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

CI459

Incident date

February 14, 2017

Location

معمل طحين العكلات, Mosul, Aeklam flour mill near Shaam Gate, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.337778, 43.089722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that up 16 persons were killed and ten others injured after Coalition airstrikes targeted the ‘Aeklat’ flour mill at the right side of Mosul.

Iraqi Spring reported that the raids took place close to Sham Gate. Ajel Al Mosul said that the “airstrike that targeted a house in a flour mill at the right side left 14 martyrs and injured civilians with no links to Daesh.

In a later post, Ajel Al Mosul reported that the strikes had targeted “the lab, an administration building and a house in the lab.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Khadr Thanon
47 years old male killed
Aisha Abdel Thanon
43 years old female killed
Hussein Ali Khadr
16 years old male killed
Afrah Ali Khadr
27 years old female killed
Noor Mohammad Hamid
20 years old female killed
Dalal Ayman Ahmed
5 years old male killed
Amina Ayman Ahmed
3 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 16
  • (3 children3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (9) [ 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 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 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
    14 – 16
  • (3 children3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS933

Incident date

June 8, 2017

Location

مفرق الجزرة, Al Jazra junction, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.952778, 38.984722

Airwars assessment

Fourteen civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on an internet cafe al Al Jazra junction in Raqqa, according to local sources. Another four reportedly died nearby.

All reports pointed towards the Coalition and named the internet cafe as Al-Hason Net.

According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS), on June 8th the Coalition carried out “nearly 20 raids using white phosphorous targeting the al Sabahiya and al Jazra neighbourhoods.” RBSS also noted that al-Sabhiyaa mosque was struck in one of the raids. It said that the strike on Al-Hason Net killed 14 non-combatants, a figure also given by other sources, including Raqqa Post, RaqqaSL, Q_Alenzy and the journalist Mohab Naser.

At least two more deaths were reported nearby, with RBSS noting that “one of the raids targeted the commercial Al-Jazra junction corner of the 16th Street and caused the occurrence of a number of martyrs and wounded, we have not been aware of the numbers or names so far and the destruction of more than eight shops in the region.”

Syrianpc also reported the use of white phosphorous, saying that “between Thursday evening until Friday dawn the Coalition carried out more than 25 air raids focused on the neighbourhoods of the eastern and western city using white phosphorus, which is banned internationally.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 16
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Photo of what is reported to be the use of white phosphorous in Mashleb neighbourhood, June 8th (via Raqqa Post)
  • Video reportedly showing the targeting of al-Raqqa with white phosphorous on June 8th, 2017 (via AlRaggaTruth Facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of the alleged Coalition strikes that targeted al-Raqqa (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of the alleged Coalition strikes targeting al-Raqqa (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victim of the alleged Coalition strikes that targeted al-Raqqa (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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV9667577625
    Military Grid Reference System

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 7th-8th: “Near Raqqah, 22 strikes engaged 16 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 12 fighting positions, three vehicles, two ISIS staging areas, an ISIS excavator, an ISIS weapons cache, and an ISIS training camp.” It also added that “On June 7, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike destroyed six fighting positions and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.” And that “On June 7, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike destroyed an ISIS minefield.”

For June 8th-9th: "Near Raqqah, nine strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, three vehicles and a mortar system."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 16
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1411

Incident date

August 23, 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

Up to 16 civilians died and up to 64 were wounded in alleged Coalition air and artillery strikes in Raqqa between August 23rd and 24th, local media reported. It should be noted that these are general numbers and may encompass other casualty events; moreover, locations of these deaths in Raqqa are currently unclear.

Euphrates Post reported “more than 15 martyrs and dozens injured following 70 air raids and dozens of artillery shells by SDF militias targeting the neighbourhoods of the city of Raqqa in the past 48 hours.”

Airwars understands that only the Coalition has access to artillery in Raqqa. According to the Shaam News Network on August 24th, the Coalition carried out 77 air strikes in Raqqa during the past 24 hours.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 16
  • Civilians reported injured
    60–64
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ar Raqqah (الرقة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148. Due to the 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
    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 23rd-24th: “Near Raqqah, nine strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 11 fighting positions and a vehicle.” It additionally reported that “On Aug. 23, near Raqqah, Syria, 44 strikes engaged 27 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 77 fighting positions, six ISIS headquarters, three command and control nodes, an explosives cache, a heavy machine gun, and a vehicle.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

Wednesday 23 August – Typhoons attacked two terrorist positions in Raqqa, whilst Tornados and Typhoons hit an armed truck and terrorists on foot in and around Tal Afar…On Wednesday 23 August, a Typhoon flight used Paveway IVs to destroy two defensive positions in Raqqa, from which Daesh extremists were firing on the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • For Aug 23rd-29th, France report 8 strikes in Iraq and 11 strikes in Syria, plus 46 artillery missions in Tal Afar, Iraq.(@EtatMajorFR)

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 16
  • Civilians reported injured
    60–64
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI017

Incident date

November 17, 2014

Location

القيارة, Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.8949604, 43.2228756 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple civilians were reported killed as a result of air raids launched by the coalition south of Mosul. The National Iraqi News Agency cited forensic sources as saying that 16 people, including six women and children, were killed.

Other media reported that up to “22 Daesh militants” were also killed in coalition airstrikes in the vicinity, including 13 at Al Qayyarah.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16
  • (3 children3 women)
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistricts of Al Qayyarah and Al Shura, south of Mosul. Coordinates for the middle point between these areas are: 35.8949604, 43.2228756. Due to limited information and satellite imagery 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 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

Seven coalition airstrikes, including by Canada, are confirmed for November 17th-19th. According to CENTCOM: “Seven airstrikes near Mosul struck five ISIL tactical units, damaged an IED factory and destroyed an ISIL mortar position, three ISIL vehicles, an ISIL occupied building, an ISIL artillery piece and ISIL artillery mover.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16
  • (3 children3 women)
  • 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

CS234

Incident date

June 19, 2016

Location

الثورة‎, Al-Thawrah (Tabaqah), Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.8295049, 38.5360909 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 16 civilians including one woman were killed and 30-35 injured in airstrikes on Tabaqa – though reports are conflicted as to whether the Coalition, Russia or the Assad regime carried out the attacks. However, the majority of the sources allege Russia was responsible.

LCCSY, Syria 2011 and the Syrian Revolution all named people who they said had been killed in Coalition strikes. But The Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes carried out more than a dozen airstrikes with cluster bombs: “Activists said Russian warplanes targeted several neighborhoods within al Tabaqa with cluster bombs, leaving 16 martyrs among civilians and more than 30 wounded, some in critical condition, as well as considerable material damage in residential buildings, shops and the proliferation of explosive bombs over large areas in the city and within residential neighborhoods. The bombing included al Sina’a street , Hajj Nawwar street, al A’reed street, the area behind Express book shop, Al Maghniya street and the area near the financial district.“

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently also blamed Russia across multiple posts, however, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said the regime were responsible and put the death toll at at least six. Others sources referred to “warplanes”, but did not say who they belonged to.

In the second of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, 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.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Ahmad Mo’del
Age unknown male From Idlib killed
Mohammad al Gholi
Age unknown male killed
Malek al Areed
Age unknown male killed
The wife of Abu Taher al Tayyar
Age unknown female killed
Ahmad Mudhi al Ahmad
Age unknown male killed
Hussein al Ayel
Age unknown male killed
Khaled al jajaj
Age unknown male killed
Farid al Ahmad
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 16
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–35
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • A wounded civilian being treated following an airstrike on Al Tabaqa (via RBSS)
  • Al Tabaqa photos of the signs of destruction inside civilians’ homes after they were targeted with cluster bombs (via RBSS)
  • Al Tabaqa photos of the signs of destruction inside civilians’ homes after they were targeted with cluster bombs (via RBSS)
  • Al Tabaqa photos of the signs of destruction inside civilians’ homes after they were targeted with cluster bombs (via RBSS)
  • Al Tabaqa photos of the signs of destruction inside civilians’ homes after they were targeted with cluster bombs (via RBSS)
  • Al Tabaqa photos of the signs of destruction inside civilians’ homes after they were targeted with cluster bombs (via RBSS)
  • A photo of one of the raids that targeted al Maqassem neighbourhood in al Tabaqa (via RBSS).
  • Al Tabaqa photos of the signs of destruction inside civilians’ homes after they were targeted with cluster bombs (via RBSS)
  • Al Tabaqa photos of the signs of destruction inside civilians’ homes after they were targeted with cluster bombs (via RBSS)
  • Al Tabaqa photos of the some civilians harmed by the air strike (via RBSS)
  • Al Tabaqa photos of the signs of destruction inside civilians’ homes after they were targeted with cluster bombs (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the air strike (via RBSS)
  • Al Tabaqa photos of the signs of destruction inside civilians’ homes after they were targeted with cluster bombs (via RBSS)
  • Al Tabaqa, photo of one of the cluster bombs (via RBSS)
  • Translation: urgent Raqqa: more than 40 Daesh killed including women when the Syrian eagle targeted Daesh dens in the city of Tabaqa a short while ago (via youffff1982)
  • Translation: al Raqqa - Ahmad Mudhi al Ahmad martyred after coalition planes target al tabaqa, al Raqqa, a few days ago. The martyr is from Bulial in Deir Ezzor.
  • Left overs of the cluster bombs fired by warplanes on al Tabaqa (via RBSS)
  • Left overs of the cluster bombs fired by warplanes on al Tabaqa (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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV580651
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • June 19, 2016, in Tabaqah, Syria, 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. 2977/CS234 37SDV580651

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 18th-18th, the Coalition reports: “Near Ar Raqqah, three strikes struck two ISIL-used bridges and an ISIL staging area.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 16
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–35
  • 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 (32) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI736

Incident date

May 28, 2017

Location

المدينة القديمة, Mosul, Old City, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34075, 43.126911 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple local sources and eyewitnesses reported that 15 civilians were killed, including children and women, and more than 20 others were injured after airstrikes hit their homes in Farouk Street in Old Mosul. Most sources blamed the Coalition for the shelling.

Witnesses had told Al Jazeera that the civilians had died after raids hit popular areas in the Old Mosul area, in “Al-Farouk Street and the area of ​​Al-Sadah, which lies north of the old part of ​​Mosul”. Security sources had told the news agency that “Iraqi forces were continuing operations in the three neighborhoods north of the old city, in West Mosul, for a second day in a row to regain control of ISIL, backed by air support from Iraqi aviation and International Coalition aircraft. The sources added that the advance of troops is proceeding slowly due to the violent resistance shown by the ISIL combatants.”

Yaqein Agency and Adamyiah News said it was the work of the Coalition.

Local Facebook group Sawlf Ateka later said that a young boy called Mazen had died in West Mosul (see photo below).

A UN report on the protection of civilians in context of Nineveh operations and the retaking of Mosul stated: “On 28 May, an airstrike targeting an ISIL convoy hit a group of civilians while they were walking in al- Najafy Street in the ISIL-controlled Old Mosul city. The airstrike reportedly killed 15 civilians, including four women and two children, and wounded eight others, including a child and three women.”

The Guardian reported on several civilian casualties from the old Mosul Neighborhood. One testimony from Tareq Abid is most likely related to this event. Abid describes how his wife and two children, five-year-old Messara, and 18-month-old Mariam were killed in an offensive against Islamic State “at the end of May last year”. He had asked his brother to flee with his family so he could make sure his parents could also leave in safety. When Abid returned to his neighborhood he found his wife and one of his daughters: “My wife’s face couldn’t be identified but she was still wearing her wedding ring. There was a big hole in her back and chest. Her handbag with all her jewellery was gone. Mariam was lying dead beside her. I learnt that Isis fighters had taken my eldest daughter to hospital but she had died too. I never found her body.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Messara
5 years old male Daughter of Tareq Abid killed
Mariam
1 years old female Daughter of Tareq Abid killed

The victims were named as:

Mazen
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (2 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–20
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The young boy called Mazen, who reportedly died in West Mosul (via Sawlf Ateka)
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 Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017

  • 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 May 27th-28th the Coalition publicly reported: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed 17 fighting positions, six heavy machine guns, four rocket-propelled grenade systems, three mortar systems, three VBIED, a vehicle, a medium machine gun; damaged an ISIS staging area; suppressed two ISIS tactical units and two mortar teams.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (2 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–20
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS021 CS134

Incident date

October 6, 2015

Location

تدمر, Palmyra, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.5655244, 38.2873535 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Syrian Observatory, “preliminary information reported the death of civilians – including women and children – in the bombing by Russian warplanes on areas at the eastern outskirts of Palmyra city which is controlled by the ‘Islamic State’.”

According to most sources, between 12 and 14 members of two Bedouin families died, including five children and four women. Russian aircraft reportedly targeted the Al Wadi Al Ahmar [Red Valley] residential area in the east of the city.

The Violations Documentation Center said 15 civilian males were killed, though did not identify any by name. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights instead said 15 Daesh fighters died alongside civilians.

A Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying “We do not hit populated areas .. especially those with antiquities” when asked whether Russia had carried out strikes at Palmyra. Repeated Russian strikes have since targeted the city according to reports.

It remains possible the action was instead by the US-led Coalition, which publicly reported airstrikes at Palmyra on October 1st, 4th, 9th and 10th 2015.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 15
  • (5 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 attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Interview with activist confirming that Russian strikes targeted Palmyra. No further details of any casualties, 6th October 2015. (via: Media office of the rebels of Syria)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

As noted above, Russia explicitly denied carrying out strikes at Palmyra. No Russian airstrikes were publicly reported in Homs governorate for October 6th 2015.

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
    37SDU346251
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • October 6, 2015, in Palmyra, Syria, 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. 2861/CS134 37SDU346251

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition did not report any strikes in Palmyra for October 5th-7th 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 15
  • (5 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 attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1885

Incident date

January 10, 2019

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.528889, 40.9675 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged Coalition airstrike struck a field hospital in the outskirts of the town Al Soussa in the eastern suburb of Deir Ezzor on the night between Thursday January 10th and Friday January 11th, killing more than 15 non-combatants including doctors and wounded patients being treated by ISIS on the site, according to reports. It is unclear how many of the victims were affiliated to ISIS.

Step News blamed both ”SDF artillery’ and Coalition airstrikes. All other sources blamed only the Coalition.

Among the dead was the so-called Minister of Health with ISIS, Muwaffaq Askar Mohammed, nicknamed Abu Abdul Qadir. According to a local source, he was a physician born in 1972 in the town of Grajij and a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, University of London.

He worked as a teacher at the Faculty of Medicine at Deir Al-Zour University and supervised the work of the Health sector in many cities of Deir al-Zour during ISIS’s occupation. One source pointed out that three of his sons were killed while fighting with ISIS in Syria and Iraq

According to Madar Daily, the incident occurred in Al Shaafa, while other sources claimed it was in Al Soussa.

On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition reported this incident to be “non-credible”, stating that “After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

The incident occured after midnight.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–6
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • "Minister of Health and the leader of Daesh" Dr. Mowaffaq Mahdi al-Askar alleged killed in a Coalition airstrike (via Shabab Al Soussa).
  • Description of Dr. Muwafaq Mahdi al-Askar (via Manartalforat2018).

Geolocation notes

Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 34.52889, 40.9675

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

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

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–6
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]