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

CI136

Incident date

November 8, 2015

Location

القيارة, Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.7977836, 43.2935143 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Locals claimed that up to 13 civilians were killed – including six children – and another five injured after the Coalition allegedly bombed a residential neighborhood in Qayyarah in Mosul.

DPA also said four Daesh fighters were killed in the attack, which “destroyed about 18 tankers loaded with oil in an attack on an ISIL-occupied oil refinery.”

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 13
  • (6 children)
  • 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLE458629
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • November 8, 2015, in Qayyarah, Iraq, 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. 2856/CI136 38SLE458629

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition has confirmed one strike in the vicinity for November 7th-8th 2015: “Near Qayyarah, one strike struck an ISIL staging area.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 13
  • (6 children)
  • 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

CI168

Incident date

December 27, 2015

Location

حي المثنى, Mosul, al-Muthanna, al-Masaref, al-Tahrir, and al-Qadisiyah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3738889, 43.1718063 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to single source the National Iraqi News Agency, 12 civilians died and 11 were “severely wounded” in Coalition airstrikes on the neighbourhoods of al-Muthanna, al-Masaref, al-Tahrir, and al-Qadisiyah, north of Mosul.

MNN cited Kurdish official Ghyath Surja as saying the Coalition had carried out a targeted strike on a vehicle at al-Muthanna, though did not mention casualties

In July 2017 the Coalition said it had classed the event as non credible, on grounds of limited evidence of civilian harm: “Dec. 27, 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.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ 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
  • 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

The Coalition reported for December 26th-27th 2015 that “Near Mosul, seven strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 15 ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL vehicles, an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL bunker, four ISIL assembly areas, three ISIL command control nodes, and cratered two ISIL roads, and denied ISIL access to terrain.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI200

Incident date

March 9, 2016

Location

العصرية, Asriya, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.46345, 43.07301 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a major mass casualty incident, 69 civilians were reported killed and 100 injured after alleged Coalition or possibly Iraq government aircraft allegedly struck the village of Asriyah. All of the victims were said to be from the Al Bojaber tribe.

According to al Rafidain and other sources, fifteen of those killed were said to be from the Al Jabri family, including the head of the household Matar Dayih Kattah Al Jabri. Only one member of the family reportedly survived, a baby named as Malak Juma Al Jabri.

Sheikh Zeidan Al Jabri, the chief sheikh of the Al Bijaber tribe, told Al Jazeera that his tribe members had stayed at their homes in Asriyah village during a nearby government offensive against Daesh. He claimed international Coalition and Iraqi forces had targeted them with airstrikes and killed dozens, mostly children and women.

There were claims that the Iraq Army initially prevented medical personnel from entering the town because it had been classed as a military operations area.

News of Iraq said the attack was the work of both the Coalition and the Iraq military.

The event inflamed local opinion, including the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq which blamed the US-led Coalition: “The United States is responsible for everything that happens in Iraq for crimes against humanity and violations of terrible human rights, which was and still is responsible for every drop of blood being shed on the land of Iraq.”

And local Sunni political leader Mahmoud al Daham called for legal action against the Coalition: “I ask for the formation of a team of volunteer lawyers to work in international courts to condemn this action, and to hold those responsible negligent according to international law and to demand compensation for the victims and the injured in this heinous crime.“

Responding to a request for clarification about possible involvement given declared UK strikes in the Euphrates Valley that day, the MoD told Airwars that “after extensive research, we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the alleged event at Asiriya.

In their June 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that 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:

Family members (2)

Matar Dayih Kattah Al Jabri
Adult male (via AlAnbar Motny) killed
Malak Juma Al Jabri
Child female (via AlAnbar Motny) injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    69
  • (10 children10 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    100
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A video contains an interview with the tribal leader of Abu-Jaber as he talks concerning dozens of civilians casualties occurred after an alleged coalition/Iraqi Gov airstrike on Asriya village north Anbar (via Al-Jazeera TV)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows the child (Malak Juma Al Jabri) who survived after an alleged airstrike by coalition/Iraq government aircraft in the village of Asriyah (via Fallujah Modal facebook account)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows dead bodies on the floor after the alleged airstrike by coalition/Iraqi government.

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
    38SLC209043
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 24, 2020

  • March 9, 2016, in Asriya, Iraq, 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. 2913/CI200 38SLC209043

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 9th-10th 2016 the Coalition reported that “Near Ramadi, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL heavy machine guns, two ISIL supply caches, 11 ISIL improvised explosive devices (IED), three ISIL vehicles, an ISIL VBIED, and denied ISIL access to terrain.”

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
    69
  • (10 children10 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    100
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI232

Incident date

April 22, 2016

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Al-Malyia, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3427151, 43.1594467 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four families comprising 36 civilians, including women and children, were killed in the Al-Maliya district east of Mosul in a strike by the international coalition, according to a senior medical source in Nineveh quoted by NINA.

In a rarely named citation, Director of the Emergency General Hospital in Mosul Dr Mahdi al-Rubaie told the National Iraqi News Agency that “the international coalition bombed a Daesh site resulting in the martyrdom of four families east of Mosul.”

NINA noted that Dr al-Rubaie added that the bodies of “36 civilians, including 17 women and 11 children arrived at the forensic medicine in Mosul at dawn today.”

In what may be a linked event, MNN reported the death of an internally displaced woman from Salahudin province, killed after a Coalition strike in the Agriculture neighbourhood.

In its July 2017 report the Coalition classed the event as non credible based on available evidence of civilian harm: “April 22, 2016, 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.”

Given the named source, Airwars continues to assess this as a likely event – and has requested additional clarification from the Coalition.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    36 – 37
  • (11 children17–18 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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]

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
  • 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

The Coalition reports for April 21st-22nd 2016 that “Near Mosul, five strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL weapons cache, an ISIL assembly area, and three ISIL supply caches and suppressed two separate ISIL fighting positions.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    36 – 37
  • (11 children17–18 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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

CI264

Incident date

July 8, 2016

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.3957715, 40.9943684 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six members of one family including four children were reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Qaim.

Yaqen reported that “the bombing also caused considerable material damage to civilian homes in those affected areas in the city of Qaim.” And Rawa Hama said a number of Daesh fighters were also killed and injured in the event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (4 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No Coalition airstrikes have been reported in the vicinity of Al Qaim between July 7th-9th 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (4 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI296

Incident date

October 17, 2016

Location

Makkuk (near Qaryah), Nineveh, Iraq

Airwars assessment

Local eyewitness said that two children were killed and another injured badly when Coalition airstrike targeted an ISIL building in Makkuk village in Makhmur near Qayyarah at 10.10am.

While al Rafidain made no mention of civilian casualties, it reported “a rocket attack caused the destruction of an ISIL facility in Qayyarah.”

 

The incident occured at 10:10:00 local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (2) [ 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 Makkuk (Qayyarah), 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 October 17th-18th 2016, the Coalition reported that ” Near Qayyarah, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units and a mortar position; destroyed an ISIL-held building, a mortar system, an oil tanker truck, and a rocket-propelled grenade; and damaged a vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI328

Incident date

November 8, 2016

Location

السلام, Mosul, Al Salam, Nineveh, Iraq

Airwars assessment

In the afternoon of 8 November, an airstrike reportedly hit al-Salam neighbourhood of eastern Mosul City killing 14 civilians, including three children and five women, and wounding another 11 civilians, including two women and a child.

No additional details are presently known.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • (3 children5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
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 Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces 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
    38SLF391179
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US Forces
  • May 1, 2020

  • Nov. 8, 2016, in Mosul, Iraq 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. 3062/CI328 38SLF391179

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • (3 children5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces

Incident Code

CI361

Incident date

December 5, 2016

Location

حي المهندسين, Mosul, Al-Muhandisin/Engineers, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3669087, 43.1361008 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed in an alleged Coalition strikes in Mosul, according to local sources.

Nineveh MC reported that one civilian – a father of four – was killed in his home by a Coalition raid: Coalition aircraft targeted a house controlled by ISIL in the Aldoassh neighbourhood during the preparation of their criminal operations. But citizen Ahmed Sufian Thabit in the house next to the targeted house died, a father of four children.

Additionally, in a separate, Muhaned al-Badi reported by name that a man was killed by a Coalition bombing in Mosul.

In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, Coalition officials requested additional information concerning the alleged event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Sufian Thabit
Adult male killed
Ali Khalid Al Dannu
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A picture of Ali Khalid Al Dannu, killed following an alleged Coalition airstrike in the Aldoassh neighbourhood (via Muhanad al-Bidi)
  • An image shows the fire in a site following an alleged Coalition airstrike targeted a house controlled by ISIL in the Aldoassh neighbourhood (via Nineveh MC)
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 December 4th-5th, the Coalition reported “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged four ISIL tactical units; destroyed seven mortar systems, four ISIL-held buildings, two vehicles, a VBIED factory, and a front-end loader; and damaged 31 supply routes.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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]