US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Civilians in the ruins of Mosul city. (Maranie R. Staab)

Belligerent
US-led Coalition
Country
Iraq
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

CS1633

Incident date

October 16, 2017

Location

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 the death of two civilians in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqah.

According to Asharqiya Voice, they died “a few weeks ago”.

Writing on Facebook on October 28th, Mohammad al Fahal, reportedly a family member of the victims, said: “My aunt has moved to the mercy of God.. Najah Ramadan al Fahl .. and a few days later her husband followed her ..my uncle Hajj Ahmad Abdel Hamid al Mulla Hassan. And this was due to the bombing of Raqqa city as they were not able to get out of the city before it was put under siege. The news has just reached us from one of the survivors.” Again, the date of death was not given.

The last reported Coalition action in the city was on October 16th, with victory over ISIS declared by the SDF the following day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Abdul Hamid Mulla Hassan
Adult male killed
Najah Ramadan Al Fahl
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ahmed Abdul Hamid Mulla Hassan and Najah Ramadan Al Fahl, killed in an alleged Coalition strike on Raqqah, 16th October 2017. (via RBSS)

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
  • Jun 28, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 16th-17th it noted: “Near Raqqah, three strikes suppressed three ISIS communication lines.” The last reported strikes prior to this were on October 12th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1630

Incident date

October 16, 2017

Location

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 the the death of a civilian male. Three sources blamed the US-led Coalition for his death.The date of the incident is unknown.

Raqqa24, reporting the death on October 25th, said that the victim died “a few days ago”. However the last reported Coalition action in the city was on October 16th, with victory over ISIS declared by the SDF the following day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Mustafa Al-Qasab
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    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
  • Jun 28, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 16th-17th the Coalition stated that “Near Al Qaim, one strike destroyed a VBIED factory.”

For October 17th-18th “Near Al Qaim, two strikes destroyed three ISIS VBIED factories, an ISIS-held building and a munition production and storage facility.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1631

Incident date

October 16, 2017

Location

Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqah, according to Raqqah is Being Slaughtered Silently.

The source reported the deaths on October 25th but didn’t say when the victims were reportedly killed.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee also reported that the victims had been killed in a Coalition strike, but again didn’t say when they were killed. The last reported Coalition action in the city was on October 16th, with victory over ISIS declared by the SDF the following day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Yosra Mandeel
Age unknown female killed
Malik Mandeel
Age unknown killed

The victims were named as:

Wael Damouk
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    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
  • Jun 28, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 16th-17th it noted: “Near Raqqah, three strikes suppressed three ISIS communication lines.” The last reported strikes prior to this were on October 12th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1632

Incident date

October 16, 2017

Location

Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Three civilians may have died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqah, according to local media – though there was uncertainty over when the victims died, with one report stating they were still alive.

Coordinating the Revolution in the City of Palmyra published “a clarification regarding the family of Mrs. Samira Al-Ali (Alhashosh) and her family.”. It said: “After receiving confirmation from one of Samira’s daughters and our contacts in the area, it turned out that Samira had died in the bombardment in Raqqa and her daughter Najwa died of her injuries in a camp near the city of Hasaka. The young man Mohammad also died in the bombing in Raqqa.”

However, On October 28th, the monitor said that the three victims were still alive: “It turns out that the above are still alive and they are in the city of Mansoura in the countryside Raqqah”.

However, a Facebook comment by someone called Ahmad al Qassim Dido on the Facebook page, says: “My brother in law Hamadi Al Katta got a message on Whatsapp from the granddaughter of Shattouh who was with them. She confirmed the death of the above named and said that Najwa was seriously injured and died in Ain Issa camp”.

The last reported Coalition action in the city was on October 16th, with victory over ISIS declared by the SDF the following day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mohammed Adnan Al Saleh
Child male killed
Najwa Adnan Al Saleh
Child killed

The victims were named as:

Samira Alhashosh
Adult female wife of Adnan Al Saleh Alkta killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • (0–2 children0–1 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Mohammed Adnan Al Saleh, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqah, 16th October 2017. (via RBSS)

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
  • Jun 28, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 16th-17th it noted: “Near Raqqah, three strikes suppressed three ISIS communication lines.” The last reported strikes prior to this were on October 12th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • (0–2 children0–1 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1629

Incident date

October 16, 2017

Location

Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Marsad Hasaka reported “the martyrdom of the child Ali Bashir Al-Daman from the village of Massada by the bombing of coalition aircraft on the city of Al-Rigga a few days ago”.

Raqqa24, reporting the death on October 25th, said that the victim died “a few days ago”. However the last reported Coalition action in the city was on October 16th, with victory over ISIS declared by the SDF the following day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Bashir Al-Daman
Child male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ali Bashir Al-Daman, killed in an alleged Coalition strike on Raqqah, 16th October 2017. (via Marsad Hasaka)

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
  • Jun 28, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 16th-17th it noted: “Near Raqqah, three strikes suppressed three ISIS communication lines.” The last reported strikes prior to this were on October 12th.

Summary

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

CI870

Incident date

October 16, 2017

Location

Al Qaim, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

According to a single source, different areas of Al Qaim were targeted, resulting in possible civilian harm. The vague report noted Victims of aerial bombing of the international coalition aircraft in various areas of Qaim, west of Anbar.

At the moment there is limited information on the incident, Airwars will amend the entry when any new information arises.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention subdistricts being struck in the city of Al Qaim (القائم). Due to limited information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location of these areas. The generic coordinates for the city of Al Qaim (القائم) are: 34.3957715, 40.9943684.

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-Qaem, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • fter a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 15th – 16th the Coalition reported that “Near Al Qaim, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed five supply routes, two VBIED factories and an ISIS-held building.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1627

Incident date

October 16, 2017

Location

Al Jumaili, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.957956, 39.002033 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported the death of one civilian male in an alleged Coalition airstrikes on Raqqah – possibly a last victim of the assault on the city.

Raqqa 24 and Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently blamed the Coalition for the man’s death in reports that were published on October 20th and 22nd respectively. Raqqa 24 said Mr al Hamoud died “before the SDF took control the city” while RBSS said he had died “a few days ago.”

The SDF officially declared victory over ISIS on October 17th – a day after the last declared Coalition strikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Lujain Al-Hamoud
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Lujain Al-Hamoud (adult male, center), killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqah,16th October 2017. (via RBSS)

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
  • Jun 28, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 16th-17th it noted: “Near Raqqah, three strikes suppressed three ISIS communication lines.” The last reported strikes prior to this were on October 12th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1628

Incident date

October 3, 2017

Location

البدو, Raqqa city: Baidou neighbourhood, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.959, 38.9999 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

13 civilians were killed – including nine from one family – due to the “bombing of the International Air Force on the city of Raqqa during the battle for control of the city”. Kurdish news agency Hawar later published an interview with a survivor named as Yazan Abdulrahman Mohammad, in which it was stated that in fact named nine family members had died in the event. According to the report itself, the family died during ISIS shelling of the building in which they were sheltering. However in the accompanying video interview, Mr Mohammad in fact blames their deaths on a “missile from a plane.” Field research done by Amnesty International reported that four of the victims were neighbours. Amnesty reported that nine family members died along with four neighbours in an airstrike on a four storey house in Hadeeqat al Bayda. This was their family home however the neighbours were Internally Displaced People.

During investigations of this event for the April 2019 joint Airwars and Amnesty report War in Raqqa: Rethoric versus Reality (www.raqqa.amnesty.org), Amnesty field researchers interviewed Yazan about this incident and established the exact location of it. The report notes: “An airstrike on a four-storey building in the Hadeeqat al Bayda neighbourhood killed nine members of the Subhi family and four of their neighhours.” Yazan said the following: “Every one in my family was killed in the strike, as well as our next door neighbours, who had come to stay with us because their house had been bombed the previous day. 19 were killed in that strike.” The strike of the previous day, in which 19 members of the next door neighbours were killed can be found under the following incident code: CS1634. The investigation also found that the strike took place at 5pm on October 3rd, 2017, rather than on October 17, as Airwars had initially reported.

The incident occured at 17:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (9)

Abdelrahman Mohammed Ali Ibn Mohamed Subhi
56 years old male Yazan's father killed
Fatima Aziz Imu
49 years old female Wife of Abdelrahman Mohammed Ali Ibn Mohamed Subhi killed
Badria A’Rahman Mohammed Ali
45 years old female Sister of Badria A’Rahman Mohammed Ali killed
Safyah A’Rahman Mohammed Ali
55 years old female Sister of Abdelrahman Mohammed Ali Ibn Mohamed Subhi killed
Mohammed Subhi
77 years old male Father of Abdul Rahman killed
Hassan A’Rahman Mohammed Ali
12 years old male Son of Abdelrahman and Fatima, brother of Yazan killed
Marwa
12 years old female Daughter of Safyah A’Rahman Mohammed Ali killed
Walaa
10 years old female Daughter of Safyah A’Rahman Mohammed Ali killed
Fatima Barakah
73 years old female Abdelrahman's mother killed

Family members (3)

Abu Abdo
47 years old male neighbour staying with Subhi killed
Aya
17 years old female Abu Abdo's daughter killed
Mohammed
12 years old male Abu Abdo's son killed

The victims were named as:

Walid Abu Mohammed
37 years old male eighbour staying with Subhi killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13
  • (5 children4 women4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Abdul Rahman Mohammed Ali and his wife, Fatima Amo, killed in an alleged Coalition strike on Raqqah, 16th October 2017 (via Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

  • Building in which 13 civilians were killed, before the strike (September 29, 2017)

    Imagery:
    Amnesty International

  • Building in which 13 civilians were killed, after the strike (October 10, 2017)

    Imagery:
    Amnesty International

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
  • Jun 28, 2018
  • October 16, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 16th-17th it noted: “Near Raqqah, three strikes suppressed three ISIS communication lines.” The last reported strikes prior to this were on October 12th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13
  • (5 children4 women4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]