Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

CI357

Incident date

November 29, 2016

Location

Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.36459, 43.1954 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident previously unknown to Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of three civilians near Mosul.

Their January 2017 civilian casualty report noted “During a strike on ISIL fighters it is assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed when they entered the target area just prior to the munition’s impact.”

This incident may be related to CI356.

Al Rafidain published a video on the day (probably originating from ISIL) which showed significant damage to a west Mosul neighbourhood, along with dead and injured civilians. Local journalist Zyaad Alsenjary claimed civilian homes had been targeted.

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with coordinates for the event, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bloody video shows the aftermath of the bombing of coalition allegedly aircraft on the industrial area on the right side of Mosul (via @rafidenchannel)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF381259
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 2, 2017

  • Nov. 29, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq: During a strike on ISIL fighters it is assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed when they entered the target area just prior to the munition’s impact.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For November 28th-29th, the Coalition reported “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged four ISIL tactical units; destroyed five mortar systems, three ISILheld buildings, three vehicles, three VBIEDs, two front-end loaders, a VBIED factory, and a command and control node; suppressed three tactical units; and damaged five supply routes and two pieces of road construction equipment.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1703

Incident date

December 28, 2017

Location

تل الذهب, Tal Al Thahab or Tal Al Shayr, Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

35.95669, 41.20882 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died in an alleged Coalition strike on Tal Al Thahab or Tal Al Shayr, near the Syrian-Iraqi border, according to local sources on the ground.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “three civilians from the same family, including a child and a woman, were killed as International Coalition warplanes fired missiles on Tal al Thahab village in Hasaka governorate southern suburbs, on December 28, 2017.“

Al Hasaka Arabea, named victims as Daham al-Haran and his wife and one of his sons.

Zaman ALwasl reported that “local sources said that helicopters of the International Coalition carried out a landing in order to arrest a leader of the Islamic State living in the village of Tel Al-Dahab. There was a clash during the operation, killing a civilian resident named Daham al-Oran al-Baalu along with his son and wife. Sources added that Coalition forces kidnapped the rest of the family of the victims and transferred them to the US base in the city of Shaddadi”.

The Coalition later confirmed that it had killed three and injured two civilians that day in the area.

Their May 2018 civilian casualty report noted: “During an attack two civilians were unintentionally injured and three civilians were unintentionally killed when they crossed into the impact area.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location for this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box. The location given placed the event in the Tal al Shayr area.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Daham al-Haran
Adult male killed
Wife of Daham al-Haran
female killed
Son of Daham al-Haran
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near Rayhaniyah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV992814
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018

  • December 28, 2017, near Rayhaniyah, Syria, via self-report. During an attack two civilians were unintentionally injured and three civilians were unintentionally killed when they crossed into the impact area.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 27th-28th, the Coalition reported: ” Near Abu Kamal, 10 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed three ISIS vehicles, a heavy machine gun, an ISIS line of communication and a logistics center.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI620

Incident date

April 8, 2017

Location

تل عفر, Tall Afar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.376995, 42.462178 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of three civilians near Tal Afar, Iraq.

Their June 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIS VBIED factory, it was assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a one metre box. The location given placed the event in the east of Tal Afar, which is to the west of Mosul.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Stated location
    near Tal Afar, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SKF7234328755
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 2, 2017

  • April 8, 2017, near Tal Afar, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS VBIED factory, it was assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For April 7th-8th: no strikes were publicly reported in the vicinity.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI624

Incident date

April 10, 2017

Location

دور موظفي السكك, Mosul, Sekak, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.33881, 43.10241 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that three named civilians were killed including a child, after an airstrike struck their house in Sekak neighborhood in West Mosul.

The Coalition later accepted responsibility for the event, publishing an assessment in December 2018 that stated: “On Apr. 10, 2017, near Sekak (Mosul), Iraq, via Airwars report. The Coalition aircraft engaged two buildings used as ISIS fighting positions. The buildings and ISIS fighters were destroyed. Regrettably, three civilians were unintentionally killed during the explosion.”

Local residents reported on Facebook that Professor Yasser Al Habo (see image below) died in the raids, together with his one-year-old daughter, and his nephew Professor Abdul Karim. Iraqyoon also quoted eyewitnesses saying that three people from one family died in the Railway neighbourhood.

While most sources did not specify the culprit, Shafaaq and Al Jazeera indicated that the Coalition was responsible. The Iraqi Spring Media Center posted a video, which it said showed “the destruction of the civilian homes in Sikak neighborhood, their cars and a wounded man who was injured when shelling targeted Khalid Bin Al-waleed Masjid at the right side of Mosul.“

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Yasser Al Habo
Adult male Professor, uncle killed
Abdul Karim
Adult male Professor, nephew killed
Daughter of Yasser Al Habo
1 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Professor Yasser Al Habo allegedly died in an airstrike on the Railway neighbourhood, together with his daughter and nephew (via Yasir Ahmed Alhussien, Facebook)
  • Another picture of Yasser Al Habo (centre front row, via Hiatham Saddi)
  • Video of the aftermath

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest street at 36.329341, 43.125032

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Killed by strike blast
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Sekak (Mosul), Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF297232
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 30, 2018

  • On Apr. 10, 2017, near Sekak (Mosul), Iraq, via Airwars report. The Coalition aircraft engaged two buildings used as ISIS fighting positions. The buildings and ISIS fighters were destroyed. Regrettably, three civilians were unintentionally killed during the explosion.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For April 9th-10th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed five fighting positions, five mortar systems, three medium machine guns, and a vehicle; damaged 22 supply routes; and suppressed four mortar teams.”

For April 10th-11th it reported: "Near Mosul, six strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed a fighting position, a supply cache, a rocket-propelled grenade system, an anti-air artillery system, one VBIED; damaged a fighting position; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit and a mortar team."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS878

Incident date

May 28, 2017

Location

الحمام, Al Hamam, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.88574, 38.77176 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including a woman and her child died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Hamman village, according to local media. The victims included Hayat of Mustafa al-Saguri (daughter of Hayaof Sajur) and her unnamed child.

In April 2019, the Coalition accepted responsibility for this event, noting: “Coalition aircraft conducted a strike on a suspected Daesh weapons cache. Regrettably, the strike on an associated target building unintentionally resulted in the deaths of three civilians.” The Coalition also provided Airwars with the coordinates for this event accurate to within a 100m box.

According to Baladi, “On Sunday, three civilians were killed by air raids by the International Coalition on the village of Hamam in the western Rif province. The Syrian forces of the Democratic Forces of Syria (SDF) took control of the village of Houret al-Ajil in the countryside.” RFS Media Office also put the death toll at three

Among the other sources blaming the Coalition were the Syrian Network for Human Rights and Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently.

In its 2019 annual civilian harm report to Congress, the Pentagon omitted this event from its list of US actions, with two officials later confirming to Airwars that all non-US Coalition events had been left out. In March 2020, Airwars, Liberation and De Morgen published a joint investigation indicating that Belgium and France were refusing to accept responsibility for civilian harm in this and other events – despite all other allies ruling themselves out.

Asked to say whether its aircraft were responsible for officially declared civilian harm in up to nine incidents, the Belgian Ministry of Defence told Airwars by email: “For the year 2017, BAF [Belgian Armed Forces] was certainly not involved in all events. With regard to the other data given, BAF was no longer present in theatre. BAF completed its role at the end of 2017. Our conclusion is that all ROEs [rules of engagement] were respected as confirmed by our federal court.”

After confirming receipt from Airwars in June 2019 of details of possible French civilian casualty events, the defence ministry then ceased communication – refusing to answer all subsequent emails.

In May 2020, the Pentagon retrospectively appeared to have added this event to its list of confirmed US civilian harm actions for 2017.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hayat of Mustafa al-Saguri
Adult female daughter of Hayaof Sajur killed
Child of Hayat of Mustafa al-Saguri
Child female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Table from May 2020 Pentagon report to Congress, conceding additional US civilian harm events in Iraq and Syria during 2017.

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest village at 35.90036, 38.74763

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Stated location
    near Al Hamam, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV794713
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 25, 2019

  • May 28, 2017, near Al Hamam, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted a strike on a suspected Daesh weapons cache. Regrettably, the strike on an associated target building unintentionally resulted in the deaths of three civilians.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For May 27th-28th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 15 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, three ISIS headquarters, an ISIS staging area and a VBIED.” The Coalition additionally reported that on May 27th “Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed a six fighting positions, an ISIS-held building and a weapons cache.”
For May 28th-29th, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed two fighting positions, two vehicles, two VBIED factories, two VBIED facilities, and an ISIS mechanical facility." For May 28th it added: "Near Raqqah, Syria, four strikes destroyed a weapons cache, an ISIS staging area, and three fighting positions"

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI189

Incident date

February 15, 2016

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.47256, 40.90441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as nine civilians were killed in a nighttime Coalition airstrike at Al Qaim.

While the US has conceded three deaths, one site referred at the time to “nine dead along with the destruction of civilian property, due to heavy strikes by the international Coalition at midnight yesterday on the city of Al Qaim.”

In a statement issued July 28th 2016, CENTCOM reported: “On February 15, 2016, near Al Qaim, Iraq, during a strike on an ISIL staging area, it is assessed that three civilians were killed.”

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Amaq agency (Daesh Media): Nine people were killed and massive destruction of civilians properties by an alleged coalition airstrike in the middle of the night in Al Qa'im, west Anbar (via @SYRIA_GID tweet)

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 34.3957715, 40.9943684

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Stated location
    near Al Qaim, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU749162
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 28, 2016

  • On February 15, 2016, near Al Qaim, Iraq, during a strike on an ISIL staging area, it is assessed that three civilians were killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 15th-16th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL bunker.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI290a

Incident date

September 20–23, 2016

Location

الشوره, Shora, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.99539, 43.2216 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed and another injured when Shora primary school, which had been taken over by ISIS to make bombs, was hit by an airstrike – an investigation by the New York Times Magazine found.

According to a field investigation conducted by reporters Azmah Khan and Anand Gopal for the New York Times, “Shora Primary School, which had been taken over by ISIS and used to make bombs, was hit by an airstrike between 9/20/2016 and 9/23/2016, and killed three civilians who had been walking nearby:

“Hamfeesh Masour Saleh, a retired soldier who had been near the school after praying nearby; Shida Ahmed Hasan, who was coming back from the Shora medical center, because her son needed medicine; and Shida Ahmed Hasan’s two-year-old son, who was with her. Another woman who had been walking with them survived.”

In June 2019 the Coalition accepted full responsibility for this incident, noting: “Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike on a Daesh weapons storage facility. Regrettably, three civilians were unintentionally killed and one unintentionally wounded due to their proximity to the strike.”

The Coalition later provided Airwars with the location for this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hamfeesh Masour Saleh
Adult male Retired soldier who had been near the school after praying nearby killed
Shida Ahmed Hasan
Adult female Was coming back from the Shora medical center, because her son needed medicine killed
Son of Shida Ahmed Hasan
2 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (1) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Other
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Qayyarah, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLE397849
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 27, 2019

  • Sept. 22, 2016, near Qayyarah, Iraq, via media-report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike on a Daesh weapons storage facility. Regrettably, three civilians were unintentionally killed and one unintentionally wounded due to their proximity to the strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Near Qayyarah, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units and destroyed two vehicles and a
weapons cache.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1891a

Incident date

January 25–26, 2019

Location

الباغوز, Between Al-Baghuz Fawqani town and Al-Marashdah village, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.47381, 40.93928 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In its monthly civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the Coalition conceded the killing of three civilians and the injuring of a fourth in a strike near Marashdah. The Pentagon later declared this as a US-only civilian harm event.

According to the report, “January 25, 2019, near Marashidah, Syria, via self-report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh vehicle. Regrettably, three civilians were unintentionally killed and one civilian was unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike. 2664 37SFU781164”.

An alleged Coalition airstrike in the vicinity on this date also killed a total of 42 people, including 13 civilians in addition to 29 members of ISIS according to local reports [see CS1891].

Asked whether CS1891 might be a match for this incident, a Coalition official told Airwars: “Looking at the two reports, there is a chance these two are related as your report mentions some corroborating information, however it appears that this [Airwars] report is an aggregate of incidents and thus it is difficult to single out specific incidents with any certainty.”

Because of our inability to disaggregate these events, Airwars has created a separate civilian harm assessment for the confirmed Coalition event. We have also modified the civilian casualty range of CS1891 to avoid double counting.

In May 2020 in its annual civilian harm report to Congress, the Pentagon declared this to be a US-only action.

The incident occured between 12:00 am and 6:00 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Table of US-only civilian harm events in Iraq and Syria for 2019, declared by the Pentagon to Congress in May 2020.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Marashidah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU781164
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • January 25, 2019, near Marashidah, Syria, via self-report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh vehicle. Regrettably, three civilians were unintentionally killed and one civilian was unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike. 2664 37SFU781164

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Between Jan. 13 - 26, 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted 645 strikes consisting of 1,360 engagements in Syria, and conducted nine strikes consisting of 12 engagements in Iraq.

In Syria, 645 strikes engaged 394 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 244 fighting positions, 172 supply routes, 85 staging areas, 21 vehicles, 17 buildings, 15 vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, 14 mortar launching sites, 13 manufacturing facilities for improvised explosive devices, 12 command and control nodes, nine tunnels, eight weapons catches, seven pieces of engineering equipment, five launching sites for unmanned aircraft systems, two weapons storage facilities, two mortar tubes, two improvised explosive devices, one unmanned aircraft system, one machine gun, one logistic node and one check point.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For Jan 23rd-29th, France report that French Rafales conducted 7 strikes south of Hajin on ISIS fighters in the mid-Euphrates Valley.

CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie Les Forces démocratiques syriennes, dont l’offensive est appuyée par les forces aériennes d’une part et l’artillerie de la Task Force Wagram d’autre part, ont poursuivi leur progression dans la moyenne vallée de l’Euphrate. Après la reprise et la libération de Marashida, les opérations de reconquête des territoires occupés par Daech, menées par les FDS, entrent dans leur dernière phase, avant une période de sécurisation qui lui succèdera. Poursuite des actions en Irak La situation sécuritaire en Irak est stable, et les Forces de Sécurité irakiennes maintiennent un rythme opérationnel élevé. Elles poursuivent leurs efforts visant les flux et ressources logistiques, ce qui se concrétise par des prises de quantités importantes d’explosifs, de munitions et d’armement aux dépends de Daesh, dont il faut rappeler le régime de semi-clandestinité, notamment dans la région du plateau d’Hawija, entre Bagdad et Mossoul. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Le dispositif français déployé au Levant n’a pas évolué. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate La Task Force (TF) Wagram appuie les forces démocratiques syriennes contre Daech dans la région d’Hajine. La TF Wagram a réalisé, depuis le territoire irakien, 33 missions de tir (7 éclairements, 4 appuis, 22 aveuglements – bilan du 23 au 29 janvier inclus). Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des operations Les aéronefs français basés en Jordanie et aux Émirats arabes unis poursuivent leurs actions contre Daech, au sein de la coalition. Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 26 sorties aériennes (bilan du 23 au 29 janvier inclus). Les Rafale français ont conduit 07 frappes cette semaine au sud de la ville d’Hajine sur des combattants de Daech, dans la moyenne vallée de l’Euphrate, là où les Forces démocratiques syriennes produisent leur principal effort. La phase de transition entre le départ du groupe aéronaval américain « USS Stennis » et l’arrivée de renfort d’avions de chasse américains explique l’augmentation du volume des sorties aériennes dont certaines ont été  effectuées depuis la Base aérienne des Emirats Arabes Unis. Les Task Forces Monsabert et Narvik poursuivent leurs missions de formation La Task Force (TF) Monsabert poursuit sa mission d’assistance et de conseil de l’état-major de la 6ème division irakienne, qui est en charge de la sécurisation de l’ouest du grand Bagdad. Elle conseille également ponctuellement les brigades qui lui sont subordonnées. La Task Force Narvik quant à elle continue sa participation à l’instruction opérationnelle de l’ICTS (Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service).

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (14) [ collapse]