945

Airwars assessment

On August 30th 2018, the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment of possible civilian harm. In the report, the Coalition wrote: “December 30, 2017, near al-Bahrah, Syria, via social media report. After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.” The Coalition shared the location of this assessed strike with Airwars: 37SFU638465. Airwars researchers assessed that the reported event has similarities with S1499 – yet our researchers have the incident as occurring on the Dec. 29, 2017. Moreover, reports stated that a civilian was found dead inside a building (his home) – Coalition coordinates are in the open.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 30, 2018
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Coalition position: For December 29th-30th: “Near Abu Kamal, 10 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed nine ISIS fighting positions and two logistics centers.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1704

Incident date

December 29, 2017

Location

البحرة, Al Bahra, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.74226, 40.76953 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian male, named as Karim Makhkhalf Al-Hamoud Al-Faraj, was killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Bahra, according to local media.

Euphrates Post, Sharqiya Voice and Deirezzor were among sources blaming the Coalition for the victim’s death. Euphrates Post for example noted “The martyrdom of Karim Mukhlif al-Hamoud al-Faraj from the city of Mohsen as a result of [Coalition] air raids.Step News also mentioned artillery shelling of the town.

In September 2019 the Coalition announced that it had classed this allegation of civilian harm as non-credible. Their monthly civilian casualty report noted, “After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.”

The incident was first reported on December 29, 2017 at 11:00 am by .

The victims were named as:

Karim Makhkhalf Al-Hamoud Al-Faraj
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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]

  • Karim Makhlif Al - Hamoud Al - Faraj, killed in an alleged Coalition strike on Al Bahra, Dec 29th (via Sharqiya Voice)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Bahra (البحرة), for which the coordinates are: 34.74226, 40.76953.

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
    Other
  • Stated location
    in Al Bahra, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU620459
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 26, 2019
  • December 29, 2017, in Al Bahra, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For December 28th-29th, the Coalition reported: “Near Abu Kamal, eight strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed an ISIS-held building and a staging area.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Friday 29 December – Tornados dealt with two terrorist positions from which fire was being directed at the Syrian Democratic Forces in the east of the country…Two flights of Tornados flew close air support for the Syrian Democratic Forces the following day [Dec 29th], despite difficult weather conditions; one flight employed a Paveway IV to destroy a building from which fire was being directed at close range against the SDF, whilst the second pair of Tornados engaged through cloud a group of terrorists engaged in street fighting; a Paveway removed the threat to the SDF

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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

CS1703

Incident date

December 28, 2017

Location

تل الذهب, Tal Al Thahab or Tal Al Shayr, Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

35.95669, 41.20882 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died in an alleged Coalition strike on Tal Al Thahab or Tal Al Shayr, near the Syrian-Iraqi border, according to local sources on the ground.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “three civilians from the same family, including a child and a woman, were killed as International Coalition warplanes fired missiles on Tal al Thahab village in Hasaka governorate southern suburbs, on December 28, 2017.

Al Hasaka Arabea, named victims as Daham al-Haran and his wife and one of his sons.

Zaman ALwasl reported that “local sources said that helicopters of the International Coalition carried out a landing in order to arrest a leader of the Islamic State living in the village of Tel Al-Dahab. There was a clash during the operation, killing a civilian resident named Daham al-Oran al-Baalu along with his son and wife. Sources added that Coalition forces kidnapped the rest of the family of the victims and transferred them to the US base in the city of Shaddadi”.

The Coalition later confirmed that it had killed three and injured two civilians that day in the area.

Their May 2018 civilian casualty report noted: “During an attack two civilians were unintentionally injured and three civilians were unintentionally killed when they crossed into the impact area.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location for this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box. The location given placed the event in the Tal al Shayr area.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Daham al-Haran
Adult male killed
Wife of Daham al-Haran
female killed
Son of Daham al-Haran
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ 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
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near Rayhaniyah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV992814
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018
  • December 28, 2017, near Rayhaniyah, Syria, via self-report. During an attack two civilians were unintentionally injured and three civilians were unintentionally killed when they crossed into the impact area.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For December 27th-28th, the Coalition reported: ” Near Abu Kamal, 10 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed three ISIS vehicles, a heavy machine gun, an ISIS line of communication and a logistics center.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1702 RS2813

Incident date

December 25, 2017

Location

غرانيج, Granij, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.776667, 40.73 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Ten named civilians died and “a large number more” were injured in an alleged airstrike on Granij, according to local media. One sources blamed Russia, while the rest attributed blame to the US-led Coalition.

According to Deir Ezzor 24, six non-combatants died when the Coalition “attacked the house of Elias Khader Al-Abdullah in the Al-Samra neighbourhood of the town of Granij. The deaths occurred during a raid targeting a house which IS were in. It led to the martyrdom of Elias and the death of many members of the organisation [ISIS].”

The source said that the death count was likely to rise due to “a large number of wounded”, adding that “the bombing caused the complete destruction of many houses”.

Step News Agency, also blaming the Coalition, reported that “the residents of the neighbourhood came to the aid of women who were wounded in the raid. The plane then returned and targeted the ambulance, killing all of them and wounding two others. The search continues under the rubble of survivors.”

VDC-SY was the only source that blamed Russian troops.

The incident was first reported on December 25, 2017 at 3:00 am by .

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Adult female killed
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown female killed
Age unknown female killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The site of the alleged Coalition strike on Granij, Dec 25th (via Deirezzor24)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al-Samra (السمرة) in the town of Granij (غرانيج). Due to limited information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the exact location of the neighbourhood but believe it is in the Wadi Al-Samra area, for which the coordinates are: 34.784201, 40.728679. The general location of Granij (غرانيج) is at the following coordinates: 34.776667, 40.73

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 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

For December 24th-25th, the Coalition reported: ” Near Abu Kamal, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed a heavy machine gun and three ISIS vehicles.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced being active in unspecified parts of Syria until December 11th, 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1701a

Incident date

December 24, 2017

Location

near Kharayij, Syria, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.35092, 40.71575 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident previously not tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the death of three civilians in an event near near Kharayij, Syria.

In its May 2019 civilian casualty report, the Coalition noted “Coalition aircraft conducted strikes on a Daesh weapons storage facility and Daesh terrorists. Regrettably, three civilians were unintentionally killed due to the proximity of the strikes.”

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

In May 2020, the Pentagon confirmed this to have been a US military action.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Table from May 2020 Pentagon report to Congress, conceding additional US civilian harm events in Iraq and Syria during 2017.

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
    Other
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Stated location
    near Kharayij, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU578024
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2019
  • Dec. 24, 2017, near Kharayij, Syria, via self-report. Coalition aircraft conducted strikes on a Daesh weapons storage facility and Daesh terrorists. Regrettably, three civilians were unintentionally killed due to the proximity of the strikes.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

On Dec. 24 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of six
engagements against ISIS targets.
- Near Abu Kamal, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed a heavy
machine gun and three ISIS vehicles.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS