US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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

Incident date

July 19, 2016

Incident Code

CI268

LOCATION

الشرقاط, Al Shirqat, Salah Al Din, Iraq

One woman was reported killed and at least half a dozen civilians injured in an alleged Iraqi government or Coalition airstrike at Sharqat. The casualties were said to have occurred when a Daesh headquarters was bombed in the late morning. Al Samarra TV reported that three families were injured and one woman killed… after inaccurate

Summary

First published
July 19, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
6
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

July 19, 2016

Incident Code

CS274

LOCATION

ﺣﻠﺐ, Aleppo, Syria

A report on August 5th 2016 by local blogger Hathifa al Yaman Abu al Majd claimed that approximately 15 civilians had died in a Coalition strike two weeks earlier, with their bodies still buried under rubble. “American Alliance planes – around 15 days ago – committed a massacre against three families opposite al Fatah mosque

Summary

First published
July 19, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
0–1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

July 19, 2016

Incident Code

CS273

LOCATION

التوخار كبير, Tokhar Kabir, Aleppo, Syria

In what may have been the single greatest loss of life from a Coalition action in the first two years of its war against Daesh, between 78 and 203 civilians were reported killed in a catastrophic event at the village of Tokhar – the scene of a number of other recent civilian fatalities from alleged

Summary

First published
July 19, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian infrastructure
School
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
78 – 203
(25–71 children7–29 women)
Civilians reported injured
30
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Known target
ISIS
Named victims
95 named, 12 families identified
Belligerents reported killed
85
View Incident

Incident date

July 19, 2016

Incident Code

RS1022 CS273a

LOCATION

إدلب, Idlib, Syria

In what has been described as a massacre, committed by both Russian and Assad regime and coalition warplanes, between 10 and 23 civilians were killed and as many as 35 more wounded on July 19th in Idlib city. Other sources claimed that the Coalition was involved in the incident. According to Shaam News Network the

Summary

First published
July 19, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
10 – 23
(1 child1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
30–35
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Unknown, Syrian Regime, US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

July 18, 2016

Incident Code

CS270

LOCATION

حيمر لابدة, Haymar Labda, Aleppo, Syria

Four or more civilians were reported killed and others injured in what were described as heavy Coalition airstrikes on the village of Haymar Labda, as the battle to capture nearby Manbij intensified. ISIL’s media wing also issued a statement claiming “dead and injured and great destruction as a result of Coalition raids on the village

Summary

First published
July 18, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 12
(3 children1–2 women)
Civilians reported injured
14–40
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
4 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 18, 2016

Incident Code

CS271

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

A single source reported the deaths of three named young children and the injuring of five more family members, in a fresh alleged Coalition casualty event at Manbij. In the second of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”,

Summary

First published
July 18, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(3 children)
Civilians reported injured
5
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
3 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 18, 2016

Incident Code

CS272

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

The Manbij Documentation Agency initially claimed that “Sabr the son of Abdallah al Saidi and his family [7 people] were killed in coalition raids on his house near the education department behind his father’s building.” That claim was robustly denied by Manbij Mother of All Worlds: “We totally deny what some pages published yesterday about

Summary

First published
July 18, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 7
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 18, 2016

Incident Code

CS269

LOCATION

التوخار كبير, Tokhar Kabir, Aleppo, Syria

Up to sixteen civilians including two or more children were reported killed in an alleged noon Coalition airstrike on Al Tokhar, a village near Manbij in northern Aleppo governorate. In its own report on the event the Syrian Network noted: “Fixed-wing international coalition forces warplanes fired a missile that targeted a residential house that is

Summary

First published
July 18, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8 – 16
(2–4 children2 men)
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
14 named, 3 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 17, 2016

Incident Code

CS268

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Fifteen or more civilians reportedly died in an alleged Coalition night time strike on the Al Hazwana neighbourhood of Manbij, according to multiple reports. Manbij Mother of all the World said the ‘terrible massacre’ took place near the al Karama school. The Syrian Observatory issued an urgent call to the Coalition and its allies: “We

Summary

First published
July 17, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
15 – 16
(3 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
3 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 17, 2016

Incident Code

CS267

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

In a new reported Coalition civilian casualty event in Manbij on July 17th, five civilians reportedly died when airstrikes hit the city. All sources were agreed that the wife and two adult children of Al Haj Bahri al Darwish died. On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition reported this incident

Summary

First published
July 17, 2016
Last updated
March 24, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(2 children2 women2 men)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
6 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 16, 2016

Incident Code

CS266

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

An 80-year old man was reported by a number of sources as having been killed in one of multiple Coalition strikes on Manbij between dawn and noon. The strikes reportedly targeted both the Aleppo road and the al Hazwana neighbourhood in the city. According to Manbij Mother of the World, “planes carried out several raids

Summary

First published
July 16, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 16, 2016

Incident Code

CI267

LOCATION

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq

An alleged Coalition strike targeted the house of an ISIL commander named as Abu Hajar, said to be from Diyala province, also reportedly killed his whole family according to a single source.

Summary

First published
July 16, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

July 15, 2016

Incident Code

CS264

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

According to a single source, four civilians from one family were killed and 13 additional civilians injured following a Coalition airstrike. The Syria News Desk reported that “Coalition aircraft launched more than a dozen raids on Manbej, affected some national hospital west of the city perimeter, four of which targeted residential sites in the middle

Summary

First published
July 15, 2016
Last updated
March 24, 2022
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
13
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

July 15, 2016

Incident Code

CS265

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

A young adult civilian male named as Ahmad Ibrahim al Faress was reported killed in a Coalition strike on Manbij. It is either the second reported event of the day in Manbij, or is linked to the previous incident. The Syrian Network reported Coalition strikes on the city that day but made no mention of

Summary

First published
July 15, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 14, 2016

Incident Code

CI266

LOCATION

القيارة, Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the injury of a civilian in an attack on Qayyarah. In November 2016, CENTCOM noted in their civilian casualty report that “during a strike on an ISIL-held building, it is assessed that one civilian was killed.” In April 2017 the Coalition revised its

Summary

First published
July 14, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
Civilians reported injured
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

July 14, 2016

Incident Code

CS263

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Continued heavy Coalition airstrikes on Manbij reportedly resulted in further heavy civilian casualties. According to Lens Young Manbij, “The family of Mahmoud Bin Ali al Manssini [the barber] was killed. The father is in a critical condition. The daughter of Safi Miassni was with them and she was also killed. Ahmad Bin Safi was lost

Summary

First published
July 14, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8
(4 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
6 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 13, 2016

Incident Code

CS261

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Three civilians were reported killed in Manbij, either by Coalition aircraft or more likely, as a result of a Daesh-boobytrapped vehicle. As Lens Young Manbij reported, “Al Haj Mahmoud Sarmini, his wife and daughter Alaa Sarmini, 4 years old, were killed near al Fatah station. We don’t know whether it was an IS booby trap

Summary

First published
July 13, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(1 child1 woman1 man)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
3 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 13, 2016

Incident Code

CS262

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

In a second alleged Coalition event in Manbij on July 13th, between 6 and 12 civilians were reported killed Manbij Direct reported “the death of the entire family of al Haj Hassan Abd al Rahman [Khalilo] the blacksmith in al Salaleen market as a result of the [air] raids and he himself is missing.” According

Summary

First published
July 13, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6 – 12
(2 children2 women)
Civilians reported injured
10
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

July 12, 2016

Incident Code

CS260

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Four children from one family were killed in an alleged Coalition strike on Raqqa. According to Shaam News, the dawn strike totally destroyed the home of Ahmed Salem al Amin, killing his four young children. Nine other civilians were also reported wounded. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered named the children as Salem, Fatima, Rimas and Mais.

Summary

First published
July 12, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 9
(4 children)
Civilians reported injured
9
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 12, 2016

Incident Code

CI265

LOCATION

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq

Two displaced families from Tikrit were reportedly killed in an alleged Iraqi government or Coalition airstrike at Hawijah. Iraqi Spring reported that all members of his family died in the bombing of their house by the Coalition. Another local source claimed a second family was also killed. There was confusion about who might have been responsible

Summary

First published
July 12, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
6
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 12, 2016

Incident Code

CS259

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

One civilian named as “Ammar al Hassan the son of the lawyer Abu Ammar al Aouni” was reported killed in a fresh Coalition strike on the city of Manbij. According to the Manbij Agency for Documentation, he died when the home of of Mr. Suleiman Al Hassan was struck near al Hikma hospital. One source

Summary

First published
July 12, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 11, 2016

Incident Code

CS258

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

In a second alleged Coalition civilian casualty event in Manbij for July 11th, up to three civilians were reported killed.  

Summary

First published
July 11, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 3
(1 woman1 man)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
3 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 11, 2016

Incident Code

CS257

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

As intense Coalition airstrikes and ground actions against Manbij continued, reports of civilian casualties continued to grow. However reporting remained very confused. Five civilians were reported killed either by a sniper or by Coalition strikes. Manbij Agency for Documentation named the dead. In the second of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition

Summary

First published
July 11, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
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 belligerents
US-led Coalition, Unknown
Named victims
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 10, 2016

Incident Code

CS256

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Five civilians were reported killed in Coalition strikes, including a woman and child. The US later admitted to two deaths in the attack, noting: “Manbij, Syria, during a strike against an ISIL target, it is assessed that two civilians were killed.” As Shaam News reported, “activists stressed that Syria democratic forces and elements of the

Summary

First published
July 10, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(1 child1 woman3 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 9, 2016

Incident Code

CS255

LOCATION

الخفسة, Al Khafsa, Aleppo, Syria

In what appears to be a separate incident from the two Manbij events for July 9th outlined above, up to five civilians reportedly died in a Coalition strike on Al Khafsa town. As Syria News Desk noted, “A civilian source from inside Manbij told Syria news desk that 5 civilians were killed and 15 others

Summary

First published
July 9, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 5
(1 child)
Civilians reported injured
15
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

July 9, 2016

Incident Code

CS254

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Heavy reported Coalition strikes on the al Hunaithal neighbourhood of western Manbij led to the additional deaths of five named civilians, according to reports. Al Hall described the location as al Rabita Street. On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition reported this incident to be “non-credible”, stating that “After review

Summary

First published
July 9, 2016
Last updated
March 24, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(1 child2 women)
Civilians reported injured
1
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 9, 2016

Incident Code

CS253

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Four civilians were reported killed and 15 injured in multiple Coalition strikes on Manbij, according to local reports. In a separate incident, 17-year old Zaki al Mohammad died when the Aleppo Road [or Al Hajj Street] bridge was destroyed. Lens Young Manbij also reported that “yesterday on Saturday one of the doctors at the general

Summary

First published
July 9, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(2 children1 man)
Civilians reported injured
15
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
3 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 8, 2016

Incident Code

CI264

LOCATION

القائم, Al Qa'im, Al Anbar, Iraq

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

Summary

First published
July 8, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
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 belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

July 8, 2016

Incident Code

CS252

LOCATION

تل السمن, Tal al Samin, Raqqa, Syria

Two civilians were reported killed in an alleged Coalition night raid on the village of Tal al Samin. According to Local Civil Defence of Syria, “Coalition planes launched a raid last night on the village of Tal Al Samin south of the town of Ain Issa, which led to the death of two civilians –

Summary

First published
July 8, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 7, 2016

Incident Code

CS251

LOCATION

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

In what may be the same or a separate incident to the one above, a family of seven was reported killed after their house was destroyed in an alleged Coalition strike on Manbij on ‘the third day of Eid.’ Details of the deaths emerged in a letter received by Manbij Direct: “A humanitarian call regarding

Summary

First published
July 7, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7
(3 children3 women1 man)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
7 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident