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

CS344

Incident date

October 22, 2016

Location

حاجي كوسا, Haji Koussa, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5563, 37.63915 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several outlets including Halab Today TV reported that a 15 year old girl named Iman Sillo was killed “following Coalition raids.” One report, from Hara FM, indicated that two civilians were killed.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Iman Sillo
15 years years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Haji Koussa, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 21st-22nd the Coalition reported “Near Washiyah, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.” For October 22nd-23rd the Coalition reported “Near Mar’a, one strike destroyed an ISIL artillery system.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS345 TS005d

Incident date

October 22, 2016

Location

الطويحينة, Al Tweihina, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.443611, 37.248056 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Airstrikes, possibly carried out by Turkish forces, killed one civilian according to one local report. Others referred only to violent clashes between non state actors.

Smart News Agency reported that “international Coalition aircraft” targeting ISIS in Al Tweihina which it said killed one civilian and two members of the terror group. However, the report identified the village as being located in Raqqa governorate.

The Syrian Observatory reported instead that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) attacked “Turkish soldiers” in the vicinity of Al Tweihina. The Observatory added that “different sources confirmed to SOHR that a number of Turkish soldiers were killed” though it may have been referencing rebels supported by Turkey. It did however allude to “aerial reconnaissance aircraft” in the area, possibly belonging to Turkey.

Tal Abiyad posted pictures and video of an armoured vehicle that it said was captured from the “al Sham Front.” (update from December 2018, this video is no longer available to view online.)

Daily Sabah meanwhile cited the Turkish military and reported that “FSA fighters with the support of the Turkish military continued to attack” Kurdish forces in the area. The report cited a number of airstrikes.

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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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, Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A map highlighting that the village is in the Aleppo countryside not Raqqa countryside. It is in the bottom left corner of the area highlighted in light blue. (via Airwas researcher)
  • An armoured vehicle reportedly captured by SDF fighters from the “al Sham Front.” (via Tal Abiyad News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Tweihina (الطويحينة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.443611, 37.248056. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCA429345
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 24, 2020

  • Oct. 22, 2016, in Tweihina, Syria, 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. 3072/CS345 37SCA429345

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 21st-22nd, the Coalition reported “Near Washiyah, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.” For October 22nd-23rd, the Coalition reported “Near Mar’a, one strike destroyed an ISIL artillery system.”

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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, Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI305

Incident date

October 23, 2016

Location

بخديدا (Bakhdida), Qaraqosh, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.27093, 43.37758 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Coalition announced it was conducting an assessment of a possible civilian casualty event: Currently, three reports received in October are still being assessed… 3. Oct. 23, 2016, near Qaraqosh and Hasana, Iraq.

A Coalition report issued the following month noted: Oct. 23, 2016, near Qaraqosh and Hasana, Iraq: Insufficient information provided or available to assess the credibility of the reported civilian casualties.

A senior Coalition official later told Airwars that the allegation had been “Based on Russian social media and Russian MinDef accusations.”

However local reporting at the time said that Coalition airstrikes were conducted at Qaraqosh in support of ISF ground operations.

Given reported British actions in the area that day, Airwars flagged the incident to the UK’s MoD which said ” we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the event. However given that RAF strikes were reported in Qaraqosh the previous day [see above], Airwars has requested further clarification.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    Qaraqosh and Hasana, Iraq / near Jarbua, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 2, 2017

  • Insufficient information provided or available to assess the credibility of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 23rd 2016, the Coalition reported at the time that “Near Mosul, six strikes [5-6 British] engaged four ISIL tactical units, two rocket systems, two anti-aircraft artillery systems and two staging areas; destroyed 19 fighting positions, 17 vehicles, 10 heavy machine guns, nine mortar systems, eight command and control nodes, six repeater towers, and four tunnels; and damaged four fighting positions, two vehicles, a mortar system, and a tunnel.”

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI306

Incident date

October 24, 2016

Location

تل كيف‎, Tel Kepe (Tel Kayf), Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Eight members of the same family were killed followed an alleged Coalition strikes, according to local sources.

Multiple local outlets reported that 8 civilians – all members of the same family – were killed on October 24th in Tel Kepe, a town less than 15km north of Mosul. Yagen identified the father of the family and said he was killed along with his seven children. The report added that Al Hadidi’s wife was in critical condition and is now in recovery. While Yagen – like multiple other sources, including Almadenah News and the Iraqi Spring Media Center – blamed the Coalition, it also noted that the government of Iraq has also been involved in aerial operations to back forces attempting to retake Mosul.

A distressing video posted on Youtube and watermarked with an ISIS-linked logo shows a crumbled building and at least one body lying on the floor covered.

Local blogger Zyaad Alsenjary claimed the deaths were the result of both air and artillery strikes.

Given reported British actions in the area that day, Airwars flagged the incident to the UK’s MoD which said we can confirm that there was no UK involvement in the event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Juma Dalal Al Hadidi
Adult male Via Yagen killed
Child 1
Age unknown Via Yagen killed
Child 2
Age unknown Via Yagen killed
Child 3
Age unknown Via Yagen killed
Child 4
Age unknown Via Yagen killed
Child 5
Age unknown Via Yagen killed
Child 6
Age unknown Via Yagen killed
Child 7
Age unknown Via Yagen killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (7 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • An image reveals the destruction that followed an alleged coalition airstrike in Tel Kepe, Mosul on October 24th.
  • The Russian MoD issued satellite images on November 4th which it said showed damage from the Coalition strike
  • An image shows a child who was injured followed indiscriminate shelling in the northern city of Mosul on October 24th (Via Abdelhamid Tarek)
  • An image shows a child who was injured followed shelling in the northern city of Mosul on October 24th (Via Abdelhamid Tarek)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows a child killed followed indiscriminate shelling in the northern city of Mosul on October 24th (Via Abdelhamid Tarek)
  • An image shows a child who was injured followed indiscriminate shelling in the northern city of Mosul on October 24th (Via Abdelhamid Tarek)
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 Tel Kepe, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 30, 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

For October 23rd-24th 2016, the Coalition reported “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged four ISIL tactical units, two rocket systems, two anti-aircraft artillery systems and two staging areas; destroyed 19 fighting positions, 17 vehicles, 10 heavy machine guns, nine mortar systems, eight command and control nodes, six repeater towers, and four tunnels; and damaged four fighting positions, two vehicles, a mortar system, and a tunnel.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (7 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS346

Incident date

October 24, 2016

Location

الجرنية, Al Jarnia, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.16054, 38.23337 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Coalition raids in the vicinity of ground fighting left at least 2 civilians dead, according to local sources.

Initial reports from ISIS-controlled Al A’amaq Agency blamed the Coalition for the deaths of two civilians. Subsequent reporting echoed that account (they may have been based on Al A’amaq);Al Jarnia and several other outlets named the two civilians as Abd al Ghani Al Sahoud and Moussa al Zagheer. They also noted that the town was the cite of shelling by Kurdish militias as well as coalition strikes.

Shaam News Network also cited Coalition raids and said that “a number” of civilians were also wounded. The Syrian Network said the Coalition was responsible.

Step News agency reported that the Coalition targeted Al Jarnia with 3 raids “which centered on IS positions and cars in the city center killing two civilians and wounded several others.” It noted that ISIL had clashed with the Kurdish led Syrian Democratic Forces in the area.

However, a subsequent Smart News report put the toll of Coalition strikes in Jarnia at four civilians and a further five wounded.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abd al Ghani Al Sahoud
Age unknown male killed
Moussa al Zagheer
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 (15) [ 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 Al Jurnia, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 23rd-24th, the Coalition reported “Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes engaged two ISIL supply routes and destroyed an oil pump jack.” For October 24th-25th, the Coalition reported no strikes in the vicinity.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS347

Incident date

October 24, 2016

Location

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.8295049, 38.5360909 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

3 civilians were killed when a garage was bombed by the Coalition, according to a local source.

Smart News reported that 3 civilians were killed when a garage belonging to ISIL was struck by the Coalition. According to the account, six cars belonging to ISIL were also destroyed. The report noted other raids on that day in Raqqa governorate. Meanwhile, Halab Today reported that Coalition attacks had led to the “burning” of 6 members of ISIL along with the “martyrdom of three civilians.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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]

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 Tabqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 23rd-24th, the Coalition reported “Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes engaged two ISIL supply routes and destroyed an oil pump jack.” For October 24th-25th, the Coalition reported no strikes in the vicinity.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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

CS348

Incident date

October 24, 2016

Location

تل أسود, Tall Aswad, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.29197, 37.98854 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Manbij Mother of All the World initially reported what it said were Coalition strikes on Tal Aswad, targeting a reservoir. In a subsequent report, it said a “massacre” had been committed “against two familes as a result of wrong information from the Kurdish units in the village.” It named four victims.

A report by the Military Committee for Manbij noted that strikes in Tal Aswad had “killed dozens” of members of IS.

The Syrian Netowrk reported three civilians had died “due to International Coalition warplanes” firing missiles on Tal Aswad. Subsequent reports, however, put the toll higher: Baladi Network reported 4 civilians “martyred in international coalition raids”; Aleppo 24 put the toll at 5 civilians killed, including three girls. Halab Today also reported at least 5 victims, including three girls, and identified Dr. al Abd as a veterinarian. The latest post by Manbij Mother of All the World put the total number of dead and injured at 10. The Manbij Documentation Agency reported “7 martyrs.”

However, additional reporting by the Syrian Observatory put the death toll at 5; Halab Today TV said that all three girls were the daughters of Khalaf af Farhan.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Dr. Mahmoud al Mustapha al Abd
31 years years old male Veterinarian killed
Osama al Mustapha al Abd
21 years years old male killed
Dr. Mahmoud's sister
Age unknown female injured
Abboud al Mustapha al Abd
Age unknown male injured
Abboud al Mustapha al Abd's wife
Age unknown female injured
Osama Mustapha al Abd
15 years years old male killed
Mustapha Mahmoud al Abd
37 years years old male killed

Family members (2)

Khalaf al Farhan's daughter
Age unknown female killed
Khalaf al Farhan's daughter
Age unknown female One of her feet was amputated as a result of the bombing injured

The victims were named as:

Mostapha al Mahmoud
4 years years old male killed
Mahmoud al Yasin al Dalik's wife
Age unknown female Died November 24th of wounds sustained in attack killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (3–5 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: at least five people killed including a vet and three girls after coalition planes raided the village of Tal Aswad south of Manbij in the Aleppo countryside
  • One of the victims of the air strike (via Manbij mother of all the world)
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Tal Aswad, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 23rd-24th, the Coalition reported “Near Manbij, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.” For October 24th-25th, the Coalition reported “Near Mar’a, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two fighting positions, a mortar system, and a vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (3–5 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI307

Incident date

October 24, 2016

Location

أبو جربوعة, Abu Jarbua, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.41241, 43.31882 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A local source told Airwars’ Iraq-based field researcher that three families have died in the village of Abu Jarbuha, followed Coalition airstrikes allegedly destroyed their homes.

With British airstrikes confirmed in the area that day, Airwars reached out to the MoD, with information which included geolocates within 1km of the likely vicinity of the event (36.41241, 43.31882.)

An MoD official subsequently told Airwars that “From the evidence you have provided… we cannot make any definitive assessment. However, I can confirm that there was no indication of any civilian casualties in our own detailed assessments of the impact of each of our strikes on the dates in question.

A UN report on the protection of civilians in context of Nineveh operations and the retaking of Mosul stated: ‘On 24 October 2016, an airstrike reportedly hit a house in Abu-Jarbu’a village in Bashiqa subdistrict of Mosul killing six civilians–two children, two women and two men–from two families and also wounding four civilians–two children, one woman and a man.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 9
  • (2 children2–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Ba’shiqa, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF5217127671
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017

  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 23rd-24th 2016, the Coalition reported “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged four ISIL tactical units, two rocket systems, two anti-aircraft artillery systems and two staging areas; destroyed 19 fighting positions, 17 vehicles, 10 heavy machine guns, nine mortar systems, eight command and control nodes, six repeater towers, and four tunnels; and damaged four fighting positions, two vehicles, a mortar system, and a tunnel.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 9
  • (2 children2–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]