US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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

Incident Code

CI308

Incident date

October 24, 2016

Location

طوبزاوة, Tubzawa, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3828155, 43.3518415 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A local source reported that An adult civilian male killed followed an alleged Coalition strike on the village of Tubzawa.

According to a single source, Mr Shihab’s two sons Younis aged 7 and Mustafa aged 2 years old were also severely injured in the incident – and were being treated in the intensive care unit at Irbil Hospital.

With British airstrikes confirmed in the area that day, Airwars reached out to the MoD, with information which included geolocates within 5km of the likely vicinity of the event (36.3828155, 43.3518415.)

The MoD official subsequently told Airwars that From the evidence you have provided… we cannot make any definitive assessment. However, I am able to 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.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Kheri Sabur Shihab
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

    • English
    • English
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 Tubzawa village, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF521280
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 27, 2018
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

    • English
    • English

Incident Code

CS349

Incident date

October 25, 2016

Location

الحمر الشرقية, Al Hamar al Sharqiya, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3011536, 37.9742432 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Syria News Desk quoted a resident of the twon who said “planes launched more than three raids on the villages of Al Hamar al Sharqiya and al Madoura and Tal Asward… which led to the killing of two civilians and wounding six others in Hamar al Sharquiya.”

Another report from a local facebook page said a raid took place on the edges of the town, targeting “the house of Nasser al Ibrahim al Sheikho while IS elements were inside.” It added that “the villagers were not harmed.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–6
  • 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 (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 Al Hamar al Sharqiya, 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

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.” For October 25th-26th, the Coalition reported “Near Mar’a, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle and a fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–6
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI309

Incident date

October 25, 2016

Location

ليلان, Lylan, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.316666, 44.5155716 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians were reported killed in an alleged Coalition strikes in the Lylan area south of Kirkuk.

The Baghdad Post cited a local source as saying that an air strike carried out by international coalition aircraft near the village of Lylan killed five civilians. Iraq Amsi said the strikes took place in the evening.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • 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 Lylan, Iraq
    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

For October 24th-26th the Coalition reported no strikes in the vicinity.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI310

Incident date

October 25, 2016

Location

Mosul, Buwayd, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.42591, 42.77015 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition admitted in its February 2017 civilian casualty report that it had killed one civilian during a strike on a moving vehicle.

The report noted “During a strike on ISIL fighters in a moving vehicle it is assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed when the target vehicle passed his location at the time of the munition’s impact.”

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
    1
  • 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
    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
    1
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF001335
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2017
  • Oct. 25, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on ISIL fighters in a moving vehicle it is assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed when the target vehicle passed his location at the time of the munition’s impact.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

At the time, the Coalition publicly noted for October 25th-26th that “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units and a mortar system and destroyed seven vehicles, seven tunnels, seven mortar systems, four fighting positions, four supply caches, three staging areas, three ISIL-held buildings, a communications facility, and a VBIED.”

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI312

Incident date

October 26, 2016

Location

حي القاهرة, Mosul, Cairo, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3952403, 43.1913757 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians were killed and seven others injured – Furthermore, 8 ISIL fighters killed – Followed an alleged Coalition on an ISIL web media office in the Cairo neighbourhood of eastern Mosul.

According to LBC, Maj. Younis Khalil al-Taie, a Special Forces (Gold Division of the Ministry of Defense), quoting medical sources, that the forensic medicine department in Mosul received early Wednesday the bodies of five civilians and eight gunmen who were killed an air raid carried out by coalition aircraft on the website of the organization in the Cairo neighbourhood. He added that Mosul General Hospital received seven civilians were extremely dangerous wounded in the same air strike.

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. Airwars has asked for additional details.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • An image reveals the destruction that followed an alleged coalition airstrike on an ISIL web media office in the Cairo neighbourhood of eastern Mosul (via al-Rafidain)
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

For October 26th-27th, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, seven strikes [4 British] engaged three ISIL tactical units; destroyed eight anti-air artillery systems, seven fighting positions, five tunnels, four mortar systems, three weapons caches, two VBIEDs, two vehicles, a VBIED facility, a command and control node, a tunnel entrance, a heavy machine gun and an artillery system; and damaged two ISIL tunnels.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS350 TS005e

Incident date

October 26, 2016

Location

نعمان, Nu'man, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.46321, 37.43317 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Ten civilians were killed by alleged Turkish or Coalition airstrikes in the vicinity of Nu’man, according to local sources. The US-led alliance later denied conducing strikes in the vicinity on this date.

An initial report by ISIS-controlled propaganda unit Al A’amaq said that “10 civilians [were] killed in American raids on a group of fuel trucks in the village of Nu’man east of Akhtareen in the Aleppo countryside.”

A video with the Al A’amaq logo showed a large fire burning on a road, emitting deep black smoke. Shaam News Network cited Al A’amaq, but added context, reporting that rebels were approaching the village, which Al Jisr TV (in a separate report) said was still under the control of ISIS. A reporter for Al Jisr, which also cited A’aq’s casualty cllaims, said it wasn’t clear if the village was now in the hands of the terror group or other forces.

Turk Press, while reporting two “international coalition forces” strikes on Nu’man (without providing a date) also reported that the “Turkish army targeted 174 sites” belonging to ISIS and Kurdish rebels in “northern Syria” as part of Operation Euphrates Shield.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • News bulletin reporting on the alleged Turkish and/ or Coalition airstrikes on Nu'man, 26th October 2016. Images of burning trucks are from an al A’maq propaganda video, which is no longer available. (via Jisr TV)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Nu’man (نعمان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.46321, 37.43317. 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
  • Stated location
    near Nu'man, 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

For October 25th-26th, the Coalition reported “Near Mar’a, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle and a fighting position.” For October 26th-27th, the Coalition reported no strikes in the area.

Danish Military
  • English
    /
    Original

In the past week, Denmark report carrying out 12 missions in missions in the Iraqi provinces of Salah Ad Din, At Ta’mim, Irbil, Dahuk and Nineweh and the Syrian governorates of Ar Raqqah, Aleppo, Al Hasakah and Dayr Az Zawr. They report dropping 10 precision bombs with attacks on Daesh buildings, vehicles, personnel, communications facilities and sites manufacturing IEDS

‘Mission Update nr. 19 Opdatering fra de danske styrker i internationale missioner. 27-10-2016 – kl. 13:54 Af Værnsfælles Forsvarskommando Operation Inherent Resolve – Irak og Tyrkiet Kampflybidraget Kampflybidraget deltager fortsat i kampene om Mosul. De danske F-16 kampfly har i den seneste uge gennemført 12 missioner. Der er blevet udført overvågning og efterretningsindhentning. Derudover er der udført angreb på bygninger og køretøjer med ISIL personel, personel i terræn, kommunikationsfaciliteter og faciliteter der fremstillede improviserede sprængladninger. Missionerne er foregået over de irakiske provinser Salah Ad Din, At Ta’mim , Erbil, Dahuk og Ninawa samt de syriske provinser Ar Raqqah, Halab, Al Hasakah og Dayr Az Zawr. Fra onsdag den 19. oktober klokken 1200 til onsdag den 26. oktober klokken 1200 er følgende gældende: Der er fløjet 12 missioner Der er anvendt 10 præcisionsbomber Der er totalt fløjet 202 missioner Der er totalt anvendt 298 præcisionsbomber Radarbidraget Bidraget udfører en vigtig rolle i koalitionens kamp om befrielsen af Mosul, idet bidraget forestår lufttankning af mange af de fly, der er på vej til området. Transportflybidraget Efter en længere travl periode, hvor der er transporteret 60 ton gods og 76 passagerer til Tyrkiet og internt i Irak, er det blevet tid til at vedligeholde flyet, mens de kommende missioner planlægges. Operation Ocean Shield – Seychellerne Challenger-bidraget til Operation Ocean Shield har siden den 19. oktober opereret fra Seychellerne med henblik på at gennemføre antipirateri-flyvning i Det Indiske Ocean ud for Somalia. Det er sidste gang, Danmark deltager i Operation Ocean Shield, da missionen slutter ved udgangen af 2016. Bidraget deltager til og med den 19. november. Resolute support – Afghanistan De to danske sygeplejersker på Role 2 hospitalet på basen ved Hamid Karzai International Airport i Kabul hjalp til da fem sårede ved Camp Morehead blev bragt til hospitalet. Standing Nato Maritime Group 1 Støtteskibet Absalon er returneret til Middelhavet efter at have afsluttet sin deltagelse i øvelse Joint Warrior ved Skotland. Absalon vil i den resterende del af oktober og størstedelen af november forventeligt være i Middelhavet. Det er fortsat planen, at skib og besætning skal returnere til Danmark primo december i år.’

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI311

Incident date

October 26, 2016

Location

بعشيقة‎, Bashiqa, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.4519415, 43.3503342 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An Iraq-based journalist told Airwars he had been informed by a peshmerga contact of four civilian deaths near Bashiqa.

According to the reporter, A peshmerga called me and said he saw three wounded and four were crushed to death when their house was hit by either a missile or a bomb.

Anadolu reported a military source as saying there were “civilian victims of Coalition raids on Mosul” on October 26th, though gave no further details.

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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • 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
    38SLF5220234842
    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

For October 26th-27th, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, seven strikes [4 British] engaged three ISIL tactical units; destroyed eight anti-air artillery systems, seven fighting positions, five tunnels, four mortar systems, three weapons caches, two VBIEDs, two vehicles, a VBIED facility, a command and control node, a tunnel entrance, a heavy machine gun and an artillery system; and damaged two ISIL tunnels.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS351

Incident date

October 27, 2016

Location

بريهة, Bariha, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least 10 civilians were killed and more than a dozen wounded from airstrikes, according to local reports.

Shaam News Network cited activists who reported warplanes “thought to belong to the international coalition” launched airstrikes on a house, resulting in “martyrs and wounded among civilians, most of them children.” At the time, it reported five had died, including four children. Other outlets, including Free Deir Ezzor Radio and the Syrian Observator, cited the Coalition as well. Euphrates Post – like several other outlets and monitors, including Deir Ezzor 24 – did not name a perpetrator, but it did increased the death toll to “more than 10 people.”

However, Step News Agency cited Russian forces for the attack. A correspondent for Radio Al Kul also blamed the Russians, and put the death toll at 11 civilians, adding that the death toll was likely to rise. Syria News Desk reported a death toll of 8 and more than 15 wounded. It clarified that five of the dead were all members of one family – “four children and their father” – which may have accounted for the earlier figures of 5 victims.

Adding to the confusion, a separate report published by the Syrian Mirror cited the Syrian regime as also bombing in the area.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 11
  • (4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–15
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (12) [ 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 Bariha, 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

For October 26th-27th, the Coalition reported “Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed an ISIL oil well head and an oil pump jack.” For October 27th-28th, the Coalition reported “Near Abu Kamal, one strike damaged an ISIL supply route.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 11
  • (4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–15
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]