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

CS1621a

Incident date

October 12, 2017

Location

البدو, Baidou, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.958649, 39.007077 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that between 25 and 35 or more civilians died in US-led Coalition airstrikes carried out at midday which struck two residential buildings in Al Badou neighbourhood, Raqqa. Despite this, Amnesty field research has since been conducted which only reported the deaths of 16 civilians, spread over two strikes.

The Coalition initially confirmed having unintentionally killed three civilians in this strike – later updating this assessment to 16 killed. The majority of other sources placed the death toll at 35 and all sources blamed the US-led Coalition.

This assessment documents the victims of the second strike which killed ten civilians. The second can be found under CS1621.

Jisr TV reported, “The agency A’maq [IS propaganda] said the American raids targeted the Bedouin neighborhood, which resulted in the death toll”. It added that this came “after the resumption of military operations yesterday, following the failure of negotiations to exit ISIS out of Raqqa in return for not targeting them”. This account was reiterated in a later report by Step News Agency.

SDU Syria said “the planes also raided other areas of the city”, whilst Raqqa 24 noted an unknown number of civilians were wounded following the attacks.

The Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, stated that “Fayad Mohammed, a man in his 80s known as Abu Saif, and 15 members of his family and neighbours were among those killed in a double Coalition air strikes which destroyed the Fayyad family home and a neighbour’s house across the road. He had refused to leave the home where he had lived for 50 years when the Raqqa military campaign began.”

A relative of the victim told Amnesty in a testimony that “He insisted that he had lived here for 50 years and would not be evicted by these people (IS) who had taken control of the city and who he considered illiterate, ignorant and extremists.”

Ali Habib, one of the survivors of the attack, stated “I felt the roof of the house collapse on me… I called my wife, my mother, my daughter, but nobody answered… I realised that everybody was dead. I realised that everybody was dead. Then my boy, Mohammed, called out and that gave me the strength to free myself from the rubble and go to him. He had been thrown some 10m away by the explosion. We were both injured. I fainted and when I regained consciousness I heard voices on the other side of the rubble which was all around me and my boy and I called for help and eventually people removed some of the rubble and pulled us out.”

Ammar Amero, a neighbour who was in the area and helped recover the bodies from the rubble, told Amnesty International: “It must have been the last house they hit before the bombardments stopped at 5am. I found the bottom half of Abu Saif in the rubble. Um Abdalla was also visible in the rubble but her legs were trapped under it. She was dead.”

Raqqa RWB later reported that workmen were “rebuilding the Fayad family home, which was destroyed in a Coalition air strike”. The local source agreed that 16 civilians had been killed in the attack.

In March 2018, the Coalition conceded it had caused civilian harm in this strike: “(4.) Oct. 12, 2017 near Al Badu, Raqqah, Syria via social media report. During a Coalition strike to engage an ISIS-defensive fighting position it was assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed.”

Coalition officials told Airwars this incident occurred at the location 37SEV005796 (Military grid reference with 100 m accuracy).

In July 2018, following the publication of the Amnesty report, the Coalition again assessed the event, this time noting that “October 12, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report. During a strike on reported Daesh fighting positions near a residential area allegedly caused civilian casualties. Sixteen civilians were unintentionally killed.”

The coordinates, within 100m, were this time given as 37SEV006793 – or 35° 57.485′ N 39° 0.399′ E. Officials confirmed to Airwars that this related to event S1432.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (8)

Hsein al-Hamad al-Fares ibn Mousa
60 years old male Fayad's brother in law killed
Ammar al-Hamad al-Fares ibn Husein
32 years old male Hsein's son killed
Reem al-Maddad Bint As’ad
32 years old female killed
Razqiya Al-Habib bint Ali
1 year 6 months years old female Reem's baby daughter killed
Yousra Abd-al-Aziz bint Ismail
54 years old female Reem's mother in law killed
Abu Ibrahim
Age unknown male killed
Yassin
Age unknown male killed
Abu Abdallah
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • (1 child2 women5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • "A’maq: more than 25 from Raqqa people were killed due to American airstrikes in Bedou neighbourhood." 12th october 2017. (via Photo of the A’maq)
  • “WAR-OF-ANNIHILATION“.-DEVASTATING-TOLL-ON-CIVILIANS-RAQQA-SYRIA

    Amnesty report on the confirmed Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, 12th October 2017. (via Amnesty International)

  • Civilian casualties of a confirmed Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, 12th October 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • The aftermath of a confirmed Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, 12th October 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Satellite imagery of a confirmed Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, 12th October 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Ammar Hsein Mousa al-Fares, killed in a confirmed Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, October 12th 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Hussein Fares, killed in a confirmed Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, October 12th 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Reem Asaad al Maddad, killed in a confirmed Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, October 12th 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Rizqiya Ali Habib, killed in a confirmed Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, October 12th 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Yousra Aziz bint Ismail, killed in a confirmed Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, October 12th 2017. (via Amnesty)

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention residential buildings being struck in the neighbourhood of Al Badou (البدو), for which the coordinates are: 35.95809, 39.00665.

  • Reports of the incident mention residential buildings being struck in the neighbourhood of Al Badou (البدو)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

  • Before strike. (via Amnesty)

  • After strike. (via Amnesty)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected 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
    10
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV006793
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • During a strike on reported Daesh fighting positions near a residential area allegedly caused civilian casualties. Sixteen civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 12th – 13th the Coalition reported “Near Ar Raqqah, 25 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units, suppressed one fighting position, destroyed two communications nodes, 10 fighting positions, one vehicle and one ISIS supply road.” And additionally that “Near Raqqah, Syria, four strikes destroyed three ISIS lines of communication and one fighting position.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Thursday 12 October – Tornados struck two Daesh-held buildings in Raqqah, and bombed a terrorist camp in the western Iraqi desert…On Thursday 12 October, over western Iraq, another Tornado flight dropped four Paveways on a Daesh camp in the desert, some 60 miles south-west of Ramadi….This included two Tornado GR4s providing close air support to the Syrian Democratic Forces in Raqqah on Thursday 12 October. A Paveway IV guided bomb was deployed to target the upper storeys of a building from which a Daesh sniper was firing, and a second weapon struck another building from which terrorists were engaged in a combat with the SDF.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • (1 child2 women5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI467

Incident date

February 19, 2017

Location

الشفاء, Mosul, Al-Shafaa, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.35257, 43.120057 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that up to 130 civilians were killed and 78 injured after Coalition airstrikes and/ or Iraqi artillery had struck many residential buildings in Al-Shafaa (Shifa) in West Mosul. The Coalition has confirmed causing 10 deaths.

Press sources had told Yaqein that “the retaliatory shelling by aircraft and artillery by government forces had, from dawn on Sunday, targeted residential neighborhoods at the right side of Mosul, killing 30 civilians, including seven children.”

Iraqi Spring Media Center initially also reported 30 dead, including seven children. It said that Iraqi government forces were responsible for the shelling “with artillery and planes.” In a later post, it put the death toll even higher, at 49, and spoke of 78 wounded, mostly women and children. However, it reported “massive bombing by the Coalition”. Al Jazeera also blamed the Coalition for dozens of civilian deaths, and suggested that the 49 dead and 78 wounded were numbers reported by the ISIL press agency.

Raedlay and Correspondences team reported the same numbers and said these were the result of US strikes on residential buildings and shops in the neighborhood of Shifa.

Correspondences Team later also reported raids near Qasim Al-Khayat (street in Shifa neighbourhood) on a building used by displaced families. It said dozens were killed or wounded.

According to the New York Times, “this strike targeted an apartment complex near the Tahir building in Mosul, where both ISIS members and civilians lived. Down the street was another residential complex where ISIS members’ families lived. The attack on the first complex triggered the explosion of a fuel truck near the second, resulting in fire that destroyed the second complex. The strike was authorized despite numerous “collateral concerns” noted in the report: that there was a regular pedestrian and vehicle presence around the target, at a “moderate to high transient traffic,” and that residences and apartments were near the target. The report concluded that 10 civilians were killed. On the ground, the death toll was much higher. I documented the deaths of 20 civilians in and around the first building, including six members of the family of Yousef Hashim Ali. Dozens of others in the second building burned to death or were severely injured.”

Al Rafidain channel posted a video on Twitter showing the aftermath of the raids on Shifa neighbourhood, including several wounded and dead bodies pulled from the rubble. It said the Coalition was responsible, and equally reported 49 killed and 78 wounded, mostly women and children. The same video was shared by Iraqyoon.

In a report of February 21st, Yaqein suggested the death toll had risen dramatically: “It is noteworthy that about 130 civilians, were killed earlier, on Monday, in the massacre committed by the Coalition forces across the bombed Shifa neighborhood in the west side of the city of Mosul, Nineveh province.”

Mosul Ateka (Facebook) reported that Ammar Abd was killed in the raids: “Martyr (Ammar Abd) will also join the caravan of martyrs in the wake of the bombing that took place yesterday on healing [Shifa] district in the right side of # Mosul, [he] leaves behind three children (..)”.

In another post, Mosul Ateka reported the death of “Engineer Ibrahim Mohammed Ibrahim after raids on Qasim Al-Khayat (streets in Shifa neighbourhood). Mohammed Hussein Sawas at Shifa has also been named as a victim.

In July 2017 the Coalition confirmed an event at al Shifa as credible: “Feb. 19, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS headquarters building, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.”

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ammar Abd
Adult male killed
Ibrahim Mohammed Ibrahim
Adult male Engineer killed
Mohammed Hussein Sawas at Shifa
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30 – 130
  • (7 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    78
  • 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
  • Suspected attacker
    Iraq Government Forces

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Ammar Abd was reportedly killed in Coalition raids on Shifa neighbourhood, leaving three children behind (via Mosul Ateka)
  • Mohammed Hussein Sawas at Shifa
  • Yousef Hashim Ali, pictured here standing on the rubble of the building where 6 members of his family were killed. (Image from the New York Times)

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
    10
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3131324695
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • Feb. 19, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS headquarters building, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 18th-19th the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Mosul, nine strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and an ISIS staging area; destroyed four ISIS headquarters, four watercraft, three engineering equipment pieces, three command and control nodes, two artillery systems, a vehicle, an excavator, a fighting position, an ISIS-held building, and an ISIS support facility; damaged nine supply routes and three tunnels; and suppressed 11 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

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30 – 130
  • (7 children3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    78
  • 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
  • Suspected attacker
    Iraq Government Forces

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI197

Incident date

March 5, 2016

Location

شركة البناء الجاهز, Mosul, Industrial area in Arabi, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.413333, 43.106667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 21 civilians including 13 children reportedly died after an alleged night time Coalition strike on an abandoned factory in Mosul, which was being used by Daesh. The Coalition later said it had targeted an ‘ISIL weapons production facility’ in the city. This may also have been linked to the terror group’s chemical weapons programme according to a later report by the New York Times.

The US admitted seven months later that it had killed 10 civilians in the attack – at the time the highest ever publicly acknowledged civilian toll from a strike: “Near Mosul, Iraq, on strike against an ISIL weapons production facility it is assessed that 10 civilians were killed.”

According to NRN News “the Coalition targeted an old industrial plant in eastern Mosul, killing 10 Daesh militants… Our correspondent also said that the bombing killed and wounded more than 20 civilians from displaced families from western Sunni areas, who were living in the buildings.”

In a New York Times report, the family killed in the strikes had moved into the storage facility, divided it up into separate rooms, brought in a water tank, built a kitchen and a bathroom, all to avoid living in the IDP camps. On the night of the strikes, the whole family, 21 of them, were gathered at the table for dinner. A relative of the family Abdul Aziz heard the explosions, maybe a dozen in all, and later went to the site of the bombing, describing it as “The place was flattened. It was just rocks and destruction. There was fire everywhere.” They returned at dawn, with blankets to carry the dead. “We searched for our relatives picking them up piece by piece and wrapping them.”  Everyone at the dinner had been killed: Zeidan and his wife, Nofa; Araj, Ghazala and their four children; Zeidan’s adult son Hussein, Hussein’s wife and their six children; Zeidan’s adult son Hassan, Hassan’s wife and their two children; and Sawsan, their own beloved daughter.

Sawsan’s father said that “If it weren’t for her clothes, I wouldn’t have even known it was her. She was just pieces of meat. I recognized her only because she was wearing the purple dress that I bought for her a few days before. It’s indescribable. I can’t put it into words. My wife — she didn’t even know whether to go to her daughter, or the rest of the family first. It is just too hard to describe. We’re still in denial and disbelief. To this day, we cannot believe what happened. That day changed everything for us.”

According to the New York Times, the Pentagon had concluded that there was “no civilian presence within the target compound. Though the surveillance video had captured 10 children playing near the target structure, the military officials who reviewed this footage determined the children would not be harmed by a nighttime strike because they did not live there: They were classified as “transient,” merely passing through during daylight hours.” However, a United States Agency for International Development representative had disputed this finding, arguing that it was likely that the family lived in or near the compound because “parents would be unlikely to let their children stray far from home” but her concerns were dismissed.

In a Daesh propaganda video issued four months later, UK journalist John Cantile gave the death toll as 24, reporting from the site: “These were shops, houses and small markets. 24 people were killed, two entire families were wiped out and the houses of one of those families… is just a crater.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ali Fathi Zeidan Al- Manaawi
Adult male (via NRN News) killed
wife of Ali Fathi Zeidan Al- Manaawi
Adult female (via NRN News) killed
Daughter of Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child female (via NRN News) killed

Family members (8)

Hussein Ali Fathi Zeidan
Adult male (via NRN News) killed
Wife of Hussein Ali Fathi Zeidan
Adult female (via NRN News) killed
Child 1 of Hussein Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed
Child 2 of Hussein Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed
Child 3 of Hussein Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed
Child 4 of Hussein Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed
Child 5 of Hussein Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed
Child 6 of Hussein Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed

Family members (5)

Hassan Ali Fathi Zeidan
Adult male (via NRN News) killed
Wife of Hassan Ali Fathi Zeidan
Adult female (via NRN News) killed
Child 1 Hassan Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed
Child 2 Hassan Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed
Child 3 Hassan Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed

Family members (5)

Ghazala Ali Fathi Zeidan
Adult female (via NRN News) killed
Husband of Ghazala Ali Fathi Zeidan
Adult male (via NRN News) killed
Child 1 of Ghazala Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed
Child 2 Ghazala Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed
Child 3 Ghazala Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21 – 24
  • (13 children4 women4 men)
  • 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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows an unnamed child, killed by an alleged Coalition strike on Mosul March 5th (via NRN News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of the child who was killed after the alleged coalition airstrike in Mosul on March 5th (Via NRN News‎)
  • An image reveals the destruction that followed an alleged Coalition airstrike on an abandoned factory in Mosul (via NRN News‎)
  • An image shows an injured child after the alleged coalition airstrike in Mosul on March 5th (Via NRN News‎)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another image shows a dead child who was killed after an alleged coalition airstrike in Mosul on March 5th (Via NRN News‎)
  • Abdul Aziz Ahmed Araj, right, and his brother Saddam amid the ruins of the warehouse where their brother and other family members were killed. (Image by Ivor Prickett for The New York Times)
  • The site of a Coalition strike in Yabisat, West Mosul on March 5, 2016. (Image by Ivor Prickett for The New York Times)

Geolocation notes

The MGRS provided by the Coalition placed this incident at 36.3457, 43.08219

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
    10
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF279240
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 9, 2016

  • On a strike against an ISIL weapons production facility it is assessed that 10 civilians were killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 5th-6th 2016 the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, two strikes struck an ISIL weapons production facility and destroyed an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).“

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21 – 24
  • (13 children4 women4 men)
  • 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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS603

Incident date

March 21, 2017

Location

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.83444, 38.5466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 20 civilians were reported killed and dozens more injured in Coalition airstrikes on multiple locations in Tabaqa, according to local sources. Some reports confused this incident with a reported nearby mass casualty event at al Mansour. The Coalition later said it had killed ten civilians in the town that day.

According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, “Warplanes launched raids on the city of al Tabaqa which targeted the gas depot and the industrial street [al Sina’a street] in the city, causing huge destruction in shops and some homes and seriously wounding many civilians.”

It went on to say that “Coalition planes targeted the building next to the garages in al Tabaqa”. The monitor put the death toll for the day at 20 non-combatants, with dozens more injured,

According to Step News, “sources close to IS reported 17 dead and dozens injured in international coalition raids on al Awwal [the first] neighbourhood in al Tabaqa west of Raqqa”. Sharqiya Voice reported that the Coalition had also carried out two raids near the hospital, as well as targeting the market. Smart News put the death toll at 15, reporting that the Coalition “launched five raids, targeting the garages areas, al Sina’a neighbourhood [the industrial zone] and the area near the obstetrics hospital”.

The Syrian Network, in its April report, described an attack on a carwash in the city: “Tuesday March 21 2017 fixed wing international coalition forces warplanes fired a number of missiles at al Manara carwash in al tabaqa city in the western suburbs of al raqqa governorate which resulted in the killing of six civilians at once including one child. The city is under the control of ISIS.”

Maysaloun school in the city was also reportedly hit – leading to confusion with the nearby al Mansour event at Badiya school on the same day. (See CS602 and CS604 for details).

In its October 2017 casualty report the Coalition noted: “3. March 21, 2017, near Al Tabaqah, Syria, via social media report: During a strike against ISIS headquarters structure, staging facility and internet café, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.”

Officials said the event took place at coordinates 35°50’04.0″N 38°32’47.8″E.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Abboud Dibo
Age unknown male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed
Ammar Dibo
Age unknown named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed

Family members (2)

Abdel Hamid al Bakri
Adult male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed
His son Ali
Child male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Mahmoud al Dhahhab
Age unknown male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed
Muhanad Hussen Al-Hamod Alkran
Age unknown male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed
Mustapha al Mansour aka Abu Munhal
Adult male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–36
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (40) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • Mustapha al Mansour, Abu Munhal, killed in a Coalition raid that targeted Maysaloun, March 21st 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Hamid al-Bakri, killed in a Coalition airstrike on Tabaqah, 22nd march 2017. (via VDC)
  • Ali Hamid al-Bakri, killed in a Coalition airstrike on Tabaqah, 22nd march 2017. (via VDC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Tabaqah: al Nabablah, 21st March 2017. (via SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Tabaqah: al Nabablah, 21st March 2017. (via

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Tabaqah: al Nabablah, 21st March 2017. (via
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details. (via Syriahr)
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details.(via Halab today)
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details.(via Thoaralraqqa)
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details. (via RBSS)
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details. (via RBSS)
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details. (via RBSS)
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details. (via Sharqiya voice)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected 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
    10
  • Stated location
    near Al Tabaqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV5905165680
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition

  • During a strike against ISIS headquarters structure, staging facility and internet café, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 20th-21st the Coalition stated: “Near Ar Raqqah, 19 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed four petroleum oil lubricant equipment pieces, three barges, three fighting positions, three ISIS headquarters, two VBIED facilities, two VBIEDs, a VBIED factory, a tunnel, a vehicle, a weapons storage facility, and a command and control node; and damaged two supply routes.”

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • On Mar. 21 #CJTFOIR conducted 29 strikes consisting of 60 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria & Iraq. MORE: http://ow.ly/O0uF30a9gt8 (via CJTFOIR)

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–36
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (40) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS808

Incident date

May 12, 2017

Location

مزرعة الأسدية, Al Asadeya farm, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.917928, 39.167638 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 20 civilians – including “entire families” – died and dozens more were wounded in a casualty event at Al-Asadeya farm. Most sources attributed the incident to Kurdish artillery, and only one blamed the US-led Coalition. The alliance later admitted responsibility for ten deaths.

It was later revealed that the strike was either by French or Belgian forces – though both countries refuse to say more.

Syrian Press Center reported that “attacks by the military aircraft of the International coalition on Asadiya farm, north of the city of Raqqa, yesterday morning left dozens of dead and wounded civilians in addition to much destruction of the village”.

However, other sources believed that shelling by Kurdish artillery was responsible. According to Step News Agency, 20 died and dozens more were injured. Alaraby pointed at both strikes by warplanes and artillery, putting the death toll at 10.

All4Syria – which also attributed the event to Kurdish artillery – listed victims in addition to those named below as: One of the sons of Shawadi; Abu Baraa’s entire family; The whole family of Al-Taheri; and a displaced person on the farm

The Coalition’s August 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on ISIS fighters, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed in a building adjacent to the target.” Officials provided Airwars with the location for this incident, accurate to within a one metre box.

In March 2020, Airwars, Liberation and De Morgen published a joint investigation revealing that Belgium and France were refusing to accept responsibility for civilian harm in this and other events – despite all other allies ruling themselves out.

Asked to say whether its aircraft were responsible for officially declared civilian harm in up to nine incidents, the Belgian Ministry of Defence told Airwars by email: “For the year 2017, BAF [Belgian Armed Forces] was certainly not involved in all events. With regard to the other data given, BAF was no longer present in theatre. BAF completed its role at the end of 2017. Our conclusion is that all ROEs [rules of engagement] were respected as confirmed by our federal court.”

After confirming receipt from Airwars in June 2019 of details of possible French civilian casualty events, the defence ministry then ceased communication – refusing to answer all subsequent emails.

In its own investigation, De Morgen featured Muhammad Sheikh Sa’ab, whose leg was amputated following a likely Belgian or French airstrike on May 12th-13th 2017 [translation]:

“26-year-old Muhammad Sheikh Sa’ab sprawled out on some pillows in his home in Assadiyah, a small town just outside Raqqa. He prefers not to have his prosthesis photographed. He is missing a leg, in his own words, since an air attack by the international coalition against IS on the night of May 12-13, 2017.

‘We were all in the house when the Coalition bombs fell. My younger brother died in the process. He was 21 years old. Mahmoud was not a warrior, but an ordinary citizen. My neighbour Muhamad Al Nasih also died, as did a refugee from elsewhere in Syria who lived here. ‘

“… The international coalition regularly shared information about incidents involving civilian casualties, after its own evaluations or after reports in the local press and social media. That happened, for example, after the air raid on Assadiyah, in which Muhammad sheikh Sa’ab lost his leg. Several reports in the day after that attack reported civilian deaths. In the list of victims that became so famous, the brother of Muhammad sheikh Sa’ab is not included, but his 55-year-old neighbour, Muhamad Al Nasih, and the displaced person.

“Several witnesses in Assadiyah confirm to De Morgen that Muhammad Sheikh Sa’ab indeed lost his leg, that his brother died and that his father was injured by shrapnel shards. They are talking about ten to fifteen deaths. In an August 2017 report, the international coalition itself states that it is “credible” that civilian deaths occurred in this airstrike. “It has been judged that an attack on IS (fighters) killed ten civilians unintentionally in a building adjacent to the target.”

According to De Morgen, neither the defence ministry nor the Government wished to respond publicly to that list of incidents, even now that the operation is over, since Belgium may send its F-16s again later this year.

“We don’t want to set a precedent or start a polemic with other coalition partners,” the a Cabinet official said, citing the ‘many nations, one mission’ concept. If a country replies in the negative to a specific incident, it may lead towards other potential actors in that airstrike being identified. During the war against ISIS, this also had security implications, because civilian deaths can lead to revenge actions, government officials claimed.

“None of the authorities or the Coalition have visited us,” Muhammad Sheikh Sa’ab told De Morgen. “That artificial leg has cost me handsfull of money, all paid out of my own pocket.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Muhammad Sheikh Sa'ab
23 years old male Brother of Mahmoud injured
Mahmoud Sheikh Sa'ab
21 years old male killed
Father of Muhammad and Mahmoud
Adult male Harmed by shrapnel injured

Family members (3)

Abu Baraa
Adult male killed
Family member 1
killed
Family member 2
killed

Family members (3)

Al Taheri family member 1
killed
Al Taheri family member 2
killed
Al Taheri family member 3
killed

The victims were named as:

Khalil Dhamma
Age unknown male killed
Hassan Ismail Al Zeyab
Age unknown male killed
Muhammad Al-Naseh
55 years old male killed
Unnamed Syrian IDP
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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

Sources (14) [ 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
    10
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV1512474858
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

  • May 12, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via social media report: During a strike on ISIS fighters, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed in a building adjacent to the target.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For May 11th-12th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, three VBIEDs, two ISIS oil storage tanks, two ISIS oil stills, two excavators, a front-end loader, an IED, and an ISIS staging area.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI505

Incident date

March 3, 2017

Location

Mosul, Al Mahatta, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.332192, 43.121382 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local residents said a number of civilians were killed after an alleged airstrike struck the Abu Huraira School in the station area. The school was reportedly being used by displaced families fleeing the violence in other neighbourhoods.

Mosul Ateka (Facebook) reported Fawad Ali Abu Abdullah as having been killed in the raids on March 3rd, 2017.

On April 30th 2017 the Coalition accepted responsibility for 10 deaths, noting: “March 3, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS headquarters, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.”

A senior Coalition official provided the following coordinates for the strike – 36°19’55.9″N 43°07’17.0″E – which locates it slightly to the south of the Ras al Jadah train station.

A UN report on the protection of civilians in context of Nineveh operations and the retaking of Mosul stated: ‘On 4 March, an airstrike reportedly targeted an ISIL convoy in the ISIL-controlled Mahata neighbourhood, western Mosul city. Sources reported that a nearby civilian residential compound was hit, killing 21 civilians, including eight women and six children, and wounding 15 others, including three children and three women. Sources also reported that a number of ISIL militants were killed and their vehicles were destroyed.’

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Fawad Ali Abu Abdullah
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 21
  • (6 children8 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • 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]

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
    10
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3138822432
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 30, 2017

  • March 3, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS headquarters, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 2nd-March 3rd the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed six fighting positions, four heavy machine guns, three medium machine guns, two tunnels, a rocket-propelled grenade system, a VBIED, and a VBIED facility; damaged seven supply routes; and suppressed 22 mortar teams.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 21
  • (6 children8 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1881

Incident date

January 3–4, 2019

Location

الكشكية, Al Khishkiya or Kashma, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.80205, 40.69444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

During an exchange of small arms fire, an alleged Coalition helicopter strike hit a civilian home in the town of Al-Kashkiya, east of Deir Al-Zour. Between six and ten civilians from the same family were reported killed, including women and children.

In January 2020, the Coalition accepted responsibility for the deaths of nine civilians in the event and the injuring of two others. In May 2020, the Pentagon additionally informed Congress that this was a US-only action.

Manart Alforat 2018 posted at the time of the attack that six civilians died in the attack. @Deirezzor24 and Euphrates Post reported that seven civilians were killed, including one child and two women from the family of Ali Kalif al-Qatmir. Free Deir Ezzor Radio reported on nine civilian deaths, mostly women and children.

Meanwhile Shabab Al Latamna and Boukamalna put the death toll at ten civilians. So too did Sputnik, which added that among the dead were four children.

In a detailed description of the incident, Shabab Al Soussa reported that the attack occurred at 1am on Friday morning. Citing local sources, it described how “one of the wanted men of ISIS” was carrying and shooting his weapon, thinking that members of ISIS were trying to attack him. According to the accounts, his house and surrounding areas were then targeted which led to the killing of his relatives. 

A Coalition spokesman denied that there were civilian casualties though admitted attacking the town that day, according to Stars and Stripes: “Military officials are refuting reports that civilians were harmed in a coalition airstrike on an Islamic State-held village in eastern Syria last week, while observers have warned of diminished transparency in the anti-ISIS campaign. Syria’s state news agency and the activist group DeirEzzor 24 both said the strike on the village of Kishkiyeh had killed at least 10 people, including four children, the Associated Press reported late last week. Both blamed the U.S.-led coalition.

A U.S. military spokesman indicated there had been a Coalition strike in the area but initially rejected the allegation of noncombatant deaths. “We are aware of reports of civilian [casualty] allegations, but we have no evidence at this time indicating any civilians were harmed in this strike,” Army Col. Scott Rawlinson, a spokesman for the Coalition, said via email. “We take every reasonable precaution to minimize harm to civilians in our pursuit of an enduring defeat of ISIS.”’

In a later report, Deir Ezzor 24 reported that the Coalition had in fact paid out 80,000 euros to Al-Shaitat victims who were killed “by mistake”. “Special sources” to Deir Ezzor 24 revealed that on Sunday 27th January 2019, a delegation from the International Coalition and the SDF met with elders from Abu Hamam town in the eastern Deir Ezzor countryside at the headquarter of the Public Relations office, where they paid money to 11 people who were killed “by mistake” by the Coalition and the SDF during this incident.

According to the source, Haval Razan was among the people who attended, the highest representative of the coalition, and the link between the international coalition and the SDF. Representatives of the victims’ families who attended according to the source were: Hassan Al-Obaid Al-Ghadir, Abdelkader Al-Hassan Al-Baqes, Ammash Al-Hussein Al-Ghadir, Fahim Al-Ghadir, Jassim Al-Qatmir, Hamad Al-Ahmad Al-Amin, and Ibn Badri Al-Hamad Al-Ghadir.

Deir Ezzor 24 added that the Coalition “admitted that it had obtained false information which led to the killing of two civilians in Al-Kashkiyah town east of Deir Ezzor” and that “they reiterated the need to hold accountable those who provided the SDF and the Coalition with wrong coordinates that caused the deaths of civilians.”

The UN Commission of Inquiry cited the case in its September 2019 report:

“In addition to front-line battles, the Commission received several accounts of night raids carried out by SDF with the aerial support of helicopter gunships provided by international coalition forces, which killed and injured civilians. For example, on 4 January 2019 at approximately 1.00 a.m., a night raid in SDF-controlled Kashmah village killed up to eight civilians including five men, two women and one boy, and further injured one man and one girl.

While the exact unfolding of events is still under investigation, accounts received by the Commission suggest an exchange of fire between some villagers and SDF with the support of helicopter gunships, which led to the killing of several villagers. The local community perceived the raid as an attack on fellow tribal members, while SDF claim that they responded to fire from ISIL elements in the village. The Commission received information and supporting documentation that, on 27 January, a settlement of $80,000 was offered by SDF to the family members of the deceased.”

In its civilian casualty report for November 2019 – published on January 2nd 2020 – the Coalition eventually conceded both the attack and its consequences, noting: “January 3, 2019, in Al-Khuskieh, Syria, via Human Rights Watch Report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against Daesh fighters. Regrettably, nine civilians were unintentionally killed and two civilians were unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike. 2774 37SFU550524”.

In May 2020, in its annual report to Congress, the Pentagon conceded this as a US-only civilian harm event: “As of March 1, 2020, CJTF-OIR assessed that 11 reports of civilian casualties during 2019 were credible, with approximately 22 civilians killed and approximately 13 civilians injured as a result of U.S. military operations.”

The incident occured at 01:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (13)

Abd al-Khalif al-Qatmir
Adult male killed
Hamoud Al Ghadir Al Saleh
Age unknown killed
Abdul Hamid Hassan al-Baks
Age unknown killed
Mahmoud Al-Hussein Al-Saleh
Age unknown killed
Hussein al-Khalif al-Qatmir
Age unknown killed
Wife of Ali al-Qatmir
Adult male
Amsha Al Obaid Al Saleh
Adult female Elderly woman killed
Ahamoud Ghadir Al Qatmir
Adult killed
Ali al-Katmir
Age unknown injured
Name unknown
Child killed
Name unknown
Child killed
Name unknown
Child killed
Name unknown
Child killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 10
  • (1–4 children2 women2–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Bodies are lined up following an alleged Coalition airstrike on a civilian residence in Al Khishkiya, January 3rd- 4th (via Euphrates Post)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of a child killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on a civilian residence (via Manart alforat2018)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victim of an alleged Coalition airstrike on a civilian residence (via Manart alforat2018)
  • Table of US-only civilian harm events in Iraq and Syria for 2019, declared by the Pentagon to Congress in May 2020.

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the village level at 34.810000, 40.694722.

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
    9
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    in Al-Khuskieh, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU550524
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 2, 2020

  • January 3, 2019, in Al-Khuskieh, Syria, via Human Rights Watch Report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against Daesh fighters. Regrettably, nine civilians were unintentionally killed and two civilians were unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike. 2774 37SFU550524

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Between Dec. 30, 2018 and Jan. 12, 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted 575 strikes consisting of 1,147 engagements in
Syria.

In Syria, 575 strikes engaged 485 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 308 staging areas, 220 fighting positions, 105
mortar, rocket and artillery systems, 57 supply routes, 50 manufacturing facilities for improvised explosive device
and vehicle borne improvised explosive device, 31 command and control nodes, 26 vehicles, 19 weapons caches,
18 mortar launching sites, 18 petroleum oil and lubricant storage facilities, 11 heavy and light weapon systems,
eight reservoirs and tankers for petroleum oil and lubricants, eight pieces of heavy equipment, seven vehicle borne
improvised explosive devices, six tunnels and caves, four buildings, two unmanned aircraft systems, one weapons
facility, one logistics hub and one fuel storage.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For Jan 2-8, France report that task Force Wagram carried out 28 missions of which 12 were strikes. Meanwhile aircraft conducted two strikes in support of the SDF.

CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie Dans la moyenne vallée de l’Euphrate, les forces démocratiques syriennes (FDS), après avoir sécurisé la ville d’Hajine, poursuivent leur offensive en direction du sud et du village de Shafah. Daech reste résilient et s’appuie sur une densité de piégeage importante pour ralentir les FDS. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak En Irak, la situation est inchangée. La sécurisation des célébrations du nouvel an a été un succès. Pour autant, Daech conserve des capacités de nuisance, tout en poursuivant sa posture de dissimilation et d’évitement. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Le dispositif français déployé au Levant n’a pas évolué. Par l’opération Chammal, les armées françaises demeurent engagées, les modalités de l’engagement tenant compte en permanence des réalités du terrain. La priorité demeure de vaincre militairement cette organisation terroriste, et empêcher sa résurgence alors qu’elle passe à la clandestinité. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate La Task Force (TF) Wagram appuie les forces démocratiques syriennes contre Daech dans la région d’Hajine. La TF Wagram a réalisé, depuis le territoire irakien, 28 missions de tir (23 d'éclairement, 12 de destruction – bilan du 2 au 8 janvier inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 2446 missions de tirs. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des opérations Les militaires de la base aérienne projetée en Jordanie ont accueilli la ministre des armées et le chef d’état-major de l’Armée de l’air à l’occasion du réveillon de la Saint Sylvestre. Les aéronefs français basés en Jordanie et aux Émirats arabes unis ont poursuivi leurs actions contre Daech, au sein de la coalition. Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 14 sorties aériennes (bilan du 02 au 08 janvier inclus). Les Rafale ont conduit 2 frappes cette semaine en appui des forces démocratiques syriennes. Bilan total de l’action du pilier appui aérien depuis le 19/09/14 : 8782 sorties / 1514 frappes / 2325 objectifs neutralisés. Les Task Forces Monsabert et Narvik poursuivent leurs missions de formation La Task Force (TF) Monsabert poursuit sa mission d’assistance et de conseil de l’état-major de la 6ème division irakienne. La TF Narvik, poursuit sa mission de formation et de conseil de l’Iraki Counter Terrorism Service (ICTS), notamment dans les domaines du renseignement, du combat au corps à corps, et en conduisant des stages de remise à niveau.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 10
  • (1–4 children2 women2–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1394

Incident date

August 20, 2017

Location

المرور, Ar Raqqah: Mouroor neighbourhood, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.949975, 38.992238 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Coalition air raids on Raqqa resulted in the deaths of 9 civilians, including 4 children. The US-led alliance later admitted responsibility for the deaths, following an Amnesty International field investigation.

Amnesty researchers interviewed Munira Hashish who lost 18 members of her family, nine of whom were killed in a Coalition air strike. She stated: “It was when they (the Coalition planes) saw us that they struck. The strike occurred straight after we re-entered the house. It happened just after the call for midday prayer. I remember hearing the call to prayer, then the strike happened. My brothers Hussein and Mohammed and their kids and the neighbours were all killed. Those who were not killed were injured. The only one who survived unharmed is my grandchild, a baby aged four months. I was holding him in my arms and he was not hurt.”

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently had originally reported that 21 civilians, including all members of the Hashish family, were killed in a Coalition airstrike on a home in the Muroor neighbourhood of Raqqa. The report however noted that the incident took place on August 19th and also included family members that, according to the Amnesty report, were in fact “mined by IS, and […] killed by a mortar seemingly launched by the SDF.”

The case was also included in the April 2019 Amnesty/Airwars joint report War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality (raqqa.amnesty.org): “Munira Hashish and her family lived in Dara’iya, a low-income neighbourhood in western Raqqa. The family was not well off; Munira’s husband, Hussein Ibrahim Hashish, supported the family as best he could by selling vegetables out of a cart. Despite repeated attempts to flee, the Hashish family lost 18 members, mostly women and children, over a two-week period in August. A Coalition air strike killed nine, seven died as they tried to flee via a road which had been mined by IS, and two others were killed by a mortar launched by SDF. “Those who stayed died and those who tried to run away died. We couldn’t afford to pay the smugglers; we were trapped,” Munira Hashish told us. After seven family members were killed by mines set by IS and later nine more were killed by a Coalition air strike, the family was finally able to escape “by walking over the blood of those who were blown up as they tried to flee ahead of us.,” she said.”

In July 2018 the Coalition accepted responsibility, noting: “August 20, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report. During a strike on a reported Daesh position near a residential area allegedly caused civilian casualties. Nine civilians were unintentionally killed.”

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.

The victims were named as:

Family members (15)

Mohammed Ali Hashish
Age unknown male killed
Amal Al Ali Al Hashish
Child female killed
Nour al-Ayoun Ali Hashish
Child male killed
Ali Mohammed al-Hashish
Child male killed
Hussein Al-Ali Al-Hashish
Age unknown male killed
Mahdiah Ibrahim Hashish
Age unknown female killed
Ahmed Hussein Hashish
Child male killed
Ismael Hussein Hashish
Child male killed
Mustafa Hussein Hashish
Child male killed
Ibrahim Hussein Hashish
Child male killed
Mohammed Hussein Hashish
Child male killed
Fatima Hussein Hashish
Child female killed
Ali Hussein Hashish
Age unknown male killed
Badia Hamoud Al Ali
Age unknown female killed
Hassan Hussein Al-Ali Hashish
Age unknown male killed

Family members (3)

Hazar Al-Ali
Age unknown male killed
Hussein Hassan Ali
Child male killed
A girl from Hassan Ali's family
Child female killed

Family members (2)

Nidal Mohammed
Age unknown male killed
Manar Nidal Mohammed
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Abdul-Issa Al-Antar
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • Al-Hussein family (via Amnesty)
  • Hsein Hassan Hashish was left an orphan and had to have his foot amputated following the attack (via Amnesty International)
  • Moh Ali Hashish and family (via Amnesty International)
  • Munira's son (via Amnesty International)
  • Munira's son (via Amnesty International)
  • Munira's children (via Amnesty International)
  • Munira's children (via Amnesty International)
  • Munira's children (via Amnesty International)
  • Location of the strike (via Amnesty International)
  • Location of the strike (via Amnesty International)
  • Location of the strike (via Amnesty International)
  • Location of the strike (via Amnesty International)
  • Location of the strike (via Amnesty International)
  • Artillery fragment near the Hashish house (via Amnesty International)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

  • The building in which members of the Hashish family died, seen before the strike on August 19, 2017 (via Amnesty International)

  • The building in which members of the Hashish family died, seen after the strike on August 25, 2017 (via Amnesty International)

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:

  • 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
    9
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV993784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • August 20, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report. During a strike on a reported Daesh position near a residential area allegedly caused civilian casualties. Nine civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 19th-20th: “Near Raqqah, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions.” It additionally added that “On Aug. 19, near Raqqah, Syria, 36 strikes engaged 22 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 29 fighting positions and seven command and control nodes.” That “On Aug. 19, near Raqqah, Syria, six strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed five fighting positions, an IED, and a command and control node.” And that “On Aug. 19, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Sunday 20 August – Tornados and Typhoons hit a target in Raqqa, a group of terrorists and vehicles in eastern Syria, and five Daesh positions around Tal Afar…On Sunday 20 August, Typhoons bombed a further Daesh position in Raqqa. In eastern Syria, Tornados targeted a group of terrorists deployed near the border with Iraq – two Paveways hit their trucks and killed several of the extremists.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For Aug 16-22, France report 5 strikes in Iraq and 2 in Syria. Task Force Wagram conducted 60 artillery missions

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]