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

CI302

Incident date

October 21, 2016

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, South, girls' school, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.332845, 43.199477 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Russian Military General Staff claimed that a Coalition airstrike on a girls’ school south of Mosul killed a number of civilians.

According to Sputnik News, The Russian General Staff said that more than 60 civilians were killed and 200 others were injured during air strikes launched by the international coalition led by the United States on the neighbourhoods of Mosul and surrounding areas during a three day period. The Commission emphasised that Russia is closely monitoring the situation in Mosul, referring to the lack of notable successes in the liberation of the Iraqi city from the grip of the “Daesh” terrorist operation.

There are no known additional reports for this alleged event.

The chief Coalition spokesman responded by saying that Russia’s allegations “smells like a fire hose of falsehood.”

Given reported British actions in the area that day, Airwars flagged the incident to the UK’s MoD which said ” we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ 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

See above.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI319

Incident date

November 4, 2016

Location

الكندي, Mosul, Kindi, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.401389, 43.1429672 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to a single local report, a father and his daughter were killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes.

Mosul Eye reported that 2 civilians (father and his daughter) have been killed in US-led coalition airstrikes in Al-Kindy neighbourhood, on the eastern bank of Mosul.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ 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 November 3rd-4th, the Coalition reported “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units; destroyed five mortar systems, four vehicles, three ISIL-held buildings, two VBIEDs, two fighting positions and an ISIL headquarters building; and damaged two fighting positions and a front end loader.”

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI339

Incident date

November 15, 2016

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

At least ten civilians were killed by strikes in Anbar province, according to local sources.

Yaqein reported that 10 civilians were killed and others injured, including women and children by both Coalition and Iraqi Air Force planes.

One additional report, posted by @amsiiraq, referred to dozens of dead and wounded, and also cited the Coalition as well as government forces for the aerial attack west of Ramadi.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ 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 Al Qa'im, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For November 14th-15th, the Coalition reported “Near Haditha, one strike destroyed an ISIL mortar system” and “Near Rawah, one strike destroyed an ISIL bunker.”

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
    10
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (3) [ 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

CS436

Incident date

January 9, 2017

Location

كبش, Kabish, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.1308644, 38.7842273 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians died during a battle for control of Kabish. While most sources blamed SDF artillery, one claimed that the US-led Coalition was responsible for the deaths.

A single source, Eldorar, reported that three civilians died in an alleged Coalition strike on Kabish.

However according to Raqqa Post, one victim, Sadeq Qassem, was was killed in “shelling by the militias of Saleh Muslim”.

Raqqa24 blamed “violent raids” by SDF artillery for the death of one civilian.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sadeq Qassem
Age unknown male killed

Summary

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

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Kabish (Raqqah), Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV8058598485
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 8th-9th, the Coalition reported that “Near Ar Raqqah, 15 strikes [1 British] engaged five ISIL tactical units; destroyed six oil refinement stills, three supply caches, two bridges, two artillery systems, a VBIED, a bulldozer, a UAV, an IED, a dump truck, a pontoon bridge, a tank, and an armored vehicle; and damaged a supply route. Near Ayn Isa, one strike destroyed a repeater station.”

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
    1 – 3
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI432

Incident date

January 18, 2017

Location

حي النجار, Mosul, Al-Najjar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3592367, 43.0998802 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that up to 14 people, mostly from one family, were killed when a Coalition airstrike targeted the house of Khalil Ekrb at 3pm in Al-Najjar neighborhood, near Hawi, in the northwest of Mosul.

Iraqyoon said the raids had targeted ISIL members in front of the house, but that the bombing “did not hurt any elements of the [terrorist] organization”. It reported that a woman was killed, and a man and others wounded.

Mosul Ateka said that the whole family of the house was killed. In a comment under the post, it was claimed that the Coalition had carried out the strike.

In a later report, Iraqyoon said that as many as 14 civilians died in the bombing of the house, “including four men, four women and six children, most of them from one family.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • (6 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ 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
    a:1:{i:0;s:20:"no_coalition_strikes";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017

  • 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 January 17th-18th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units, destroyed three tunnel entrances, twovehicles, three VBIEDs, three barges, a watercraft, three fighting positions, three tactical vehicles, two mortars, and an artillery piece; suppressed two ISIL tactical units; and damaged a tunnel, a fighting position, and 29 supply routes.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • (6 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI446

Incident date

January 31, 2017

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

In an incident not previously known to Airwars researchers, the Coalition reported on March 4th that it was assessing an event at Mosul.

According to the release “Currently, 19 reports of civilian casualties are still being assessed… Jan. 31, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report.”

No additional details are presently known.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 30th-31st the Coalition stated: “Near Mosul, seven strikes engaged six ISIL tactical units and an ISIL mortar team; destroyed two VBIED facilities, two ISIL-held buildings, a weapons facility, a fighting position, a VBIED, an ISIL headquarters, a tunnel, a tactical vehicle, a mortar system and a weapons cache; damaged three supply routes and suppressed a mortar team.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI458

Incident date

February 14, 2017

Location

قصر المطران, Mosul, Qasr al-Mataraan, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3385928, 43.1256402 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A local source said that three sisters were killed and their mother seriously injured after airstrikes destroyed their house neighbouring an ISIL position in Qasr al-Mataraan (Bishop Palace) area at the right side of Mosul.

Urgent Mosul news reported that the raids had targeted and killed ISIL members, yet had also killed the three sisters. The mother suffered a serious head injury and the house was damaged.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ 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
    a:1:{i:0;s:21:"insufficient_evidence";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Qasar al-Mataran, Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF285231
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 27, 2018

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 13th-14th the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed four watercraft, three front-end loaders, and a mortar system; damaged nine supply routes; and suppressed eight ISIS mortar teams.”

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]