US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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

Incident Code

CI225

Incident date

April 16, 2016

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

Multiple local sources reported that one civilian was killed and four injured after an oil refinery in northern Mosul was hit by allegedly Coalition aircraft.

One source described the civilians as the ‘owners’ of the refinery.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition reports for April 15th-16th 2016 that “Near Mosul, four strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, 14 ISIL modular oil refineries, and two ISIL crude oil stills and destroyed an ISIL assembly area and 10 ISIL boats.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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

CI289

Incident date

September 19, 2016

Location

كبيسة, Kabaisa, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.591421, 42.612228 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident previously unknown to Airwars, according to a Coalition report, Sept. 19, 2016, near Kabaisa, Iraq: Report indicated civilians in a house were killed, but the only strike in the area that day was on a moving vehicle in a remote area.

Given reported British actions in the near region 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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • 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
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Kabaisa, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 1, 2016
  • Report indicated civilians in a house were killed, but the only strike in the area that day was on a moving vehicle in a remote area.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 19th-20th 2016 the Coalition reported that “Near Ramadi, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and a staging area and destroyed two heavy machine guns, a weapons cache, two command and control nodes, and two logistics hubs. Near Rawah, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle storage facility.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI321

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

Members of several families were killed by bombings in Mosul, according to one local report.

Mosul Eye reported that members of three families were killed due to “bombardment” in Al-Kindi and Al-Kafa’at Al Thinita neighbourhoods of Mosul. The houses ISIL used are now empty, Mosul Eye clarified. The residents are the victims. Mosul Eye, however, did not directly blame the Coalition, nor did it provide exact casualty figures.

A local tweet said 21 civilians died in the incident, though did not specify who was responsible for the bombing.’Mosul The third Eye said that 30 civilians from four families were casualties – though again did not specify which munitions belligerent were responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • 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]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

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.”

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
    21
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • 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

CI365

Incident date

December 8, 2016

Location

تل عفر, Tall Afar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.375659, 42.451536 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Yaqein reported that more than 40 civilians, including civilians, were killed in Iraqi government bombing. Citing a source, they said that there were 42 victims.

Al Hadath, citing the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, also cited government airstrikes in Tel Abtah, but said that they killed 42 terrorists, and destroyed three cars, one carrying members of ISIL. A Facebook account – Forth Theory – also cited more than 40 civilian deaths.

In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, Coalition officials said the event was presently assessed as Not credible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

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 Tal Afar, 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

For December 7th-8th, the Coalition reported no strikes near Tal Afar. For December 8th-9th, the Coalition reported no strikes near Tal Afar.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI399

Incident date

January 7, 2017

Location

الموصل: غرب/الجانب الأيمن, Mosul, West, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.336843, 43.117979 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians were reported killed, including three children and two women in raids in West Mosul.

Shafaaq reported that strikes of unknown origin had that “wrongly” targeted displaced people west of Mosul.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 children2 women)
  • 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, Unknown

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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near west Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF311227
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 30, 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

For January 6th-7th the Coalition publicly stated that: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged five ISIL tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, two VBIEDs, two ISIL-held buildings, two heavy machine guns, two weapons caches, an IED, a mortar system, a homemade explosives facility, an ISIL headquarters building, a supply cache, and a mobile artillery system; damaged 21 supply routes; and suppressed five tactical units.

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 children2 women)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (3) [ 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

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

CI532

Incident date

March 10, 2017

Location

Mosul, Rajm Hadid, Nineveh, Iraq

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, on September 1st 2017 the Coalition said it had concluded an assessment of civilian harm “near Mosul, Iraq” via an NGO report. According to the Coalition report, “March 10, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report: 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.”

The Coalition shared the location of this assessed strike with Airwars. The location was stated as Rajm Hadid in Mosul.

No additional details are presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • 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
    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
  • Sep 1, 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

For March 9th-10ththe Coalition publicly reported: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and an ISIS staging area; destroyed 11 vehicles, nine mortar systems, eight fighting positions, five VBIEDs, two medium machine guns, two roadblocks, two watercraft, an anti-air artillery system, a supply cache, an ammunition cache, and a recoilless rifle; damaged 15 supply routes; and suppressed 10 mortar teams.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI599

Incident date

April 2, 2017

Location

اليرموك, Mosul, Yarmouk, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.336804, 43.083396 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that three named civilians from the same family were killed after a Coalition airstrike targeted a sniper on the roof of their house in Yarmouk neighborhood, West Mosul.

MNN and Urgent Mosul News said that Sheikh Mohammed Fathi al-Hussein al-Rashdi and his wife and his son’s wife were among the victims. According to sources, the bodies were still under the rubble. Both said the Coalition was responsible.

The other sources did report civilian casualties in the neighbourhood, but did not say who carried out the shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sheikh Mohammed Fathi al-Hussein al-Rashdi
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 women1 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]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 1st-2nd the Coalition publicly reported: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and an ISIS staging area; destroyed three rocket-propelled grenade systems, three fighting positions, a heavy machine gun, an artillery system, a weapons factory, and a VBIED factory; damaged seven supply routes and five fighting positions; and suppressed 12 ISIS mortar teams, four ISIS tactical units, and an ISIS sniper team.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 women1 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]