US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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
text search
2873 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

CI138

Incident date

November 11, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians from the same family were reported killed in the second day of alleged Coalition strikes to the south of Mosul.

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
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ 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
    38SLF294240
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • November 11, 2015, 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. 2858/CI138 38SLF294240

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For November 10th-11th it was reported that “Near Mosul, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI162

Incident date

December 21, 2015

Location

حي الوحدة, Mosul, Wahida, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3290942, 43.1870842 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the second of three claimed incidents in Mosul on this date, it was reported that 17 civilians – including four women and five children – were killed in an alleged Coalition strike in the Wehda and Methak neighbourhoods east of Mosul.

However, there was some doubt regarding the incident, with NRN News reportedly denying that civilians had died.

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
    17
  • (5 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • 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 (3) [ 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
    38SLF373220
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • December 21, 2015, in Wahida, 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. 2873/CI162 38SLF373220

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reports that on December 21st-22nd 2015, “Near Mosul, seven strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL building, 12 ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL heavy machine gun, two ISIL vehicles, five ISIL bunkers, and destroyed seven ISIL assembly areas.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17
  • (5 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI184

Incident date

February 4, 2016

Location

يت, Hit, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

36.1984343, 40.7096672 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several sources reported that an alleged Coalition air strike had hit the Qalqah area of Hit City, resulting in the deaths of up to six civilians and the wounding of 11 others, most of them women and children.

Photographs obtained by the Iraqi Spring Media Center appeared to show significant damage, with a number of collapsed homes. One of the civilians killed was later named

Responding to a request for clarification about possible involvement given declared UK strikes ‘around Ramadi and Fallujah’ that day, the MoD told Airwars that “after extensive research, we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the alleged event at Hit.

In their February 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:

Othman Nasser Al Khairi Abdul Rahman
Age unknown male (via Heat city of Peace FB account) killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–11
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • A photo shows a destroyed site by an alleged Coalition airstrike February 4th 2016, which reportedly killed six civilians (via Iraqi Spring Media Center)
  • The picture of the victim Othman Nasser Al Khairi Abdul Rahman who was killed in the alleged coalition airstrike (via Heat city of Peace FB account)
  • The picture shows the destroyed site of an alleged Coalition airstrike February 4th 2016, which reportedly killed 6 civilians (via Iraqi Spring Media Center)
  • A picture shows the destroyed site of an alleged Coalition airstrike February 4th 2016, which reportedly killed 6 civilians (via Iraqi Spring Media Center)
  • A picture shows the destroyed site of an alleged Coalition airstrike February 4th 2016, which reportedly killed 6 civilians (via Iraqi Spring Media Center)

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
    38SKC987237
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020

  • Feb. 4, 2016, in Hit, 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. 2894/CI184 38SKC987237

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No Coalition strikes were publicly reported at Hit between February 3rd-5th 2015, although a total of seven airstrikes were reported at nearby Ramadi.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–11
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI202

Incident date

March 18, 2016

Location

الحويجة, Hawijah, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.3240179, 43.77335 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 41 civilians were allegedly killed and 53 injured in an airstrike on Hawijah which was said to have struck the city’s main market and hospital.

The Daesh-linked Al A’amaq Agency initially reported the “Killing of four [civilians] and the wounding of 10 – most of them women and children – in an air strike targeting a market in the town.” Subsequent reports said the town’s main hospital was also targeted – and was “completely destroyed” according to one source. Mass casualties were claimed.

Some local sources claim the event was an act of ‘revenge’ following the earlier shooting down of an Iraqi military aircraft. A Daesh propaganda video titled ‘Iraqi Air Strikes on Hospital’ showed extensive destruction and casualties.

Only after the reported strike on the hospital did local media begin blaming the Coalition, insisting there were as many as 100 civilian dead and injured. One source – Dijlah TV – claimed the event was a jont Iraqi-Coalition raid which had mistakenly bombed the hospital.

In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition denied involvement in the incident: “Mar. 18, 2016, near Hawijah, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    41
  • Civilians reported injured
    53
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

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 Hawijah, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 18th-19th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Al Huwayja, one strike destroyed an ISIL anti-air artillery piece.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    41
  • Civilians reported injured
    53
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI224

Incident date

April 11, 2016

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Iraq Oil Report, at least 10 civilians died, and 20 were injured following Coalition airstrikes on Daesh bases around Mosul.

Citing local sources, it noted: “On April 11, coalition air strikes also took out IS bases in Sawas in the south, Sukar on the east and the Filastin (Palestine) area on the west sides of Mosul. But in striking targets in these residential neighbourhoods, the coalition also killed at least 10 civilians and wounded at least 20 more in total, according to two eyewitnesses at the scene of each strike who reported the bodies they saw.”

Prompted by Iraq Oil Report, the Coalition said it was reviewing the claims: “When asked to comment on these incidents, [chief Coalition spokesman Colonel Steve] Warren said the coalition conducted airstrikes ‘near Mosul’ on April 7 and 11, but did not confirm the particulars of the strikes.

‘We have not received previous allegations of civilian casualties in the area. Now that we have received this allegation, as with any allegation we receive, we will review any information we have about the incident, including information provided by third parties, such as the proximity of the location to CJTF airstrikes, and any other relevant information presented,’ Warren said, saying the coalition encourages reporting of civilian casualty allegations. ‘If the information supporting the allegation is determined to be credible, we will then determine the next appropriate step. We take all feasible measures during the targeting process to avoid or minimise civilian casualties or collateral damage and to comply with the principles of the Law of Armed Conflict,’ Warren said.”

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

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in these strikes 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
    10
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ 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
    38SLF357287/38SLF374198/38SLF310208
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • April 11, 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. 2938/CI224 38SLF357287

  • April 11, 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. 2939/CI224 38SLF374198

  • April 11, 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. 2940/CI224 38SLF310208

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reports that for April 10th-11th 2016 “Near Mosul, four strikes [3 British] struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed seven ISIL assembly areas, an ISIL supply cache, and an ISIL rocket rail.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS239

Incident date

June 22, 2016

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5269242, 37.9559288 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One male civilian was killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike, according to two local sources.

Halab News Network reported that he died when a Daesh vehicle carrying him was targeted, as he was being moved to the terrorist organisation’s prison.

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”, stating that the allegation provided insufficient information on the timing and location of the strike to make a determination.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled al Nasser
35 years old male killed

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Halab Today
    • Video
    • Arabic
    • Video
    • Arabic
  • HNN
    • Facebook
    • Arabic
    • Facebook
    • Arabic

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • List of martyrs killed in Aleppo on 22nd of June, 2016.

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA065429
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • June 22, 2016, in Manbij, Syria, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 2981/CS239 37SDA065429

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 21st-22nd, the Coalition reported: “Near Manbij, 12 strikes struck 12 separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed six ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL front-end loader.”

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Halab Today
    • Video
    • Arabic
    • Video
    • Arabic
  • HNN
    • Facebook
    • Arabic
    • Facebook
    • Arabic

Incident Code

CS262

Incident date

July 13, 2016

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5264672, 37.9537296 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

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 to Syria News Desk, “media activist Ahmad Al-Mohammad, quoting civilian sources from Manbej, said 12 civilians from one family were killed and ten others wounded after midnight yesterday, a result of four raids by coalition aircraft on residential sites. He stressed that the raids also resulted in the destruction of two residential buildings completely.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ 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

For July 12th-13th, the Coalition reported that “Near Manbij, eight strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed eight ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.”

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI272

Incident date

August 2, 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

Multiple sources claimed that an alleged Coalition strike on the al Sanjak and Karabila areas of Al Qaim killed 45 children and a woman. However, no Coalition strikes were publicly reported in the vicinity.

Yaqein reported that most of the civilians are still under the rubble caused by the intensity of the shelling and the targeting of the densely populated area. Assabeel placed the death toll slightly lower at 42 and said the dead came from three families. According to Q8 News, the source of the claim was the so-called Islamic State.

The Coalition told Airwars that There were no CJTF-OIR strikes in or near Al Qaim between Aug. 1 and Aug. 3.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42 – 46
  • (41–45 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (15) [ 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 strikes were reported at Al Qaim for August 1st-3rd 2016.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42 – 46
  • (41–45 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (15) [ collapse]