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

CS181

Incident date

February 18, 2016

Location

الشدادي, Shadadi, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.056316, 40.730438 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple civilian sites in the city were allegedly targeted by Coalition F-16s and F-15Es according to reports, reportedly leading to the deaths of 12 civilians.

According to the Damascus Center, “According to field information, the raids were carried out by white and blue/gray fighter planes on civilian areas inhabited by displaced persons from Dayr ez Zawr, Aleppo and Hassakah. Those areas struck included:

– Ina’ash al Reef clinic – the only health center in the city of Shadadi

– Al Tahrir secondary school

– A’llawi al Saleh school for basic education

– Mohammad al Faress school for basic education.

– al Amal school for basic education.

– The municipal building and the building of the former Socialist Arab Baath Party operating in the town

– The former Building Directorate of the region (of the internal security forces in Syria)”

In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition said there was not enough evidence showing civilians were killed: “Feb. 18, 2016, near Al Shadadi, Syria, via Airwars report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • Civilians reported injured
    32
  • 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]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 17th-18th the Coalition reported that “Near Al Hasakah, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL building.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

From UK MoD: ‘RAF Tornado GR4s and a Reaper remotely piloted aircraft conducted counter-Daesh missions over Syria on Thursday 18 February. North of Abu Kamal, a Tornado patrol used a pair of Brimstone missiles to strike a large engineering vehicle being used for wellhead repair and maintenance in a Daesh-controlled oilfield. Meanwhile, north-west of Raqqa, a Reaper worked closely with coalition jets to prosecute a group of Daesh extremists who were attacking members of the moderate Syrian armed opposition. The Reaper provided targeting and surveillance support to three successful coalition air attacks, then conducted a fourth attack using its own Hellfire missile.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • Civilians reported injured
    32
  • 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

CI194

Incident date

February 20, 2016

Location

عامرية الفلوجة, Ameriat al Fallujah, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.1706776, 43.8636875 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Ameriat Al Fallujah council complained that a mistaken strike by undefined aircraft had hit a civilian house in the village 17km south of Fallujah, which resulted in the death of one civilian and the injuring of 7 others.

According to Shaker Mahmoud, head of the council, the strike hit a house in the Heramat Amiriyah district. He also complained that “the region is controlled by Iraqi security forces and tribesmen.”

Responding to a request for clarification about possible involvement given declared UK strikes in the vicinity of Ramadi that day, the MoD told Airwars that “after extensive research, we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the alleged event at Ameriat al Fallujah.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A picture of a destroyed site by unidentified aircraft which led to killing one civilian and seven injured on February 20 strike near Fallujah (via Iraq News)
  • An image reveals the destruction that followed an unknown airstrike targeted a civilian house by mistake in Ameriat al Fallujah area south of Fallujah, which led the killing of one and caused an injury of seven people (via alsumaria.tv/news)

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

On February 19th-20th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Fallujah, one strike destroyed an ISIL anti-air artillery piece.”

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
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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]

Incident Code

CS182

Incident date

February 23, 2016

Location

Bahssa, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.081812, 40.7012987 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilian males named as Ahmad Salem Al A’tiya and Issa Turky Al Sulayman died in an alleged Coalition strike on a car in the village of Al Bahsa, west of al Shadadi.

Al Jazeera also noted the event: “In Hassakah northeast Syria, activists reported the fall of two dead and several wounded in air raids on the village of Al Bahssa west of Shadadi in raids by the international coalition, where there are battles between IS and democratic forces of Syria, led by Kurdish People’s Protection Units.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Salem Al A’tiya
Age unknown male killed
Issa Turky Al Sulayman
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: #Al Hassaka coalition planes target a civilian car in the village of al Bahssa north west of al Shadadi while they were trying to leave the city and they are Ahmad Salem Al A’tiya and Issa Turki. (via @dola3001)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 22nd-23rd 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Al Hasakah, five strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed six ISIL buildings and suppressed two ISIL sniper positions and two ISIL fighting positions and damaged an ISIL building.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS666 CS183

Incident date

February 24, 2016

Location

البوكمال, Al Bukamal, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.4561111, 40.9190941 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and four civilians died in an airstrike on al Bukamal according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the US-led Coalition were to blame.

SyrianPC said four non-combatants died in a Russian shelling of “oil separators in the Al-Hajjana area”. Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently also put the death toll at four after a “war plane targeted an oil refinery in the outskirts of al Boukamal“.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights alleged that this was a Coalition strike, reporting that “Luqman Al Zarzour died in International Coalition missile shelling on Al Boukamal city in Deir Ez-Zour governorate, February 24.” And DeirEzzor24 reported that “Coalition aircraft targeted primitive oil refineries” in the Al Bukamal area.

Algharbuya also pointed towards the Coalition, saying: “Coalition with coordination of the army [it’s not clear which army] and the seventh brigade bombarded the road between western Ramadi and Abu Kamal, and the number of people killed is still unknown.”

Other sources referred to raids by “warplanes” but didn’t identify the culprit. According to Alamawi three strikes killed three workers in the oil refinery.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Luqman Al Zarzour
Adult male named by Syrian Network for Human Rights, and VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1–4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • An image showing one of the raids on Al Bukamal, February 24th 2016. (via Deir Ezzor is Being Slaughtered Silently)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Lokman Watani al-Zarzour, killed in an alleged raid on Al Bukamal. (via, SN4HR )
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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

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
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition classed this incident as non credible due to insufficient evidence of civilian harm: “Feb. 24, 2016, near Abu Kamal, Syria, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 24th-25th 2016 the Coalition noted: “Near Abu Kamal, two strikes struck an ISIL modular refinery and an ISIL gas and oil separation plant.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1–4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS184

Incident date

February 25, 2016

Location

ميادين, Al Mayadin, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.016667, 40.444167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two adult civilian males named as Adnan Abd al-Wahab al-Bonaia al-Jasem and Ahmad Dalf al-Saleh were reported killed in al Mayadeen in an alleged Coalition airstrike.

No additional details are presently known.

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:

Ahmad Dalf al-Saleh
Age unknown male killed
Adnan Abd al-Wahab al-Bonaia al-Jasem
Age unknown male killed

Summary

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

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
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU317758
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020

  • Feb. 25, 2016, in Al Mayadin, 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. 2921/CS184 37SFU317758

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reports one strike in the governorate for February 25th-26th 2016: “Near Abu Kamal, two strikes struck an ISIL petroleum, oil, and lubricant separation vessel and an ISIL gas and oil separation plant and crude oil collection point.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

In eastern Syria, a Tornado patrol supported Syrian Democratic Forces as they mounted an offensive against Daesh near As Shadadi; our aircraft destroyed a terrorist mortar position with a Paveway IV.’

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

1 frappe planifiée a été menée en Syrie Le 25 février, 3 Mirage 2000 D ont mené un raid à Raqqah en Syrie. Menée conjointement avec des aéronefs de la coalition, cette mission a détruit un dépôt d’armement de Daesh.’

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI195

Incident date

February 25, 2016

Location

القيارة, Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.7977836, 43.2935143 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources claimed that at least 13 and as many as 46 civilians from ‘ISIS families’ – including children and women – were killed when their bus was bombed between Qayarrah and Shura south of Mosul as it was trying to cross the Iraqi-Syrian border. The bodies were reportedly transferred to the Forensic Medicine institution in Mosul.

According to reports, the terrorist group has been evacuating family members from Mosul to Syria in anticipation of a government assault.

There was some confusion in reporting. Kitabat said that 13 civilians from one family were killed, along with 46 Daesh militants. However, NINA said members of eight Daesh families died.

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
    13 – 46
  • 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 (2) [ 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
    38SLE457628
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020

  • Feb. 25, 2016, in Qayyarah, 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. 2910/CI195 38SLE457628

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 24th-25th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, nine strikes [1 British] struck two separate ISIL tactical units, an ISIL improvised weapons factory, an ISIL IED factory, an ISIL mortar factory, and an ISIL VBIED facility and destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions, and ISIL vehicle, an ISIL light machine gun, and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 46
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI196

Incident date

February 26, 2016

Location

شارع بغداد, Mosul, Baghdad Street, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.32438, 43.10165 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that up to 5 civilians died, including children, when more than 30 Daesh fighters were killed and injured in alleged Coalitions strike on the Mayer garage near Baghdad Street in eastern Mosul.

According to NRN News, the night time attack targeted 40 trucks being used by Daesh to transport goods between Syria and Iraq. But five non-combatants also died. Among those injured in a second strike were members of the local civil defence force attending the scene.

A propaganda video later released by Al A’amaq showed significant destruction at the site, along with a number of dead and injured civilians.

Responding to a request for clarification about possible RAF involvement given declared strikes at Mosul that day, the UK MoD told Airwars: “There is no credible indication of potential UK involvement” in the alleged event of February 26th.

On July 7th, the Coalition admitted responsibility for the incident, reporting: “Feb. 26, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report: During strikes on an ISIS VBIED and weapons storage facility, it was assessed that five civilians were unintentionally killed as a result of secondary explosions.”

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
    5
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • An image shows burning supply trucks following a Feb 26 strike which also killed five civilians (via NRN News)

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest street at 36.324818, 43.101468

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
    Killed by secondary explosion(s)
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    5
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF296216
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • Feb. 26, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report: During strikes on an ISIS VBIED and weapons storage facility, it was assessed that five civilians were unintentionally killed as a result of secondary explosions.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 26th-27th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, seven strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL assembly areas, five ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL VBIED facility, and an ISIL weapons storage facility and suppressed an ISIL mortar position and two ISIL rocket fire positions.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS688 CS186

Incident date

February 27, 2016

Location

محيميدة, Mahimideh, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.44294, 40.08619 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were killed in an airstrike on Mahimideh according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the US-led Coalition was responsible.

Euphrates post named two fatalities including an unidentified victim. It said that Russia was responsible.

However, Al Jazeera and Lebanon360 alleged this was a Coalition strike, killing one non-combatant and wounding several more.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Suleiman Saleh Al A’antar
18 years old male named by Euphrates Post killed
Hassan al Yassin
Age unknown named by Euphrates Post killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria from February 17th – February 29th.

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 strikes were reported in the vicinity for February 26th-28th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]