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

CI042

Incident date

February 24, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, al-Zohour, al-Tahrir, al-Bunook [also known as Al Massaref] and al-Muthanna neighborhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Reported Coalition airstrikes on multiple targets in eastern Mosul – said to be occupied by Islamic State forces – allegedly killed 14 civilians, including women and children. According to NINA, medical forensic teams in Mosul “received 14 dead bodies belonging to civilians, [who] were killed in al-Zohour, al-Tahrir, al-Bunook [also known as Al Massaref] and al-Muthanna neighborhoods”. Bas News and Baghdad News also reported civilian fatalities.

Herak also confirmed heavy Coalition strikes on the city. While it made no mention of civilian deaths, it noted one witness as saying: “Several other air strikes by international aircraft targeted the airport, which led to panic amongst residents – many of whom left those areas due to the intensity of the shelling.”

In July 2017 the Coalition classed the event as non credible on grounds of lack of available evidence of civilian harm: “Feb. 24, 2015, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars 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.”

Based on reports of civilian casualties at the time, Airwars continues to assess this as a likely event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • 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
    a:1:{i:0;s:21:"insufficient_evidence";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 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

A major coalition air raid on Mosul on February 24th 2015 is confirmed. According to CJTF-OIR: “Near Mosul, three airstrikes struck an ISIL large tactical unit, multiple ISIL checkpoints, an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 11 ISIL buildings, two ISIL armored vehicles and seven ISIL vehicles.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI044

Incident date

February 25, 2015

Location

الرطبة, Ar Rutbah, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.037183, 40.285862 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Reuters, a Coalition airstrike caused significant casualties in Ar Rutbah: “Coalition planes bombed al-Rutba district, 385 km west of Baghdad, killing six Islamic State militants and 11 civilians, according to a source in the local hospital.”

ARA News placed the civilian death toll from coalition strikes at Rutba at 10.

In July 2017, the Coalition announced that it had classed the event as Non Credible on grounds of lack of available evidence of civilian harm: “Feb. 25, 2015, near Ar Rutbah, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

However based on reports at the time of the event, Airwars continues to class this event as Fair.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 11
  • 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]

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 Ar Rutbah, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • After a review of available information 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

The coalition reports a strike in the vicinity for February 25th-26th 2015: “Near Ar Rutbah, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 11
  • 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

CI045

Incident date

February 26, 2015

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

According to Reuters, a coalition airstrike which killed 17 Islamic State militants also caused the deaths of 9 non-combatants: “The hospital source in al-Qaim, a town on the Euphrates River, said nine civilians were killed and 29 militants were wounded in the strike by the U.S.-led coalition which is bombing Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria. Some of the wounded were taken across the border to Syria for treatment.”

In what may be the same or a separate incident, Reuters also reported that Islamic State radio had claimed that three people were killed and women and children were injured, in a strike near al-Qaim.

Al Arabiya confirmed a heavy airstrike on al Qaim, though made no mention of civilian casualties: “The raids, which were carried out following detailed intelligence, targeted five locations for Daesh, and the extremists fired extensively their anti aircraft weapons. The raids resulted in the deaths of dozens of members and leaders of the organization, including senior leaders, namely: Abu Muslim al-Turkmeni, Abu Muslim Al Shishani (Chechen), and Abu Ubaidah al-Azzawi and Thamer Mohammed.”

Internally CENTCOM dismissed the claims of civilian deaths, noting that “reflections were that a major ISIL leader was killed in the strike.”

However military intelligence sources also appeared to have confused the source of civilian casualty allegations (hospital personnel) with the location of the strike itself: “The target was clearly identified as an insurgent meeting house/ staging house, and was not a hospital,” J2 personnel insisted.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 12
  • 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
    a:1:{i:0;s:5:"other";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    al-Qaim, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015

  • Open source media report that the hospital source in al-Qaim, a town on the Euphrates River, hospital said nine civilians were killed and 29 militants were wounded in the strike by the U.S.-led coalition. Some of the wounded were taken across the border to Syria for treatment. / OSINT RPT record via CHOPS. Target identified as an insurgent meeting house/staging house, and was not a hospital.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 12
  • 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

CI046

Incident date

February 28, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Algiers, Al Faisaliah, flowers, and July neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Sources in Mosul claimed that Coalition airstrikes hit a residential neighbourhood in the city, “killing 17 civilians, including six children, and wounded another 23 who were taken to hospitals in Mosul.”

According to BasNews, Daesh/ Islamic State appeared to have recently shifted its headquarters and military positions “into residential neighborhoods,” a move which had likely contributed to any civilian casualties.

NINA gave the same casualty figures, citing medical sources in the city. Rudaw placed the death toll at 24 with 24 injured, citing security sources.

In July 2017, the Coalition classed the event as non credible based on insufficient evidence of civilian harm: “Feb. 28, 2015, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars 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.”

However based on reports made at the time of the event, Airwars continues to class this event as Fair.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16 – 24
  • (6 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    23–24
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    a:1:{i:0;s:21:"insufficient_evidence";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 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

Seven coalition airstrikes at Mosul were confirmed in this period. For February 27th-28th 2015 it was reported: “Near Mosul, three airstrikes destroyed an ISIL mortar and an ISIL fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16 – 24
  • (6 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    23–24
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI047

Incident date

March 3, 2015

Location

الجمهورية, Fallujah, Jamhouriya, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

33.3536346, 43.7731147 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Aircraft bombed a primary school and a hospital in the Jamhouriya neighbourhood of Fallujah, reportedly killing up to 12 civilians and injuring 9. Local media reported that children were among the dead, including 11-year old Suhaib Jassem Batawi. According to Arabi21, the attack was the work of the Iraq Air Force and had killed three schoolchildren.

However, the incident occurred during significant military action involving both the Iraq Army and Shia militia, with US airstrikes also taking place in the area, making attribution difficult.

 

The incident occured around dusk.

The victims were named as:

Suhaib Jassem Batawi
11 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 12
  • (1–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–9
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Photos of the school before and after the bombing
  • More photos of the alleged incident

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

The alleged Coalition airstrike was reported to have struck an elementary school in the Jamhouriya neighbourhood (الجمهورية) in Fallujah (الفلوجة) in the late afternoon/evening. Satellite imagery available to Airwars of March 3, 2015 shows damage to the Jamhouriya Primary School for Boys (مدرسة الجمهورية الابتدائية للبنين), for which the coordinates are: 33.351672, 43.774166. This location was found through geolocation of the images of the school published by the Iraq Spring Media Centre. Coordinates for the midpoint of Jamhouriya neighbourhood (الجمهورية) are: 33.3536346, 43.7731147.

  • Outlines of Jamhouriya neighbourhood ( الجمهورية ) and the location of the Al-Gomhoria Primary School for Boys ( مدرسة الجمهورية الابتدائية للبنين )

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

  • Damage visible in satellite imagery taken on Mar. 6, 2016. Features in the satellite imagery, such as the painted curb, destroyed wall and telegraph poles (shadows), match those depicted in reports of the incident. The text on the image on the right reads: "This is the Jamhouriya ( الجمهورية ) primary school after the bombing".

    Date taken:
    March 6, 2016

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 Fallujah, 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

The coalition has confirmed major airstrikes at Fallujah on on March 3rd-4th 2015. According to CJTF-OIR: ‘Near Fallujah, five airstrikes struck an IED factory, an ISIL VBIED factory, an ISIL weapons storage facility and destroyed an ISIL armored vehicle and an ISIL vehicle.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 12
  • (1–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–9
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI048

Incident date

March 5, 2015

Location

برطلّة, Bartalah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3534649, 43.3793879 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to NINA, a source in the forensic medicine department of the local hospital reported that numerous civilians died “in bombing by the international coalition aircraft [which] targeted a stronghold of the Islamic State in Bartalah north of Mosul.” Among 16 alleged civilian victims were five children and two women, whose bodies were said to have been transferred to the hospital.

Iraq4All confirmed airstrikes near Bartalah, noting: “Islamic State elements have been shooting at the Peshmerga forces on a daily basis from those sites that were bombed.” However, it made no mention of civilian casualties.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16
  • (5 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention Bartalah village (برطلّة), North of Mosul, in the Nineveh province, Iraq. The location of the midpoint of Bartalah village (برطلّة) is: 36.3534649, 43.3793879

  • Boundary of Bartalah village ( برطلّة ) and Bazkartan village ( باس خيرا ) visible on the top left

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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 Bartalah, Mosul, 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

Three coalition airstrikes in the vicinity of Mosul have been confirmed around this time. On March 4th-5th, the coalition reported: “Near Mosul, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.” And on March 5th-6th, “Near Mosul, two airstrikes [1 Canadian] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL anti-aircraft artillery system.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16
  • (5 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI049

Incident date

March 6, 2015

Location

الفلوجة‎, Fallujah, al Karma General Hospital, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.404182, 43.9119244 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged coalition air strike on Garma hospital in east Fallujah reportedly killed one doctor and injured five other medical staff. According to Al Sumaria TV, one source stated that “the bombing of the hospital was due to the presence of armed men belonging to Daesh inside.”

However the Iraqi Spring site attributed the attack to Iraqi government forces, noting that “Garma Hospital east of Fallujah has been shelled by government’s army accompanied by Iranian forces and swarms militia, resulting in the killing of one medical staff member and the wounding of five.”

 

The incident was first reported on March 6, 2015 at 9:10 pm by Al Sumaria.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the alleged strike
  • Another image of the aftermath
  • Another image of the aftermath
  • Another image of the aftermath

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident place the location of the alleged Coalition airstrike at the Garma General Hospital (مستشفى الكرمة العام), a suburb of the city Fallujah, in the Anbar province. Due to limited satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to locate the hospital or medical centre. However, reports mention the hospital is in the centre of Garma (الكرمة), for which the coordinates are: 33.404182, 43.9119244

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-Garmah, Fallujah, 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

According to the coalition, on March 5th-6th 2015 “Near Al Qaim, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL bulldozer.”

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
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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

CI050

Incident date

March 9, 2015

Location

تل كيف‎, Telkaif, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.4908349, 43.1204796 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight civilians including three women were claimed by NINA to have been killed in a coalition airstrike on Telkaif, 20km north of Mosul. A dozen militants also reportedly died in the attack.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

  • NINA
    • Arabic
    • Arabic

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

A single source reporting the incident mentions the town of Telkaif ( تل كيف‎ ), North of Mosul, for which the coordinates are: 36.4908349, 43.1204796

  • Telkaif ( تل كيف‎ )

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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 Tilkaif, Mosul, 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

Only one coalition airstrike was reported in the vicinity of Mosul around this period, on March 9th-10th 2015: “Near Mosul, an airstrike suppressed an ISIL vehicle.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

  • NINA
    • Arabic
    • Arabic