Israeli Military in Syria & the Gaza Strip

Israeli Military in Syria & the Gaza Strip

A child uses his mobile device in the ruins of a building in Beit Lahia, Gaza Strip on May 26th 2021. © Mohamed Zaanoun

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Incident Code

CI012

Incident date

October 25, 2014

Location

حاج علي, Hajj Ali, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.734251, 43.3181477 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported by medical sources in the city to have been “accidentally killed” in an airstrike on a “Daesh stronghold in Qayyarah, Mosul“. However the Wameedh Sabah blog reported a security source as saying that the casualties were inflicted by an Iraq Army airstrike.

Up to 81 alleged militants were also reported killed in coalition strikes in Al Hajj Ali.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Haj Ali in the Qayyarah district, South of Mosul. The location for ( حاج علي ) Hajj Ali village is: 35.734251,43.3181477

  • Hajj Ali (حاج علي)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Twenty coalition airstrikes were confirmed in the vicinity of Mosul between October 24th-26th 2014, including by the US and France.

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
    2
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI013

Incident date

October 26, 2014

Location

عوينات, Uwaynat, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.683056, 42.400556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

There were claims that coalition air raids resulted in the deaths of between 10 and 20 civilians in a village 110km northwest of Mosul called Aouinat.

Al Rafidain reported: “Press sources in Mosul confirmed that the bombing, which targeted the village of Aouinat killed ten civilians and destroyed at least two houses.

The forensic medicine department in the province confirmed that they had received the ten bodies; while local sources said that the outcome of the bombing exceeded twenty dead as well as a large number of injured, pointing out that the raids by international occupation forces has been going on for several days.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Local reports of the incident mention (عوينات) Aouinat, North West of Mosul. The coordinates for (عوينات) Aouinat are: 36.683056, 42.400556. The strike destroyed two houses. Due to the limited satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • (عوينات) Aouinat

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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
    a:1:{i:0;s:20:"no_coalition_strikes";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Awinat, Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 25th-26th 2014, the coalition noted: “Six airstrikes west of the Mosul Dam area struck two small ISIL units, damaged an ISIL building and destroyed four ISIL vehicles and an ISIL artillery piece. Three airstrikes southwest of the Mosul Dam area struck a large ISIL unit and a small ISIL unit, and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and two ISIL buildings.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS017

Incident date

October 28, 2014

Location

سلوك, Suluk, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.59539, 39.128559 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An internal Coalition report, citing web sources, noted claims that civilian casualties had been alleged at Slouk “on a strike on some grain silos.” The aircraft was likely to have been a US armed drone, due to the Hellfire missile used.

An initial investigation concluded that there had been no civilians injured: “The only strike that corresponded with the report was a strike on a tank about 70km N of Raqaa. Review of the aircrew’s video showed that the strike conducted with [] AGM-114, struck the target. No civilians were present on the video, either pre- or post-strike… No further inquiry required.”

A search of public records by Airwars found that the location of the Coalition’s strike did appear to be Slouk. As Raialyoum reported at the time: “The strikes [which were attributed instead to October 29th]continued in the northern countryside, targeting granaries [silos] around Slouk 80km north of Raqqa city. These are believed to be used by IS as stores for heavy weapons that were captured from Brigade 80. The raid resulted in the destruction of part of the silos, and an IS tank parked nearby.”

An Islamic State propaganda video released on November 2nd 2014 alleged that civilians had died in the attack, showing the corpses of what it said were two petrol sellers. However no reference was made to grain silos.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ 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
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    NE of Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015

  • The only strike that corresponded was on a tank about 70 km N of Raqqah. Review of the aircrew’s video showed that the strike, conducted with AGM 114, struck the target. No civilians were present either pre- or post-strike. An internal review of a strike during the initial deliberate strikes in Syria prior to 29 September on the area IVO grain silos in Idlib had already been conducted, determined not to have been CIVCAS.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

COALITION-ASSESSED CASUALTY INCIDENT

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI014

Incident date

November 4, 2014

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

An alleged coalition airstrike reportedly hit a market at Al Qaim in western Anbar, killing at least 3 people and injuring up to 35. Two of the victims were named as as Mohamed Ahmed and Ahmed Munir Khitab. Significant damage was reported at the scene. However, the coalition denies carrying out any airstrike in the vicinity on this date.

According to one eyewitness, the attack happened after Islamic State militants in the vicinity fired on coalition aircraft: “The reckless action of the militants led to the death and injuries of more than 37 people, all of them civilians, and causing substantial material damage in the shops.”Al Jazeera cited witnesses as saying that 15 died and 35 were injured in an ‘international coalition’ strike, adding that according to one source, “the aircraft bombed once then bombed a second time once people had gathered to look for the victims.” NINA placed the number of injured significantly lower, at 14.

The attack was denounced by Sheikh Najm Al Alyawi, a member of the council of tribes of the district, who said in a press release “The people of the district strongly denounce the bombing by warplanes of the main market in Al Qaim, western Anbar province, which resulted in the death and injury of dozens of innocent citizens.”

The United Nations cited the incident in its quarterly report on Iraq, noting: “It was also alleged that on 4 November, an air strike hit a market in al-Qaim, western Anbar, killing at least five civilians and wounding at least 27 more.” The attack was generally attributed to Iraqi government forces and their allies, which might include the coalition.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohamed Ahmed
Age unknown male Listed by Herak killed
Ahmed Munir Khitab
Age unknown male Listed by Herak killed
Imad Hadi
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Ahmed Abboud
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Ra’ed Nuri
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Nouri Afar
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Mohammad Yousuf
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Hakim Marwan
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Amash Jassim
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Bilal Abdul-Jabbar
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Subhi Jamil
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Ali Naseer
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Mohamed Wadah
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Zia Abboud
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Yousef Salem
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Saif Abdul Hadi
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Qusay Rahim
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Hamad Talal
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Osman Yusuf
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Walid Youssef
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Amal Eid
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Mua’az Nuri
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Raed Nuri
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Abdul Rahman Hamid
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Mohammed Shaker
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Rifa’at Radi
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Atheer A’thal
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Alaa Jassim
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Yasser Sabbar
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Ammar Yasir
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Osama Haitham
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Muhannad Mohammed Ahmed
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Wassfiya Jawhar
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Mu’awya Muhannad
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Walid Youssef
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Adnan Mohamed Ahmed
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Mua’az Sabah Awad
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 15
  • (0–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14–35
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of the alleged strike (via Herak)
  • Another image of the alleged incident (via Herak)
  • Another image of the alleged incident (via Herak)
  • Another image of the alleged incident (via Herak)
  • Another image of the alleged incident (via Herak)
  • Another image of the alleged incident (via Herak)
  • Another image of the alleged incident (via Herak)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the alleged Coalition strike hit a market in the city of Al-Qaim, for which the coordinates for its midpoint are: 34.3957715,40.9943684. One source reports a “market in the Rumanna (رمانة) area,” which is just North of the Euphrates river, opposite the city of Al-Qaim. The coordinates for the midpoint of this area are: 34.3930610, 41.0779810

  • Location of a "market in the Rumanna (رمانة) area,” North of the Euphrates river opposite the city of Al-Qaim

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near al-Qaiem, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU833078
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No coalition reports of airstrikes on Al Qaim or the vicinity for November 3rd-5th 2014. A spokesman also later told Airwars that “no Coalition airstrikes have taken place in the vicinity” on the date in question.

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
    3 – 15
  • (0–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14–35
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS018

Incident date

November 5, 2014

Location

دير الزور‎, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3333335, 40.1499999 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An internal Coalition report noted that “Open source video indicated that three civilians were killed in a deliberate strike on an oil collection point in DeZ.” Airwars researchers have identified what they believe to be the [graphic] video in question, which was posted to YouTube on November 11th 2014.

The Coalition was unable to verify the claims, though assessed that “No further inquiry required.” As an internal CENTCOM document notes: “Review could not determine that the video came from the strike in DeZ. Although there was a US strike on the oil collection site, the target was validated through the JTCB [Joint targeting Coordination Board?]. Targeting was mitigated – it was a night strike on a specific target where NCV [Non-Combatant Value] was assessed as 0, with mitigated weapons effects.

WSV [weapon system video] cleared target. There was no way to determine authenticity of allegation.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

COALITION-ASSESSED CASUALTY INCIDENT

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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

CI015

Incident date

November 5, 2014

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Witnesses from Al-Qaim alleged that coalition airstrikes targeted a civilian house at midnight, killing a father and his three children and leaving the wife with severe injuries. The man’s name was given as Mohammed Hammad Alhialy.

This may or may not be related to an incident cited by the United Nations in its quarterly report on Iraq: “On 5 November, an airstrike is alleged to have hit a gathering of people near a hospital in al-Qaim, western Anbar, killing three and wounding 14 others.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Hammad Alhialy
Adult male Listed by Herak killed

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Photo without caption (via Herak)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a civilian house in the city of Al Qaim (القائم), Anbar Province. The generic coordinates of Al Qaim (القائم) are: 34.3957715, 40.9943684. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near al-Qaiem, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU833078
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No coalition airstrikes were officially reported at Al Qaim for November 5th-7th 2014.

Summary

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

Incident Code

CS019

Incident date

November 6, 2014

Location

حارم, Harim, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.21003, 36.51826 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six months after US air raids had targeted the Khorasan Group (part of the al-Nusra Front) and the militant group Ahrar al-Sham, the Coalition conceded that two children had “likely” died in the attack – the first public concession of any civilian deaths after 4,000 airstrikes against ISIS over nine months.

The November 5th US-only raid targeted the villages of Harem, Bab Al Hawa, Sarmada, Reef Al-Muhameen and Binsh.

Reports from the night remain confused, with civilian deaths claimed at a number of locations. Reuters carried a statement from Ahrar al-Sham saying that “The air strikes came last night and hit a number of areas in the liberated Idlib countryside,” and that casualties included “women and children and civilians.”

The site of the civilian deaths was Harem, CENTCOM later confirmed. It also accepted that two civilian NGO workers were  injured in the attack. According to the Syrian Revolution Forum blog: “The planes of the Arab/Western coalition launched air strikes on Syrian cities adjacent to the Turkish border. The centre of the town of Harem was targeted with more than six raids causing the death of four children and causing massive destruction to residential and commercial property on Al Sijn street.”

One of the children was identified as a five year old girl,  whose father Ali Saeed Al Haj Qaddour – a fighter with the al-Nusra Front – also died in the attack (both pictured below.) Daniya’s mother and brother Saeed were reported to have been severely wounded. A second unidentified female child victim was shown alongside the body of Daniya in several graphic videos and photographs taken after the US bombing.

VDC additionally reported the deaths of three or four unidentified male children in the Coalition attack – though gave no further details.

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with the geolocation of the event, accurate to a 100m box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Daniya Ali Al Haj Qaddour
Child female daughter of Ali Saeed Al Haj Qaddour, a fighter with Al Nusra Front killed

Summary

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

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Video showing the two girls killed in the strike, included in the SNHR report.
  • Video purporting to show fires resulting from the Coalition bombing on Sarmada on 5/11/2014. Published by ShaamNetwork S.N.N.
  • Video purporting to show fires resulting from the coalition bombing on Sarmada on 5/11/2014. Published by ShaamNetwork S.N.N.
  • Video purporting to show fire crews attempting to put out the fires resulting from the coalition bombing on Sarmada on 5/11/2014. Published by ShaamNetwork S.N.N.
  • Video purporting to show extensive destruction in civilian homes in Harem.
  • Video purporting to show extensive destruction in Harem following coalition strikes. This video was included in a Syrian Network for Human Rights report.
  • Video showing extensive destruction after the alleged strike.
  • Video footage shows civil defense teams in Al-Atarem area trying to find any victims underneath the rubbles in Harem city.
  • Huge signs of destruction reportedly caused by the international alliance’s shelling against Harem.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    5-year-old Daniya Ali Al-Haj Qaddour (via SNHR)
  • Daniya Ali Al-Haj Qaddour with her father, an Al-Nusra fighter who was also allegedly killed in the strike (via SNHR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Unidentified girl allegedly kileld in the strikes (via SNHR)
  • Aftermath of the strike (via SNHR)
  • Aftermath of the strike (via SNHR)
  • Aftermath of the strike (via SNHR)
  • Aftermath of the strike (via SNHR)

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest village at 36.212564, 36.519736

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
    Killed by strike blast
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    2
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    Harem, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SBA769101
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 21, 2015

  • The preponderance of the evidence in the investigation indicates the airstrikes conducted against facilities used by Khorasan Group in the vicinity of Harim City, Syria, likely led to the deaths of two non-combatant children. From May declassified file: "CCWEBOPS received social media reports that civilians were killed or injured during a strike on a named objective in Syria. // TF nominated the target. SNHR report on CIVCAS. CFACC initially assessed that there was insufficient information to conclude whether the alleged CIVCAS allegations are credible. CFACC was unable to assess whether civilians were co-located with the targeted KG NAIs. After additional information was received, CJTF was tasked with conducing an additional credibility assessment based on the new information. 12/31/2014 JTF assessed this allegation that a child was killed during the strike as potentially credible. Investigation appointed 8 Jan 15 with a suspense of 22 Jan 2015"

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

CENTCOM originally confirmed US strikes in the vicinity, though denied causing any civilian deaths: “U.S. military forces conducted airstrikes last night against five Khorasan Group targets in the vicinity of Sarmada, Syria, using bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft. All aircraft exited the strike areas safely. We are still assessing the outcome of the attack, but have initial indications that it resulted in the intended effects by striking terrorists and destroying or severely damaging several Khorasan Group vehicles and buildings assessed to be meeting and staging areas, IED-making facilities and training facilities. These strikes were undertaken only by U.S. assets.“

Summary

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

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS020

Incident date

November 6, 2014

Location

موقة, Muqah, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.499025, 36.639595 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Syrian Martyrs website claimed that up to four unnamed children under the age of 10 died in a coalition airstrike on Mouka – described as one girl and two or three boys.

In contrast, the VDC lists three unidentified bodies (two adult males and one female child) noting that they were “Martyred due to the regime air forces’ shelling.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3–4 children2 men)
  • 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, Syrian Regime

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
  • Stated location
    near Muqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The only coalition airstrikes officially reported for November 5th-7th 2014 took place at Kobane in Aleppo governorate, and at Tal Abyad (Ar Raqqah governorate.) Additional strikes targeted the area around Sarmada to the west of Aleppo.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3–4 children2 men)
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (2) [ collapse]