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

CI158

Incident date

December 13, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

There were single-source claims that 19 civilians died in a Coalition airstrike on Mosul.

Citing local residents, the National Iraqi News Agency claimed that “international coalition aircraft bombed residential compounds in the Hadbah area east of Mosul, killing 19 civilians including six women and four children, and wounding six others.”

However Airwars’ own sources in Nineveh have contested the claim, suggesting the event did not take place.

In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    19
  • (4 children6 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

  • NINA
    • Arabic
    • Arabic

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF294240
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • December 13, 2015, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2871/CI158 38SLF294240

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 12th-13th 2015 it was reported that “Near Mosul, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL bunker.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    19
  • (4 children6 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

  • NINA
    • Arabic
    • Arabic

Incident Code

CS1273

Incident date

July 25, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that 18 civilians had died and up to 50 had been wounded in the last 48 hours – however, sources were conflicted as to whether the deaths were caused by the US-led Coalition or Russia. It should also be noted that these are general numbers and Airwars has not yet been able to break them down further to separate casualty incidents.

Ahmadalhashloum, Thefreesyrians and Hadialabdallah blamed Coalition air and artillery strikes for the casualties.

But Maherallosh referred to a “massacre committed by the International Air Force and Russian Airlines in the city of Al-Raqqa during the last 48 hours”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 26, 2018

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 25th-26th: “Near Raqqah, 24 strikes engaged 14 ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, four observation points, three sniper positions, two command and control nodes, two supply caches, two mortar systems, a VBIED, an ISIS communication tower, a front-end loader, an ammunition cache, a tactical vehicle, and a heavy machine gun; and suppressed a supply route.” It additionally reported that “On July 25, near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed five mortar positions, a VBIED storage facility, a VBIED, and ISIS equipment.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

In the last week (20th-27th) France reports carrying out two strikes in Raqqah, destroying two ISIL combat positions. Task Force (TF) Wagram carried out 21 artillery strikes in Mosul. The overall record of air activity since September 19th 2014 amounts to 1,324 strikes, 2,092 targets destroyed and 6,857 sorties.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, Dans la ville de Raqqah, Daech continue de perdre du terrain, jour après jour, face aux Forces Démocratiques Syriennes. Les combattants terroristes continuent néanmoins de disposer de solides positions défensives dans le cœur de la ville, à partir desquelles ils mènent des contre-attaques régulières et des actions de harcèlement. En Irak, Les forces de sécurités irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations de sécurisation de la ville de Mossoul, face à des équipes isolées de combattants qui continuent de mener des actions symboliques de harcèlement. Dans le même temps, Daech consolide ses positions autour de Tal Afar, pour tenter de résister à l’offensive prochaine de la Coalition pour libérer aussi cette ville. Daech poursuit par ailleurs ses actions de diversion et de harcèlement, en se concentrant dans les régions de l’Anbar et d’Hawijah. Certaines actions ont également été menées cette semaine dans l’Ouest de l’Irak, dans la région de Rutbah. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 45 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 04 missions de recueil de renseignement et 06 de ravitaillement en vol. Un C135-FR récemment déployé a en effet réalisé de nombreuses missions en quelques jours à peine, soutenant ainsi, à son niveau, la bascule des efforts de la Coalition vers les autres bastions de Daech. Deux frappes ont été menées dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah, détruisant deux positions de combattants ennemies, au contact des troupes alliées engagées. De ces positions, des tireurs de Daech tenaient sous leur feu les soldats alliés à une centaine de mètres à peine. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a réalisé 21 missions de tir dont 07 de harcèlement et 14 d’éclairement. Ces missions interdisent une offensive de contre des terroristes vers Mossoul. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève à 1 324 frappes, 2 092 objectifs détruits et 6 857 sorties. Le bilan global de l’activité artillerie atteint 1 331 missions.’

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1050

Incident date

June 21, 2017

Location

النور, Al Nour, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.955556, 38.9925 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that 18 civilians were killed and 10 others were injured following alleged Coalition air and artillery strikes and possible SDF mortar attacks in the Al Nour neighbourhood, near the Al Nour Mosque, in the northeast of Raqqa.

All 12 sources who reported the incident alleged that a combination of Coalition airstrikes and SDF shelling was responsible. While some claimed that ‘SDF artillery’ was responsible, only the Coalition was using this weapon on the city. Qasioun and Euphrates Post said that the SDF had used mortars and rockets on the neighbourhood.

Names of the victims have not been identified and no further details are currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (12) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 20th-21st the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units; and destroyed six fighting positions, three vehicles, three tactical vehicles, two mortar teams, a command and control node and a mortar cache.” In addition, it reported that “On June 20, near Raqqah, Syria, two strikes damaged eight fighting positions.”

For June 21st-22nd, “Near Raqqah, 14 strikes engaged 14 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 16 fighting positions, three vehicles and an ammunition cache.” It additionally reported that “On June 21, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed four ISIS staging areas, three vehicles, three fighting positons, and a VBIED; damaged a VBIED factory; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Wednesday 21 June – Typhoons struck two Daesh-held buildings in Raqqa, while Tornados and Typhoons destroyed a car-bomb, and four terrorist strongpoints in Mosul…On Wednesday 21 June, a pair of Typhoons assisted Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Raqqa. Two buildings held by extremist fighters were hit with Paveway IVs.

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1348

Incident date

August 7, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eighteen civilians were reported killed and thirty injured, according to local sources. It should be noted, however, that these are general numbers and may well encompass other casualty events on August 7th.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently alleged that the US-led Coalition and the SDF militia were responsible for the attacks on neighbourhoods of Raqqa. Facebook posts by Euphrates and Hashmioon1 also attributed the strikes to the Coalition and SDF.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident only mention the city of Raqqa (الرقة‎), for which the coordinates are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 6th-7th the Coalition have reported: “Near Raqqah, 24 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 30 fighting positions, two vehicles, two command and control nodes, two mortar systems, a tunnel, a heavy machine gun, an IED facility, and a VBIED facility; and damaged six fighting positions.” It additionally reporeted that “On Aug. 6, near Raqqah, Syria, 12 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, a mortar system, an anti-air artillery system, and a VBIED.” And that “On Aug. 6, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike destroyed 10 ISIS fighting positions and two mortar systems.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For August 3rd-9th, France report 1 strike in Iraq and 1 in Syria, along with 9 artillery strikes in Mosul. (via EtatMajorFR)

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

France reports that in the past week (4th -11th) it carried out 31 sorties, including 24 Army reconnaissance and Ground Support (CAS), as well as 4 intelligence reports by Atlantic 2 or Rafale patrol. Two strikes were carried out in the Hassaka region of Syria and the Al Qaim region of Iraq. They destroyed ISIL storage sites and weapons caches.

‘Point de situation des opérations ARMÉE FRANÇAISE – OPÉRATIONS MILITAIRES·FRIDAY, 11 AUGUST 2017 OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, A Raqqah, la progression des forces démocratiques syriennes se poursuit. Au sud de la ville, la manœuvre de tenaille amorcée, qui permettra de joindre les fronts est et ouest, demeure freinée par la résistance de Daech. Les combattants du groupe terroriste utilisent les réseaux de tunnels et les véhicules suicide chargés d’explosifs pour conduire des actions de harcèlement, et piègent systématiquement le terrain cédé. En Irak, Les forces de sécurité irakiennes poursuivent le nettoyage et la dépollution de la ville de Mossoul. Dans le reste du territoire, alors que Daech tente de poursuivre ses actions de harcèlement, les opérations de sécurisation mobilisent largement les forces irakiennes. Dans la vallée de l’Anbar et dans la région d’Hawijah, les opérations ont permis de déceler et de détruire des caches de munitions et de nombreux engins explosifs improvisés. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Le 3 août s’est achevée une séquence de relève des avions de Chammal. Celle-ci a signé la fin du premier déploiement du plot mixte Rafale marine et air. Ce sont désormais 6 avions Rafale de l’armée de l’air qui constituent le volet chasse présent en Jordanie. Cette semaine, sur le théâtre, les aéronefs ont réalisé 31 sorties aériennes dont 24 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 4 sorties de recueil de renseignement par Atlantique 2 ou patrouille de Rafale. Deux frappes ont été conduites dans la région de Hassaka en Syrie et dans la région d’Al Qaim. Elles ont permis de détruire des sites de stockage et des caches d’armes. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 6 missions de tir de harcèlement en appui de la 15e division à l’ouest de Mossoul vers Tal Afar, pour prévenir les infiltrations ennemies sur les positions irakiennes. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève à 1 322 frappes, 2095 objectifs détruits et 6919 sorties.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI081

Incident date

July 1, 2015

Location

الحويجة, Safra, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.1978122, 43.7934043 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged strike by Coalition aircraft reportedly killed 18 civilians and injured a further 10, according to a single source.

Al Gharbiya claimed that a number of villages south west of Hawija were hit. “About 30 civilians were killed and wounded on Wednesday in a bombardment by an international warplane in several areas of the Hawija district, southwest of Kirkuk. A source familiar with the case, quoting eyewitnesses, said that “the aircraft of the International Coalition bombed today, areas in the villages of Kbeiba and Safra and Al-Rashad district of the province of Hawija south-west of Kirkuk.” The source added that “the retaliatory bombardment killed some 18 citizens and wounded ten others, some of them badly.”

In its monthly civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the Coalition assessed the event as ‘non credible’, noting that “July 1, 2015, in Safra, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2783/CI081 38SLD902956”.

Coalition officials also provided Airwars with a geolocation to within 100 metres of the area reviewed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a number of villages southwest of Hawija, amongst which the village of Kbeiba (كبيبة) and Safra (الصفرة). Reports also mention the Al Rashad district (ناحية الرشاد). The generic coordinates for the village of Safra (الصفرة) are: 35.1978122, 43.7934043. However, sources don’t mention in which location civilian casualties occurred.

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
    in Safra, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLD902956
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • July 1, 2015, in Safra, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2783/CI081 38SLD902956

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Strikes were confirmed in the vicinity for July 1st-2nd 2015: “Near Al Huwayjah, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying two ISIL heavy machine guns and an ISIL building.”

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI350

Incident date

November 26, 2016

Location

الصناعة, Mosul, industrial district, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3434064, 43.1966972 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Fourteen or more people were reported killed and 35 injured following the alleged Coalition bombing, according to local sources.

Multiple social media accounts, including @IQsunni, reported identical reports, stating that 14 people were killed and 35 injured as a result of a US airstrike on an industrial area in Mosul. Another tweet, by @zyaad_alsenjar, wrote Overnight air strike targeted very violent eastern neighbourhoods of the city of Mosul inflicted casualties among innocent civilians. Horror and fear or liberation?

Russian state-owned outlet Sputnik News cited reports that 18 people, including 14 women, were killed. It reported that the Coalition was responsible.

In their August 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that after a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 18
  • (14 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    35
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF381235
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 22, 2020

  • Nov. 26, 2016, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, the alleged civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action. 3066/CI350 38SLF381235

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For November 25th-26th, the Coalition reported “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units; destroyed three vehicles, three ISIL-held buildings, three mortar systems, a VBIED facility, a VBIED, a supply cache, a watercraft, and a fighting position; degraded a VBIED facility and seven roads; and suppressed a mortar system.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 18
  • (14 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    35
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS589

Incident date

March 19, 2017

Location

مزرعة الأندلس, Al Andalus Farm, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.992458, 38.739166 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Nine civilians from one family were killed in an alleged Coalition strike at al Andalus Farms.

According to Qasioun, the strike hit a residential neighbourhoods inhabited by displaced people from Maskana. Nation Defense, which also blamed the Coalition, put the death toll as high as 18.

According to Shaam News “unidentified” warplanes targeted a farmhouse “leading to a terrible massacre against civilians displaced from the eastern countryside of Aleppo, leaving seven martyrs as a primary outcome, and many wounded.”

Nine victims from Maskana – killed by “unidentified planes” – were named by VDC.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (9)

Aboud Hamd al-Kanj
Adult male killed
Muhannad Aboud al-Kanj
Adult killed
Ftaim Mahmoud al-Kanj
Adult male killed
Hmaidi al-Hamd al-Kanj
Adult male killed
Sara, wife of Ibrahim al Kanj
Adult female killed
Son of Ibraheem al-Kanj 1
Child male killed
Son of Ibraheem al-Kanj 2
Child male killed
Son of Ibraheem al-Kanj 3
Child male killed
Son of Ibraheem al-Kanj 4
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 18
  • (4 children1 woman4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition strike on Al Ananuls, March 19th 2017. (via RBSS)
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 19th-20th it stated: “Near Ar Raqqah, 18 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units; destroyed 10 fighting positions, six barges, three ISIS headquarters, a tactical vehicle, an IED factory, and a weapons factory; and damaged a supply route.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 18
  • (4 children1 woman4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS799

Incident date

May 11, 2017

Location

بئر الهشم, Bir Al Hashem, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.002222, 38.8875 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 12 and 18 civilians including eight children and four women – reportedly from the same family – died and dozens more were injured in an Coalition airstrike on the Al Hashem area north of Raqqa city, local media reported.

Euphrates Post said that 12 non-combatants were killed in the Coalition strike, most of whom were displaced from Raqqa’s Al Mashlab neighbourhood. The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the number killed at 13 including eight children and four women, saying that the Coalition was responsible.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the death toll rose to 15, of which there were five children and women. Again, the source blamed Coalition jets.

Ahmad al Shibli reported “a coalition massacre in raid on a home in Bi’r al Hashem”.

Al Ragga Truth reported that 15 members of the al Hamoud family died in the strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Othman al Ahmad al Hamoud
Age unknown male killed
Zakiya al Othman
Age unknown female killed
Mozer Othman al Hamoud
Age unknown male killed
Amira Othman al Hamoud
Age unknown female killed

Family members (3)

Marya Hadi
Age unknown female killed
A son of Marya Hadi
Age unknown male killed
A second son of Marya Hadi
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 18
  • (8 children4 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (29) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties. The closest strike to the report of possible civilian casualties was 5 km away

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For May 10th-11th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven vehicles, three fighting positions, an ISIS barge, a VBIED factory, a weapons storage facility; and damaged two ISIS supply routes.” It later added that “Additionally, 13 strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on May 10th that closed within the last 24 hours. Near Raqqah, Syria, seven strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 12 fighting positions, an ISIS headquarters, a command and control node, a supply cache, an ISIS staging area, a tactical vehicle, and a vehicle.”
For May 11th-12th. “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.” It later added that “Additionally, six strikes were conducted in Syria on May 11th that closed within the last 24 hours…. Near Raqqah, five strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed two VBIEDs, a fighting position, a weapons cache, a vehicle; and damaged two ISIS supply routes and a bridge.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Thursday 11 May – Typhoons attacked three targets in eastern Syria, as well as a truck-bomb factory north-west of Raqqa. Tornados also struck six times in Mosul…On Thursday 11 May, a pair of Typhoons, armed with Paveway IVs, destroyed a truck-bomb staging area some fifteen miles north-west of Raqqa, while another pair supported the SDF in eastern Syria, hitting a mortar team and two Daesh-held buildings near Al Ulwah. The same day, two flights of Tornados patrolled over Mosul, using Brimstone missiles against two Daesh positions very close to Iraqi troops. A further Paveway IV eliminated a mortar in a courtyard, and three more Paveways cratered roads along which Daesh might have tried to move truck-bombs along.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 18
  • (8 children4 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (29) [ collapse]