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 Code

CS1686

Incident date

November 26, 2017

Location

الشعفة, al Sha'afa, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.57888, 40.93441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 65 civilians including 20 or 21 children and nine women died in a major casualty event in al Sha’afa, local media reported. There was one allegation against the US-led Coalition, and also Egypt.

The majority of sources blamed Russia, with @7UFCmSxd0IUBffH saying that a family of 10 were among those killed.

Euphrates Post, also blaming Russia, said that the strike targeted the house of Antar ِAl Salama and Mujama’a Al Fendi. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that of the 44 who died 20 were children and 9 were women.

Sharqiya Voice reported several raids by unidentified warplanes, which struck the following locations: Antar Alsamal’s house, the house of Zubair, the Al-Fandi Commercial Complex.

Euphrates Post later reported that the death toll had risen to 51, while the Syrian Observatory put it at 53 including 21 children. It named the following victims. Names have identified 42 and 8 were unidentified.

However, Raqqa Post, also attributing the event to Russia, said that as many as 65 had died.

According to a BBC report, Russia denied responsibility for the event, with the defence ministry noting: “The Russian Aerospace Forces’ strikes in Syria target areas outside population centres, and only facilities of the international terrorist groups… The reports by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which is based in Great Britain, about the alleged strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces’ planes on the village of al-Shafah, are yet another fake.

Only one source pointed towards the Coalition. According to Zamanalwasl, Salama al Hussein from Euphrates Post told Zaman al-Wasl that an air strike carried out by aircraft believed to belong to the international coalition forces or Egyptian aircraft took place at dawn today on the compound of Alfandi in the town of Deir al-Zour. It claimed the lives of about 30 civilians and wounded dozens. The source said that the death toll was expected to rise due to the numbers of people trapped under the rubble.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

female via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
Adult female via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (4)

female via Euphrates Post killed
female via Euphrates Post killed
female via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (10)

male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (2)

female via Euphrates Post killed
female via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (7)

male via Euphrates Post killed
via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post injured

Family members (4)

male via Euphrates Post killed
female via Euphrates Post killed
female via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (6)

male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed
male via Euphrates Post killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown female via Euphrates Post killed
Age unknown male via Euphrates Post
Age unknown female via Euphrates Post

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42 – 65
  • (20–21 children9 women9–12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A tweet contains an image shows the aftermath of the air strike on al Sha'afa, on November 26, 2017 (via @7UFCmSxd0IUBffH)
  • A picture of one of the victim, who killed following strikes on al Sha'afa, Deir Ez-Zor, on November 26, 2017
  • A picture of one of the victims, who were killed following strikes on al Sha'afa, Deir Ez-Zor, on November 26, 2017

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Sha’afa (الشعفة), for which the coordinates are: 34.57888, 40.93441. The alleged Coalition strike targeted the Al Fandi (الفندي) residential complex, the location of which is unknown.

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
    al Sha'afa, Deir Ez-Zor
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU774280
    Military Grid Reference System

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 25th-26th, the Coalition reported: “Near Abu Kamal, five strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed four ISIS vehicles and a headquarters.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42 – 65
  • (20–21 children9 women9–12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS065

Incident date

April 30, 2015

Location

بئر محلي, Jubb Mahli (Ber Mahli), Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.561113, 38.41203 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In one of the worst reported incidents in nine months of bombings by the US-led Ccoalition, 64 civilians were said to have died in an attack on the village of Ber Mahli near Sareen – the majority of them women (19) and children (32). It remains disputed as to whether the village was partly or wholly under the control of Islamic State forces at the time.

Later admitting that it had carried out a strike on the village, the Coalition said it had instead bombed “several ISIL fighting positions [and] striking more than 50 ISIL fighters.” A CJTF-OIR spokesman appeared to blame any error on Kurdish forces in the area, telling Airwars by email that: “Prior to the airstrikes, Kurdish forces, who held the town before leaving after being attacked by ISIL, reported there were no civilians present in that location and that there had not been any civilians present for two weeks prior to the Coalition airstrikes.”

An internal CENTCOM investigation almost immediately decided “allegation initially not determined credible”, it was revealed in September 2015. The declassified document also appeared to pin responsibility for any error on the YPG, noting that the Kurdish fighters “had held the village up until the ISIL attack and [reported] that there were no civilians in the village.”

According to Al Jazeera, eyewitnesses said that when the village was first bombed, residents ran out of their houses. However Ber Mahli was then repeatedly struck, including a group of cars leaving the village. SN4HR also claimed that “some of the houses were targeted again after people and medical teams gathered to help the victims and wounded.”

Speaking from his hospital bed, one injured survivor spoke of the attack: “We were four families gathered in one room. It was around 11 or 12 at night. They kept on striking the houses. The first time they struck, my cousin was killed with his small children. Why did this happen? Is it because Obama wants to please the King of Saudi Arabia? Why is the coalition bombing us? Why don’t they fight [President] Bashar?

Another unnamed and injured survivor, a young girl, also spoke for the cameras:”The planes came above us and bombed us and destroyed houses. My father was killed and two of my sisters.”

Buzzfeed also interviewed a 67-year-old witness to the attack, who went by the name of Abu Khaled, who corroborated the names of many of those killed. “They killed whole families. The Americans will never apologize, and they will keep killing civilians,” hecomplained to the news site from southern Turkey.

All 64 known fatalities have now been named by SN4HR and by Manbij News, indicating that entire families were wiped out.

Fadel Abdulghani, head of monitoring group the Syrian Network for Human Rights, demanded that those in the coalition responsible for the deaths be held accountable: “Despite all the efforts made to avoid this, this incident indicates a blatant disrespect for the lives of innocent civilians. The people responsible for this crime should be held accountable which would be a clear message to their associates and commanders.”

In an assessment of the event published in October 2016, it was noted that “a review by Amnesty International of a series of aerial images of the Bir Mahli area, including a satellite image taken approximately one week after the attack, indicates four strike locations and nine to 10 houses being completely flattened…. Amnesty International is concerned that Coalition forces appear to have either mistakenly carried out a large-scale attack on an entirely civilian area having failed to take adequate steps to positively identify a military objective prior to attacking or to have carried out a grossly disproportionate attack against suspected IS targets. In addition, CENTCOM appears to have dismissed evidence indicating scores of civilian casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (64)

Adult male killed
Aida Al Hussein al Salibi
Adult female Ali al Salibi's wife killed
25 years old male Aida's son killed
24 years old male Aida's son killed
23 years old male Aida's son killed
1 years old male son of Shuaa Mustafa al-Shawakh killed
17 years old male Aida's son killed
17 years old male Aida's son killed
6 years old male Aida's son killed
14 years old female Aida's daughter killed
10 years old female Aida's daughter killed
Adult female Khaled al Shawak's wife killed
Adult female Eid Ali Al Shawak's wife killed
1 years old female Ameriah's daughter killed
56 years old male killed
Fatima Al Kahhal
Adult female Jumah's wife killed
24 years old male Fatima's son killed
17 years old male Fatima's son killed
23 years old female Fatima's daughter killed
30 years old female wife of Mustafa Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi killed
24 years old female Wife of Shawakh Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi killed
28 years old female Wife of Wasel Jumah al-Shawakh Al-Sleibi killed
1 years old male Khaznah's Ahmad al Obeid's son killed
3 years old female the daughter of Shuaa Mustafa al-Shawakh
2 years old male the son of Shuaa Mustafa al-Shawakh killed
1 years old male the son of Shuaa Mustafa al-Shawakh killed
Adult female wife of Ali Mohammad al-Ali killed
Hadlah
Adult female the second wife of Ali Mohammad al-Ali, from Alja'adah village killed
31 years old male son of Hadla al-Msallam killed
18 years old female the daughter of Hadla al-Msallam killed
1 years old male the son of Hadla, the second wife killed
6 years old female the daughter of Mustafa Ali Al-Mohammad Ali killed
5 years old male the son of Mustafa Ali Al-Mohammad Ali killed
3 years old male the son of Mustafa Ali Al-Mohammad Ali killed
1 month old years old female Ali Mohammed Ali killed
47 years old male killed
Adult female Eid's wife killed
10 years old female Eid and Ghazalah's daughter killed
6 years old female Eid and Ghazalah's daughter killed
2 years old female Eid and Ghazalah's daughter killed
7 months years old female Eid and Ghazalah's daughter killed
Turki Eid Al Mustafa Al Shawakh
12 years old male Eid and Ghazalah's daughter killed
45 years old female Wife of Jalal Mustafa al-Sleibi killed
42 years old female the second wife of Jalal Mustafa al-Sleibi killed
14 years old male Turkeih's son killed
11 years old female Turkeih's daughter killed
10 years old male Zleikhah's son killed
Warde
32 years old female Hussein Al Ali Al Salibi's wife killed
11 years old female killed
10 years old male killed
4 years old male killed
65 years old male killed
Shaha Al Salibi
Adult female Mustafa's wife killed
25 years old female Shahah's daughter killed
18 years old female Shahah's daughter killed
40 years old male killed
22 years old male killed
40 years old male killed
38 years old female Wife of Aref al-Mustafa al-Sleibi killed
8 years old female Khatoun's daughter killed
5 years old female Khatoun's daughter killed
40 years old male killed
Ida Al Mahmoud Al Hussein Al Salibi
15 years old female killed
3 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    64
  • (32 children19 women13 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (22) [ collapse]

  • Eyewitness account from a survivor who recounts that the planes struck between 10:00 am and 10:30 am. A family of 9 was killed in the first house, a family of 14 in the second house and 35 members of one family in the third house. [Via: SN4HR]
  • A second survivor recalls how entire families were wiped out in the alleged coalition strikes on the village of Beir Mahli. [Via: SN4HR]
  • Footage of the burial of victims at Beir Mahli, published 14th May 2015. [via: SN4HR]
  • Image showing the coordinates of the village. [via: SN4HR detailed report published on May 6th 2015]
  • Images showing the homes that were targeted in the alleged coalition strikes [via: SN4HR detailed report published on May 6th 2015]
  • The victims' houses that were targeted in the alleged coalition strikes on Beir Mahli [via: SN4HR detailed report published on May 6th 2015]
  • A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]
  • A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A series of stills from a video published by ISIS-affiliated media showing very graphic imagery of the dead a large proportion of them children. The video itself has been removed from youtube. [Via: SN4HR report published on May 6th 2015]

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
    a:1:{i:0;s:5:"other";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    Ber Mahli, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015
  • Prior to the airstrikes, Kurdish forces, who held the town before leaving after being attacked by ISIL, reported there were no civilians present in that location and that there had not been any civilians present for two weeks prior to the Coalition airstrikes

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    64
  • (32 children19 women13 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS578

Incident date

March 16, 2017

Location

الجينة, Al Jina, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.117309, 36.802243 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A unilateral US drone strike on a mosque complex near al Jina town killed between 37 and 62 civilians according to multiple reports and eyewitness statements. While the US has admitted it carried out the attack, officials have claimed that al Jina’s Omar Ibn al Khattab mosque where the casualties occurred was not targeted in the raid. The Pentagon instead insisted that “an al Qaeda in Syria meeting location” had been struck – though announced an investigation into reported civilian deaths.

The evening attack at al Jina – which was initially blamed by many on Russia – was in fact according to the Washington Post conducted by two US Reaper drones , which fired six Hellfire missiles at the location at around 7pm before dropping a 500lb bomb. The results were devastating.

At least 300 people were reportedly present for an evangelical religious class at Jina’s new mosque when it was struck – among them some children. According to Step News, “US aircraft targeted a Dawah centre of al Dawah Wa al Tabligh. The group holds a weekly meeting in one of their centres every Thursday which is attended by dozens of students of religious studies, sheikhs, shariaa experts and fighters in the Islamic factions and civilians from the region.” In Islamic theology according to Wikipedia, “the purpose of da’wah is to invite people, both Muslims and non-Muslims, to understand the worship of Allah as expressed in the Qur’an and the sunnah of the prophet Muhammad and to inform them about Muhammad.”

Suspicions of US involvement were first raised by online monitors including Bellingcat, after missile fragments were found at the scene. After initially claiming a unilateral strike that day was in Idlib, CENTCOM confirmed to Airwars late on the night of March 16th that the attack at Al Jina had in fact been by the US.Spokesman Major Josh Jacques told reporter Samuel Oakford that the target was “assessed to be a meeting place for al Qaeda, and we took the strike… It happened to be across the street from where there is a mosque.” He said the mosque was not the target, and that it wasn’t hit directly. Both CENTCOM and the Pentagon told Airwars that they were further investigating the attack.

In an effort to discredit claims that it had targeted worshippers, the Pentagon also issued a photograph which it said showed the mosque at al Jina intact. However this appeared to backfire, with most commentators noting that both buildings including that targeted were in fact mosques.

The White Helmets – more usually seen aiding casualties from Assad regime or Russian strikes, led the rescue effort. It eventually estimated that at least 50 people had died. As Shaam News reported, “The bombing was following by residents and rescue teams putting out a call to all defense teams in the region calls for help for all defense centers and ambulance crews in the area to go to the site shelling and help lift the martyrs out of the basement.”

One angry eyewitness told Smart News: “This is a praying center. For those aged from 8 to 60 years old. Unarmed civilians. Where is the terrorism? They are unarmed, not terrorists. Peaceful civilians praying. I am one of them, there are no terrorists here. There are almost 250 people including children and the elderly. Many are under the rubble and we don’t have the equpiment to lift them. Assad, Europe and Russia took everything from us, how can we lift them? By our hands? All you do is send us a food basket, we don’t need it anymore. Keep it for yourselves.” A number of cities and towns in the area reportedly cancelled Friday Prayers for fear of further attacks.

Syria News Desk claimed that 15 children were among the dead. While this number cold not be verified, the White Helmets have named five victims under the age of 17, and a child was filmed being rescued from the rubble at al Jina.

The militant Islamic rebel group Ahrar al Sham – the apparent target of the US attack – later issued a statement attacking “the shameful spectacle where the an international community has turned from a passive silent party in towards the Syrian case to a contributor to the killing of the Syrian people.”

Turkey’s deputy Prime Minister condemned the US attack as a ‘war crime.’ However Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that “In principle, we have no doubts that the US military targeted terrorists.”

The White Helmets have named 29 civilian casualties and  26 of 100 or more people reportedly injured in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Khaled Orabi
Child killed
Hasan Omar Orabi
Child
Ahmad Nouri Issa
Adult killed
Mustapha Nashat Said al Sheikh
Adult killed
Ahmad Kiyali
Age unknown killed
Ali Mustapha
Child killed
Abd al Rahman Hasim
Child killed
Ahmad al Zein
Age unknown killed
Ismail Hamada al Sheikh
Age unknown killed
Nadim Abu Bashir Kababi
Adult male killed
Nassim Hussein Abbas
Adult killed
Adel Mohammad Qitaz
Child killed
Ibrahim Abboud
Adult killed
Kinjo Haj Yusuf
Adult killed
Abu Hussein Taliha
Age unknown killed
Abd al Al Qader Janat
Adult killed
Abd al Latif Mu’del
Age unknown killed
Nader Fatloun
Age unknown killed
Safwat al Zein
Adult killed
Bashir al Ghabra
Age unknown killed
Abd al Ghafour Abd al Ghafour
Age unknown killed
Adel Mohammad Rashid
Age unknown killed
Mohammad Abd al Salam
Age unknown killed
Saleh Fatloun
Age unknown killed
Mustapha Nasser Yasin
Age unknown killed
Mufid A’kal
Age unknown killed
Ibrahim Qatiba
Age unknown killed
Ibrahim Bassamiya
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    37 – 62
  • (5–15 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    100
  • 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 (97) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (27) [ collapse]

  • Post by Aleppo White Helmets on March 17th, 2017, depicted the aftermath of an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Jina.
  • Video of the aftermath of the alleged airstrike on Al Jina, posted by Step News Agency on March 16th, 2017.
  • Video of the aftermath of the alleged airstrike on Al Jina, posted by HNN on March 16th, 2017.
  • Video of the aftermath of the alleged airstrike on Al Jina, posted by SNN on March 16th, 2017.
  • Video of the aftermath of the alleged airstrike on Al Jina, posted by SNN on March 16th, 2017.
  • Video of the aftermath of the alleged airstrike on Al Jina, posted by SNN on March 16th, 2017.
  • Video of the aftermath of the alleged airstrike on Al Jina, posted by HNN on March 16th, 2017.
  • Post by Airwars revealing that the US admitted to have carried out the strike on the mosque in Al Jina.
  • Tweet by @sonawa1
  • Al Touba mosque in al Jina village after it was struck in an alleged Coalition airstrike, according to an SNN Facebook post on March 16th, 2017
  • Al Touba mosque in al Jina village after it was targeted in an alleged airstrike, according to Halab Today TV on March 16th, 2017
  • Al Touba mosque in al Jina village after it was targeted in an alleged airstrike, according to Halab Today TV on March 16th, 2017
  • Al Touba mosque in al Jina village after it was targeted in an alleged airstrike, according to Smart News Agency on March 16th, 2017
  • Al Touba mosque in al Jina village after it was targeted in an alleged airstrike, according to SNN on March 16th, 2017
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Al Touba mosque in al Jina village after it was targeted in an alleged airstrike, according to SNN on March 16th, 2017
  • Al Touba mosque in al Jina village after it was targeted in an alleged airstrike, according to SNN on March 16th, 2017
  • Al Touba mosque in al Jina village after it was targeted in an alleged airstrike, according to SNN on March 16th, 2017
  • Al Touba mosque in al Jina village after it was targeted in an alleged airstrike, according to SNN on March 16th, 2017
  • Al Touba mosque in al Jina village after it was targeted in an alleged airstrike, according to SNN on March 16th, 2017
  • Pictures of the destructing in Al Jina after an alleged Coalition airstrike targeted this mosque, posted by Aleppo Media Center on March 17th, 2018.
  • Pictures of the destructing in Al Jina after an alleged Coalition airstrike targeted this mosque, posted by Aleppo Media Center on March 17th, 2018.
  • Pictures of the destructing in Al Jina after an alleged Coalition airstrike targeted this mosque, posted by Aleppo Media Center on March 17th, 2018.
  • Pictures of the destructing in Al Jina after an alleged Coalition airstrike targeted this mosque, posted by Aleppo Media Center on March 17th, 2018.
  • Pictures of the destructing in Al Jina after an alleged Coalition airstrike targeted this mosque, posted by Aleppo Media Center on March 17th, 2018.
  • Pictures of the destructing in Al Jina after an alleged Coalition airstrike targeted this mosque, posted by Aleppo Media Center on March 17th, 2018.
  • Cleaning up the rubble after an alleged airstrike targeted Al Jina, posted by the Aleppo White Helmets Facebook page on March 17th, 2018.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Video showing the remains of one of the victims being pulled out of the rubble, posed by SNN on March 17th, 2018.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Duplicate
    Assessed to be a duplicate of another report that has already been assessed.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near al-Jina town, west Aleppo, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCV022991
    Military Grid Reference System

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

A CENTCOM press release issued in the early hours of March 17th 2017 stated: “U.S. forces conducted an airstrike on an Al Qaeda in Syria meeting location March 16 in Idlib [later corrected to Aleppo], Syria, killing several terrorists.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    37 – 62
  • (5–15 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    100
  • 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 (97) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1118 RS2311

Incident date

June 28, 2017

Location

دبلان, Dablan, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.855, 40.568611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 60 civilians died and dozens more were wounded in airstrikes on Dablan, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the event, with allegations against the Coalition, Russia and the Syrian regime.

The pro-regime source, Damas Press, put the death toll at 40 and blamed the US-led Coalition. However, Syria News Desk was among several sources attributing the event to Moscow, putting the death toll at 40 non-combatants with 60 more injured. It reported that four houses were completely destroyed amid extensive damage to residential buildings and shops. Additionally, the report said that “that dozens of families fled towards the Badia, fearing renewed targeting of the town as planes continued to fly overhead”.

Euphrates Post also pointed towards Russia: “According to the correspondent of the network Furat Post media, unknown aircraft – though thought to belong to the Russian air force – targeted residential sites in the center of the town of Dablan with cluster bombs

“The source added that the mosques in the town used loud speakers to tell people to go to medical points to donate blood due to the large number of injuries caused by the bombing”.

But a later report by Euphrates Post referred to “the air force” [regime] launching several strikes with “with internationally banned cluster bombs”. It said that eye witnesses saw one raid targeting “an internet cafe belonging to al Siki family in the al Kaws neighbourhood in the city centre. This damaged seven nearby houses killing 17 martyrs. Another raid targeted agricultural land in the town. Most of the martyrs were children and women who slept on rooftops and outside due to heat. The weather and power outages had led to an increase in the number of martyrs. There is no final figure for the number of victims, but 20 have been buried so far”.

Some other sources referred to “unknown warplanes with cluster bombs”.

But according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights – which put the death toll at at least 13 – jets belonging to the regime were to blame. Sharqiya Voice – one of the sources blaming Russia – reported that the death toll had risen to 60.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Son of Yassin al Alawi 1
Age unknown male killed
Son of Yassin al Alawi 2
Age unknown male killed
Yassin’s wife
Adult female killed
"and her son"
male killed

Family members (3)

Khaled Al – Hussein Al – Saleh
Adult male killed
Son of Khaled Al – Hussein Al – Saleh
Age unknown male killed
Saleh Al – Hussein Al – Saleh
killed

Family members (3)

Ibrahim Al-Siki
Age unknown male killed
Khaled Alsiki
Age unknown male killed
Saleh Alsiki
Age unknown killed

Family members (2)

Son of Abu Halash 1
Age unknown male killed
Son of Abu Halash 2
Age unknown male killed

Family members (2)

Son of Jassem Al Turki 1
Age unknown male killed
Son of Jassem Al Turki 2
Age unknown male killed

Family members (2)

Daughter of Hassan al-Ghannam 1
Age unknown female killed
Daughter of Hassan al-Ghannam 2
Age unknown female killed

Family members (2)

The daughter of Khamis al-Khalifa
Age unknown female killed
The mother of Khamis al-Khalifa
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Mousa Al Ismail
Age unknown killed
Issa Al-Hamoud
Age unknown killed
Muhsin al Oussour
Age unknown killed
Abu Yusuf Al-Deiri
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21 – 60
  • (5 children2–5 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–60
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of a raid on a civilian home in Dablan, June 28th 2017. (via Sharqiya Voice)
  • The remnants of a cluster bomb which was used on Dablan by alleged Coalition or Russian airstrikes, 28th June 2017. (via Sharqiya voice)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike on Dablan by alleged Coalition or Russian airstrikes, 28th June 2017. (via Sharqiya voice)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike on Dablan by alleged Coalition or Russian airstrikes, 28th June 2017. (via Sharqiya voice)
  • The remnants of a missile which was used on Dablan by alleged Coalition or Russian airstrikes, 28th June 2017. (via Sharqiya voice)
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 Dayr Az Zawr, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU1714192076
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 1, 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 June 28th-29th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed 10 oil storage tanks, six oil trucks, two fuel trailers, an well head, a piece of oil processing equipment and an ISIS headquarters.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21 – 60
  • (5 children2–5 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–60
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1398

Incident date

August 22, 2017

Location

السخاني, Sukhani neighbourhood, near Hani mosque, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9522, 39.0164 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a major casualty incident, as many as between 33 and 60 civilians, including many women and children, died following US-led Coalition airstrikes on Al-Sakhani, Raqqa. Almost a year later the US-led alliance accepted responsibility for 33 deaths.

According to Baladi, the strike was near the Al-Hani mosque, while Qasioun reported that one of the strikes hit a building in which civilians were sheltering.

Local media reported that the airstrike occurred on the 20th August, however recent up to date Amnesty field research conducted has reported the strike to have occurred on the 22nd at 7pm.

Local media reported that the majority of those killed were from the same family. A Tweet by @AhmadShblii identified eight of the victims as displaced persons from Palmyra.

All sources obtained held the US-led Coalition responsible for the alleged massacre. In addition to the civilians that died, “dozens” were suspected injured.

Albosleh and @LaSyrianNews put the death toll as high as 60.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which also blamed the Coalition, the 42 civilians it said were killed in the strikes included 19 children. This report may have conflated another, however.

A June 2018 report by Amnesty stated that on 20 August 2017 at 7pm, “Coalition forces simultaneously bombed the two neighbouring houses in which the family were staying.” These air strikes reportedly killed 33 Badran family members and other civilians, mostly women and children. A large number of civilians killed in the airstrike were identified in the report.

In its July 2018 civilian casualty report, the Coalition accepted responsibility for the event: “August 20, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report. During a strike on a reported Daesh position near a residential area allegedly caused civilian casualties. Thirty three civilians were unintentionally killed.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality” it was reported that “Thirty-three members of the Badran Family and neighbours, most of them women and children, were killed in the third and most devastating set of four separate air strikes which killed a total of 39 family members and 10 neighbours as they fled from neighbourhood to neighbourhood in search of safety.”

In addition to this, Rasha, a survivor of the strike told Amnesty in a testimony that “Only I, my husband and his brother and cousin survived. In the morning we found Tulip’s body; our baby was dead. We buried her near there, by a tree. I don’t understand why they bombed us. Didn’t the surveillance planes see that we were civilian families?”

The incident occured at 19:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (33)

Shamsa al Badran Bint Mustafa
40 years old female killed
Sahar Mohammad Ahmad al Badran
17 years old female Mohammad's daughter killed
Saja Mohammad Ahmad al Badran
15 years old male Mohammad's daughter killed
Ahmad Mohammad Ahmad al Badran
13 years old male Mohammad's son killed
Hamza Mohammad Ahmad al Badran
11 years old male Mohammad's son killed
Daham Mohammad Ahmad al Badran
4 years old male Mohammad's son killed
Saddiqa al Badran Bint Mustafa
38 years old female Shamsa’s sister, Ismael's wife killed
Mundher Ismail al Saaid
12 years old male Ismael's and Shamsa's son, twin of Sidra killed
Sidra Ismail al Saaid
12 years old female twin of Mundher killed
Aseel Ismail al Saaid
6 years old female Ismael's and Shamsa's daughter
Sumaya al Badran bint Mustafa
45 years old female widow, no children killed
Abta al Badran bint Mustafa
50 years old female widow killed
Qays Mohammad al Sahu
24 years old male Abta's son killed
Mays Mohammad al Sahu
18 years old female Abta's daughter killed
Khud al Badran bint Mustafa
48 years old female divorced killed
Rana Hsein al-Shammari
18 years old female Khud's daughter killed
Thuraya al Badran bint Mustafa
55 years old female killed
Ibrahim
early 30s years old male Thuraya's son killed
Madonna
mid-late 20s years old female Ibrahim's wife killed
Thuraya's nephew 1
Child male killed
Thuraya's nephew 2
Child male killed
Thuraya's niece
Child female killed
Mohammad Khalil
30 years old male killed
Ali al Badran ibn Mustafa
44 years old male no children killed
Ibrahim Fahd Ibn Wahab al-Khadr
70 years old male killed
Khadija al Sahu
60 years old female Ibrahim's wife killed
Tulip Fahd bint AbdulWahab Abbude
1 years old female Rasha's and Abbude's daughter killed
Osama Ibrahim Fahd
32 years old male Abbude's brother killed
Mohamed Imbrahim Fahd
28 years old male Abbude's brother killed
Souad
50 years old female Iraqi national, wife of local man killed
Abu Riad
60s years old male Souad's husband killed
Maha
mid 20s years old female daughter of Souad and Abu Riad killed
Amina al Raqim
60s years old female unmarried, was with Souad and Abu Riad killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    33 – 60
  • (12–19 children12–13 women3–8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (41) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (31) [ collapse]

  • Khalil Ibrahim Albadran, killed in an alleged Coalition strike near Al-Hini Mosque, (via RBSS)
  • ' Türkçe · Kurdî (Kurmancî) · العربية · English (UK) · Español Gizlilik · Koşullar · Reklamlar · Ad Choices · Çerezler · Diğer Facebook © 2017 Syrian Network for Human Rights - الشبكة السورية لحقوق الإنسان 6 saat · The women Thuraya, Sumayya, Abtta, Khood, Seddiqa, and Shamsa Mustafa al Daham, killed along with 11 members of their family in International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on al Sakhani alley north of Raqqa city, Aug 20.' (via SN4HR)
  • Shahid Abu Aboudabrahim Al Wahab, killed in an alleged Coalition strike on Raqqa (via Sharqiya Voice)
  • Mustafa Al-Badran (via RBSS)
  • Ibrahim Khalil Al-Badran (via RBSS)
  • Qais Mohammed Al-Khader (via RBSS)
  • Sama Ibrahim Al-Badran (via RBSS)
  • Mohammed Ibrahim Abdulwahab Al-Fahed (via RBSS)
  • Ali Ibrahim Al-Badran (via RBSS)
  • Photo of the aftermath of the air strike (via RWB)
  • Tulip Badran (via Amnesty)
  • Aftermath of the air strike (via Amnesty)
  • Members of Al-Badran family killed in the air strike (via Amnesty)
  • Satellite images of the destroyed house in the air strike (via Amnesty)
  • Abta, killed in a mass civilian casualty airstrike by alleged Coalition planes on August 22nd 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Ahmad, killed in a mass civilian casualty airstrike by alleged Coalition planes on August 22nd 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Ali al Badran ibn Mustapha, killed in a mass civilian casualty airstrike by alleged Coalition planes on August 22nd 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Daham, killed in a mass civilian casualty airstrike by alleged Coalition planes on August 22nd 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Hamza, killed in a mass civilian casualty airstrike by alleged Coalition planes on August 22nd 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Khadja, killed in a mass civilian casualty airstrike by alleged Coalition planes on August 22nd 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Madonna Daham, killed in a mass civilian casualty airstrike by alleged Coalition planes on August 22nd 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Mays, killed in a mass civilian casualty airstrike by alleged Coalition planes on August 22nd 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Osama, killed in a mass civilian casualty airstrike by alleged Coalition planes on August 22nd 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Qays, killed in a mass civilian casualty airstrike by alleged Coalition planes on August 22nd 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Saddiqa, killed in a mass civilian casualty airstrike by alleged Coalition planes on August 22nd 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Sahar, killed in a mass civilian casualty airstrike by alleged Coalition planes on August 22nd 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Saja, killed in a mass civilian casualty airstrike by alleged Coalition planes on August 22nd 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Shamsa, killed in a mass civilian casualty airstrike by alleged Coalition planes on August 22nd 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Sidra, killed in a mass civilian casualty airstrike by alleged Coalition planes on August 22nd 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Thuraya, killed in a mass civilian casualty airstrike by alleged Coalition planes on August 22nd 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Tulip Tuteh, killed in a mass civilian casualty airstrike by alleged Coalition planes on August 22nd 2017. (via Amnesty)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Al Sakhani (السخاني) neighbourhood of Raqqah, near the Al Hani (الحني) mosque, for which the coordinates are: 35.951373, 39.016984. Following field research by Amnesty International, the incident was found credible by the US-led Coalition, who provided the following MGRS coordinate (accurate to 100m): 37SEV014786.

  • Before strike. (via Amnesty)

  • After strike. (via Amnesty)

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
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    33
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV014786
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • August 20, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report. During a strike on a reported Daesh position near a residential area allegedly caused civilian casualties. Thirty three civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 19th-20th: “Near Raqqah, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions.” It additionally added that “On Aug. 19, near Raqqah, Syria, 36 strikes engaged 22 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 29 fighting positions and seven command and control nodes.” That “On Aug. 19, near Raqqah, Syria, six strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed five fighting positions, an IED, and a command and control node.” And that “On Aug. 19, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For Aug 16-22, France report 5 strikes in Iraq and 2 in Syria. Task Force Wagram conducted 60 artillery missions.

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Sunday 20 August – Tornados and Typhoons hit a target in Raqqa, a group of terrorists and vehicles in eastern Syria, and five Daesh positions around Tal Afar…On Sunday 20 August, Typhoons bombed a further Daesh position in Raqqa. In eastern Syria, Tornados targeted a group of terrorists deployed near the border with Iraq – two Paveways hit their trucks and killed several of the extremists.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    33 – 60
  • (12–19 children12–13 women3–8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (41) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1812

Incident date

October 18, 2018

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa: Ammar bin Yasser moque, al Boubadran village, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.544353, 40.958265 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 10 and as many as 60 civilians were reported killed  by the US-led Coalition after a strike or strikes hit the Ammar bin Yasser mosque in Al Boubadran village near al Soussa. The event may have been confused in some media and social media reports to one or two additional nearby civilian harm events over a 30 hour period. In October 2020, the Coalition itself classed the incident as a duplicate report.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported at the time that the strike occurred “at around 12:00, during the Friday Prayer”.

According to most other reports the strike took place around noon – although Eldorar and Baladi News claimed that worshippers leaving an evening prayer service were struck. Other reports confused this strike and associated imagery with an event on October 19th at another mosque in al Soussa (see below.)

An ISIS propaganda video showed multiple male corpses among the rubble of the entirely destroyed mosque, along with at least one dead child. An eyewitness in the film stated: “They knew that this place is a place to spread religion, the guys were here to learn but they wanted them to oppose their religion, the Coalition cannot face our brothers in the front lines, so they destroy mosques, this mosque I saw it I was an eye witness.”

Deir Ezzor Radio said that “at least 30 civilians died including two children” in the mosque strike. Zaman al Wasl instead said the toll was 15 including women and children, noting that “the civilians are 6 Syrians and 9 members of displaced Iraqi families.”

Bukamal Live named a victim as Diaa Latouf Al Dibs from Abu Kamal. Euphrates Post named the same victim as Mohammed Dia’a Abdul Latif al-Dabbas – while a footnote to that story asserted that 38 civilians in total had died in the attack. Euphrates Post itself placed the toll at 10 however – while noting two other major civilian harm events in the near vicinity. Sana News (the official Syrian state media outlet) also placed the civilian toll at 10.

A Reuters report indicated that the Coalition had deliberately struck the mosque believing it to be an ISIS command and control centre. ‘The U.S.-led coalition said it destroyed a mosque which Islamic State fighters had turned into a headquarters in al-Sousa to defend their last territory. The strike on Thursday killed 12 militants, disabling a command center they had used to attack coalition forces and their allies, it said. “Such Daesh misuse of the mosque is another example of their violation of the law of war and made the mosque a valid military target,” spokesman Colonel Sean Ryan said, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State. The coalition monitored the facility to know when only fighters were present, and it investigates “all credible allegations of civilian casualties”, he said in an emailed statement in response to questions from Reuters.”

The Syrian Observatory initially placed the toll for this and the previous event at al Soussa on October 18th at 24 civilian fatalities, noting that “the number of martyrs is still increasing due to some wounded being in a serious condition, and the presence of missing persons.” On October 22nd the Observatory lowered its estimate to 18 killed on both events, along with 11 ISIS fighters: “18 Iraqi citizens of the families of Daesh including 7 children and 4 women, were killed in the bombardment which targeted a mosque and a house in Al-Susah town, on 18th October 2018.”

Madar News, citing a local activist, said 43 people died in the two October 18th events. Marsad al Hassakah placed the toll for the two events lower, reporting that “Eighteen Iraqi civilians, including seven children and four citizens, were martyred in the air bombardment of a mosque and an adjacent house.”

According to reports, multiple Coalition airstrikes targeted the ISIS-occupied town of al Soussa between Thursday October 17th and Friday October 18th causing mass casualties. As well as the Ammar bin Yasser mosque which was struck at noon on the Thursday along with the home of Mohammed al-Obeid al-Hattab earlier that same morning (event S ), the Othman mosque was also reported hit the following day at Friday prayers (event S ). Deir Ezzor Radio said that overall, 60 to 70 civilians including 10 children died in the three Coalition strikes on the town. Sana News placed the overall death count at 62.

The Syrian Observatory placed the toll for the three events at 47 civilians and 9 ISIS fighters killed. Al Jazeera said approximately 65 civilians were killed with dozens injured in the three events.

In its civilian casualty report for October 2020, the US-led Coalition said that this review was a ‘duplicate’ of a previous assessment of the same incident: “1. Oct. 18, 2018, in Al Soussa, Syria, via Airwars report. The Coalition actions identified in this allegation is a duplicate of allegation 2620 (Not Credible, published January 31, 2019). 3206/CS1812 37SFU796242”

The incident occured around midday.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Dia’a Abdul Latif al-Dabbas
Age unknown male Bukamal Live named a victim as Diaa Latouf Al Dibs killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 60
  • (2–5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (42) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    ISIS propaganda video posted on Facebook by Muhajareen Al Furat, Siraj Aldyin 2018 and Al Soussa village Facebook pages on the 20th of October 2018.
  • The destroyed mosque at al Bubadran in which up to 60 civilians were reported killed in an alleged Coalition strike on October 18th (image with al Free Deir Ezzor Radio – most likely grabs from an ISIS propaganda video)
  • The destroyed mosque at al Bubadran in which up to 60 civilians were reported killed in an alleged Coalition strike on October 18th (image with al Free Deir Ezzor Radio – most likely grabs from an ISIS propaganda video)
  • The destroyed mosque at al Bubadran in which up to 60 civilians were reported killed in an alleged Coalition strike on October 18th (image with al Free Deir Ezzor Radio – most likely grabs from an ISIS propaganda video)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Duplicate
    Assessed to be a duplicate of another report that has already been assessed.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Al Soussa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU796242
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 29, 2020
  • 1. Oct. 18, 2018, in Al Soussa, Syria, via Airwars report. The Coalition actions identified in this allegation is a duplicate of allegation 2620 (Not Credible, published January 31, 2019). 3206/CS1812 37SFU796242

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition publicly reported the following at the time: "On Oct. 18 in Syria, coalition military forces conducted 10 strikes consisting of 14 engagements against ISIS targets. Near Abu Kamal and Hajin, 10 strikes engaged 29 tactical units, and destroyed two command and control centers, one IED facility, one vehicle-borne IED facility, one mortar team headquarters, one building and two staging areas."

Dutch Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For Oct 17th-24th, Dutch MoD reports that Dutch F-16s supported ground troops during nine missions. Weapons were deployed in six of these missions – against ISIS fighters and vehicles near Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor.

Midden-Oosten In de strijd tegen terreurorganisatie ISIS ondersteunden Nederlandse F-16’s grondtroepen tijdens 9 missies. Bij 6 zijn wapens ingezet tegen ISIS-strijders en voertuigen. Dat gebeurde in de provincie Deir al Zour, in de omgeving van Abu Kamal.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

France report that between Oct 17th-23rd, the three CAESAR guns of Task Force Wagram conducted 17 firing missions, from Iraqi territory. Aircraft carried out 18 sorties and conducted eight strikes north of Abu Kamal in Syria.

'OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie L’opération pour reprendre la poche d’Hajine dans la moyenne vallée de l’Euphrate, lancée le 10 septembre, se poursuit. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak En Irak, les opérations de sécurisation des forces de sécurité irakiennes (FSI) se poursuivent sans évènement particulier relevé cette semaine. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Le dispositif français déployé au Levant n’a pas évolué en volume. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate. La Task Force Wagram appuie l’offensive des forces démocratiques syriennes contre Daech dans la région d’Hajine. Les trois canons CAESAR ont ainsi réalisé, depuis le territoire irakien, 17 missions de tir (éclairement, harcèlement, destruction – bilan du 17 au 23 octobre inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 1992 missions de tirs. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des opérations. Au sein de la coalition, les aéronefs français basés en Jordanie et aux Émirats arabes unis poursuivent leurs actions contre Daech. Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 18 sorties aériennes (bilan du 17 au 23 octobre inclus) et conduit 8 frappes, en appui des FDS au nord d’Abou Kamal en Syrie. Bilan total de l’action du pilier appui aérien depuis le 19/09/14 : 8582 sorties / 1472 frappes / 2271 objectifs neutralises.'

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 60
  • (2–5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (42) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1310

Incident date

July 31, 2017

Location

دير الزور, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3353632, 40.1380348 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to SANA on August 1st, the official Syrian news agency,US coalition planes killed 60 civilians in raids on villages and towns in the eastern suburb of Deir al-Zour during the past few hours.”

However, Euphrates Post “noted that the news reported by the media of the regime is totally untrue”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    60
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Deir ez-Zor, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV037106
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018
  • 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 July 31st – August 1st: “ Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes destroyed 13 ISIS oil stills, an oil storage barrel and an ISIS chemical weapons factory.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    60
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI589

Incident date

March 30, 2017

Location

المشاهدة, Mosul, Al-Mashada, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.344722, 43.121111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Locals said that up to 60 civilians were killed after residential houses in the Mashahda area in old Mosul were accidentally struck. Coalition airstrikes, an Iraqi missile and artillery were all blamed.

Iraqyoon reported that 12 civilians were killed in a “mistaken air strike” that destroyed four homes. Al Jazeera put the death toll at 10, and mentioned artillery shelling in the area.

On April 3rd, Iraqi Spring Media Center reported that “about 60 bodies of the #civilians killed by aerial bombardment in the courtyard of the Imam Mosque in Al-Mashahah district of old Mosul” were buried – thus suggesting the death toll had sharply increased.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 60
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A map showing the area in Old Mosul where airstrikes by the Coalition and/or Iraqi government allegedly killed up to 15 civilians (via Iraqi Spring Media Center)
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
  • Nov 30, 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 March 29th-30th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, seven strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and an ISIS staging area; destroyed two command and control nodes, two mortar systems, a fighting position, and a UAV facility; damaged 19 supply routes; and suppressed 10 ISIS mortar teams and seven ISIS tactical units.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 60
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]