US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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Incident Code

CS1379a

Incident date

August 16, 2017

Location

Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.957289, 38.994414 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In Amnesty and Airwars’ joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, three civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition artillery strikes in Raqqa.

Although Airwars generally assesses single sourced incidents as “weak”, our researchers have assessed this incident “fair” due to the depth of material provided by Amnesty.

The Amnesty report noted that “Ahmad Mohammed al-Hammadi, a mathematics teacher, 65, his wife Zahra Mahammed al-Khamri, 50, and their son Abderrahman Ahmad al-Hammadi, 20, were killed by an artillery strike on their home. A month earlier their other son, Abdallah, was killed in another artillery strike while fetching water from a well.”

The daughter of the victim, Maha, told Amnesty in testimony that “Only me and my sister survived. We have no one left. My brother Abdallah was killed by the well when he went to fetch water, then my parents and my brother Aabderrahman, Abdallah’s twin, were killed when our home was hit by a shell.”

In July 2019 the Coalition announced that it had assessed this allegation of civilian harm to be non-credible. Their monthly civilian casualty report noted: “After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.”

The incident occured around midday.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ahmad Mohammed al-Hammadi
65 years old male mathematics teacher killed
Zahra Mahammed al-Khamri
50 years old female wife of Ahmad killed
Abderrahman Ahmad al-Hammadi
20 years old male son of Ahmad and Zahra killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman2 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 (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Abderrahman Ahmad Al Hammadi, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on 16th August 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Ahmad Mohammed Al Hammadi, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on 16th August 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Zahra Mohammed Al Khamri, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on 16th August 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Abderrahman Ahmad Al Hammadi, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on 16th August 2017. (via Amnesty) He is with a member of his family, Abdallah Ahmad Al Hammadi, who was also killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on 12th July 2017.
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
  • Stated location
    in Raqqa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV995792
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2019

  • Aug. 17, 2017, in Raqqa, Syria, via Amnesty International report. After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Near Raqqah, 20 strikes engaged 16 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 17 fighting positions, a
logistics node, an IED, a command and control node, an ISIS UAS and a vehicle.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman2 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

Incident Code

CS1375b

Incident date

August 16, 2017

Location

Raqqa: West of Mu'taaz street, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.95042, 39.01585 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, one woman was reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes in the area west of Al-Mu’taz street in Raqqa. Although Airwars assesses single sourced incidents as “weak”, researchers have assessed this incident “fair” due to the depth of material provided by Amnesty.

The woman, Lana Ali al-Njem, was killed at the same time as 11 members of the Al-Rahil family across the street. She was the older sister of Yassir Ali Najem, who was also killed in that strike. Initially testimonies stated that she was killed as a result of schrapnel of the strike across the street, but upon inspection of the site Amnesty researchers “felt that whatever killed Yassir’s older sister must have come from something else, maybe a separate strike.” The report of the strike across the street can be found here: CS1375. Amnesty interviewed Kraim al Rahil, a survivor who testified to both incidents.

Lana Ali al-Njem was in Jihad Sueilem’s house at the time of her death. She was with her husband and two young children, who all three survived the strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Lana Ali al-Njem
40s years old female Yassir’s 3rd sister; mother of two small boys under five (her husband and 2 young kids were with her and survived) killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

  • The house in which Lana Ali al-Njem was killed before the strike, on August 11, 2017 (via Amnesty International)

  • The house in which Lana Ali al-Njem was killed after the strike, on August 18, 2017 (via Amnesty International)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Not yet assessed.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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

Incident Code

CS1374

Incident date

August 15, 2017

Location

Al Meshrab, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.5207354, 39.887538 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four to six civilians were killed in alleged airstrikes in the town of Al-Mesrab in the Western suburb of Deir Ezzor, according to local media.

Sources initially reported only the death of Saleh al-Hamad al-Saud. However the number of fatalities later rose to at least four. The event was described by the Euphrates Post as a “massacre by airstrikes”, though it did not say who was responsible.

The HMC report also made note of “two unidentified martyrs”; as with the majority of sources it did not specify who was to blame.

Two sources attributed the attack to the “regime and its allies”.The Syrian Network for Human Rights tweeted, “Syrian Regime forces are committing a massacre against civilians in the village of al-Misrab-Brif #Deir al-Azur”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Saleh al-Hamad al-Saud
Age unknown male killed
Hisham Al-Mandil
Age unknown male killed
Daham Al-Mousa
Age unknown male killed
Shehah al-Ahmad al-Ajeel
Age unknown male killed
Wash’ha Al-Ahmad Al-Ajeel
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Mesrab (المسرب), for which the coordinates are: 35.5207354, 39.887538.

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 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
Official source

For August 14th-15th the Coalition reported “Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed six ISIS oil stills.”.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1373

Incident date

August 15, 2017

Location

Baladi Stadium and Muawiya School District, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.958608, 39.003568 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and ten people were reported killed including 2 or more children, in an “aerial bombardment” on the city of Raqqa. At present nearly all of the sources allege that the US-led Coalition was responsible for the incident.

Significant material destruction was caused to the Baladi Stadium area and the School District of Muawiya in the city of Raqqa, local sources said.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that the bombardment by “International Coalition warplanes” had left “several people injured” and that because of this the death toll may increase.

The citizen journalist group, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, identified two of the civilians killed.

In their monthly civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition has indicated that the credibility of this civilian harm allegation is in the process of being assessed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Renim Al-Khalif
Child female killed
Abdul Wahab Al-Khalif
Adult male killed with two of grand children killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • (2 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • The bodies of civilians that have been killed in airstrikes on Raqqa, and material destruction of the area, Aug 15th (via RBSS)
  • The bodies of civilians that have been killed in airstrikes on Raqqa, and material destruction of the area, Aug 15th (via RBSS)
  • The bodies of civilians that have been killed in airstrikes on Raqqa, and material destruction of the area, Aug 15th (via RBSS)
  • The bodies of civilians that have been killed in airstrikes on Raqqa, and material destruction of the area, Aug 15th (via RBSS)
  • The bodies of civilians that have been killed in airstrikes on Raqqa, and material destruction of the area, Aug 15th (via RBSS)
  • The bodies of civilians that have been killed in airstrikes on Raqqa, and material destruction of the area, Aug 15th (via RBSS)
  • The bodies of civilians that have been killed in airstrikes on Raqqa, and material destruction of the area, Aug 15th (via RBSS)
  • The bodies of civilians that have been killed in airstrikes on Raqqa, and material destruction of the area, Aug 15th (via RBSS)
  • The bodies of civilians that have been killed in airstrikes on Raqqa, and material destruction of the area, Aug 15th (via RBSS)
  • The bodies of civilians that have been killed in airstrikes on Raqqa, and material destruction of the area, Aug 15th (via RBSS)
  • The bodies of civilians that have been killed in airstrikes on Raqqa, and material destruction of the area, Aug 15th (via RBSS)
  • The bodies of civilians that have been killed in airstrikes on Raqqa, and material destruction of the area, Aug 15th (via RBSS)
  • Renim Al-Khalif (via RBSS)
  • Abdul Wahab Al-Khalif (via RBSS)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the School District of Muawiya (for which the coordinates are: 35.961024, 39.002031) and the Baladi Stadium (35.956943, 39.005857). Based on images published by media (as seen above) Airwars was able to establish the coordinates for the damaged building in the first image (35.955831, 39.004828) and the building on fire (35.956667, 39.007594). Damage to the first building can be seen on satellite imagery between August 13 and August 19, 2017.

  • Geolocated media by Airwars near the Baladi Stadium and Muawiya School district

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

  • Damage to building seen on satellite imagery (left: August 13, 2017; right: August 19, 2017)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Open incident
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 14th-15th the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, 27 strikes engaged 19 ISIS tactical units; and destroyed 59 fighting positions, two heavy machine guns, a mortar system, an IED, and a logistics node.” It additionally reported that “On Aug. 14, near Raqqah, Syria, 32 strikes engaged 20 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 18 fighting positions, three IEDs, three heavy machine guns, three command and control nodes, a logistics node, an anti-aircraft artillery system, and an IED factory.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For Aug 9-15th, France report 2 strikes in Raqqah, Syria – and 13 artillery missions in Mosul.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

In the past week, (11th-18th) France conducted 27 sorties, including 22 armed reconnaissance and ground support (CAS), 1 refueling outlet and 4 intelligence gathering sorties by Atlantic 2 or Rafale patrols. Two strikes were carried out in the Raqqah region of Syria. They helped support the Syrian democratic forces in their offensive to retake the city.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, A Raqqah, la progression des forces démocratiques syriennes se poursuit. Au sud de la ville, la manœuvre de tenaille, amorcée il y a 15 jours, s’est achevée en fin de semaine dernière. Elle a permis de réaliser la jonction des fronts est et ouest. Depuis, les forces démocratiques syriennes ont relancé une offensive vers le centre de la ville mais elles font face à une défense acharnée des combattants de Daech. En Irak, Les forces de sécurité irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations dans l’objectif de libérer, à terme, le nord de l’Irak. Actuellement, elles focalisent leur effort sur l’encerclement de la ville de Tall Afar. Les combattants de l’organisation terroriste réalisent un travail de valorisation de leurs positions défensives pour se préparer aux combats à venir alors que les populations tentent de fuir la ville. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Les soldats de l’opération Chammal poursuive leur mission d’appui au profit des unités irakiennes engagées contre Daech. Cette semaine, sur le théâtre, les aéronefs ont réalisé 27 sorties aériennes dont 22 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), 1 sortie de ravitaillement ainsi que 4 sorties de recueil de renseignement par Atlantique 2 ou patrouille de Rafale. Deux frappes ont été conduites dans la région de Raqqah en Syrie. Elles ont permis d’appuyer les forces démocratiques syriennes dans leur offensive pour reprendre la ville. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 13 missions de tir en appui de la 15e division à l’ouest de Mossoul vers Tal Afar. En particulier, les artilleurs ont fourni des feux de harcèlement et d’éclairement pour interdire aux combattants de Daech de mener des actions au sol ou de réaliser des tirs indirects contre les positions irakiennes. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève 1330 frappes, 2102 objectifs détruits et 6946 sorties. ‘

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • (2 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1375a

Incident date

August 15, 2017

Location

Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.957884, 39.002738 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, 11 civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes in Raqqa. Although Airwars assesses single sourced incidents as “weak”, researchers have assessed this incident “fair” due to the depth of material provided by Amnesty.

The family names Thalji and Sueri are mentioned in CS957, however the location of the strike is different and names do not match. The area was targeted around the 15th of August, there are multiple incidents in that area around that time, however no existing incidents specific to this case.

The Amnesty/Airwars report stated that “A Coalition air strike destroyed a six-storey building on Fardous Street and killed four members of the Thalji family, who lived on the 5th floor and seven members of the Sueri family who had been displaced from their home elsewhere in the city and were sheltering in the building.”

The son-in-law, Ali, of one of the victims told Amnesty in a testimony that “I was present when the bodies of my parents in law and their children and their neighbours were recovered from the rubble of the building. Two whole families destroyed.”

On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition reported this incident to be “non-credible”, stating that “After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (2 women2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 35.95788, 39.00273

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
    Open incident
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV0024679277
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 10, 2022

  • Aug. 15, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report. After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike. 2718/CS1375a 37SEV0024679277

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Not yet assessed.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (2 women2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Incident Code

CS1372

Incident date

August 14, 2017

Location

Central neighbourhoods, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that 23 civilians were killed and 60 injured after alleged US-led Coalition strikes targeted neighbourhoods of Raqqa.

Sound and Picture reported that the “SDF militia” had engaged in the offensive during the daytime with “intensive artillery”, whilst the US-led Coalition conducted airstrikes in the night. Airwars understands that only the Coalition has access to artillery in Raqqa. The report details “intensive artillery shelling targeting the neighbourhoods of Al-Thankana, Seif Al Dawlah, Bahri” and “the al Fawaz mosques area”, supposedly by the SDF; and “several targeted raids” conducted by the Coalition “destroying large areas… “killing 23 civilians and “injuring fifty others”. The number of those injured rose to 60 in a report by Sharqiya Voice.

Euphrates Post blamed the Coalition for the strikes, as did the majority of sources.

Ahmad Jassim al-Khamisi, “a displaced man from the town of Maskana” was documented as “killed by aerial bombardment” in a Hasaka Rasd report. The death of Mohammed al-Hassan al-Tarn aged 55 was also noted following alleged Coalition strikes on his home, near the “stadium in the city of Raqqa”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Jassim al-Khamisi
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed al-Hassan al-Tarn
55 years years old male killed
Qais Mohammed Al-Sayed
Age unknown male killed
Osama Ahmed Al-Akla
Age unknown male killed
Ahmed Mohammed Al-Hawadi
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    23
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    50–60
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports citing named mention multiple locations, spread across Raqqa, for this reason, Airwars assessment uses generic coordinate for the city: 35.9505639, 39.0094148. The Al-Shehab family were reported killed in a “five-story building” in the Al Badou (حارة البدو). The generic coordinates for Al Badou (حارة البدو) are: 35.961778, 39.006083.

  • Al Badou (حارة البدو) and the stadium (شارع النور) area.

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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 August 13th-14th the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, 16 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions, an anti-aircraft artillery system, a logistics node, a heavy machine gun, a vehicle and an IED.” It additionally reported that “On Aug. 13, near Raqqah, Syria, 17 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units; and destroyed 12 fighting positions, four vehicles, two logistics nodes, two ISIS communications lines, two communications infrastructure items, and an IED.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For Aug 9-15th, France report 2 strikes in Raqqah, Syria – and 13 artillery missions in Mosul.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

In the past week, (11th-18th) France conducted 27 sorties, including 22 armed reconnaissance and ground support (CAS), 1 refueling outlet and 4 intelligence gathering sorties by Atlantic 2 or Rafale patrols. Two strikes were carried out in the Raqqah region of Syria. They helped support the Syrian democratic forces in their offensive to retake the city.

OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, A Raqqah, la progression des forces démocratiques syriennes se poursuit. Au sud de la ville, la manœuvre de tenaille, amorcée il y a 15 jours, s’est achevée en fin de semaine dernière. Elle a permis de réaliser la jonction des fronts est et ouest. Depuis, les forces démocratiques syriennes ont relancé une offensive vers le centre de la ville mais elles font face à une défense acharnée des combattants de Daech. En Irak, Les forces de sécurité irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations dans l’objectif de libérer, à terme, le nord de l’Irak. Actuellement, elles focalisent leur effort sur l’encerclement de la ville de Tall Afar. Les combattants de l’organisation terroriste réalisent un travail de valorisation de leurs positions défensives pour se préparer aux combats à venir alors que les populations tentent de fuir la ville. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Les soldats de l’opération Chammal poursuive leur mission d’appui au profit des unités irakiennes engagées contre Daech. Cette semaine, sur le théâtre, les aéronefs ont réalisé 27 sorties aériennes dont 22 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), 1 sortie de ravitaillement ainsi que 4 sorties de recueil de renseignement par Atlantique 2 ou patrouille de Rafale. Deux frappes ont été conduites dans la région de Raqqah en Syrie. Elles ont permis d’appuyer les forces démocratiques syriennes dans leur offensive pour reprendre la ville. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 13 missions de tir en appui de la 15e division à l’ouest de Mossoul vers Tal Afar. En particulier, les artilleurs ont fourni des feux de harcèlement et d’éclairement pour interdire aux combattants de Daech de mener des actions au sol ou de réaliser des tirs indirects contre les positions irakiennes. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève 1330 frappes, 2102 objectifs détruits et 6946 sorties. ‘

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Monday 14 August – Tornados and Typhoons struck five Daesh targets in Raqqa, and a truck-bomb command post in eastern Syria…A flight Typhoons destroyed a Daesh position in Raqqa on Monday 14 August with Paveway IVs. A mixed Tornado and Typhoon pair also patrolled over the city and they conducted Paveway IV attacks, which destroyed a sniper team and two machine-guns. The aircraft moved off towards the east of Syria, where a command post that was controlling truck-bomb attacks had been identified 40 miles south of Al Hasakah. This was destroyed with a further Paveway.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    23
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    50–60
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1372b

Incident date

August 14, 2017

Location

al-Badu, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.962051, 39.008298 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this single-source event, a family of five, including two children and one woman, were killed as alleged Coalition airstrike hit a house in which the family had sought shelter in, in al-Badu, Raqqa, Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality, reported.

Amnesty’s field researcher reported that the family was internally displaced from elsewhere in the city. They left their own home when artillery shells struck the house and went to shelter in another house, and then another house and then another house and then this house. Several other relatives, including the two children’s parent, survived.

However, it should be noted that local sources mentioned that two of the victims, Sinjar Fares Hassan and Maha al-Nasser, were killed on September 12th, 2017 instead of August 14th. Though, Airwars assess that it is most likely that they were killed on the first reported day, August 14th.

However, it appears that some of their relatives were killed on September 12th, also in al-Badu, Raqqa (see CS1474).

The event is graded ‘weak’ despite several reports about civilian harm, especially the deaths of Sinjar and Maha. However, it is only the joint Amnesty and Airwars report that reports that the deaths took place on August 14th, 2017.

The incident occured at 16:15:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Sinjar Fares Hassan
45 years old male killed
Firas Bassan al-Hassan
8 years old male nephew of Sinjar Fares Hassan killed
Mohammed Bassan al-Hassan
6 years old male nephew of Sinjar Fares Hassan killed
Ahmad Fares Mohammed
40 years old male uncle of of Sinjar Fares Hassan killed
Maha al-Nasser
40 years old female cousin of Sinjar Fares Hassan killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children1 woman2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The remains of the house that was truck by alleged Coalition strikes, al-Badu, Raqqa, August 14th (via Amnesty and Airwars’s report War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality)
  • Bassem, one of the survivors, show were he has buried his family members who died in an alleged Coalition airstrike in al-Badu, Raqqa, August 14th, 2017 (via The remains of the house that was truck by alleged Coalition strikes, al-Badu, Raqqa, August 14th (via Amnesty and Airwars’s report War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality)
  • Image taken inside the house after it was struck by alleged Coalition airstrikes, al-Badu, Raqqa, August 14th, 2017 The remains of the house that was truck by alleged Coalition strikes, al-Badu, Raqqa, August 14th (via Amnesty and Airwars’s report War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality)
  • Via Amnesty International

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Monday 14 August – Tornados and Typhoons struck five Daesh targets in Raqqa, and a truck-bomb command post in eastern Syria…A flight Typhoons destroyed a Daesh position in Raqqa on Monday 14 August with Paveway IVs. A mixed Tornado and Typhoon pair also patrolled over the city and they conducted Paveway IV attacks, which destroyed a sniper team and two machine-guns. The aircraft moved off towards the east of Syria, where a command post that was controlling truck-bomb attacks had been identified 40 miles south of Al Hasakah. This was destroyed with a further Paveway.’

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For Aug 9-15th, France report 2 strikes in Raqqah, Syria – and 13 artillery missions in Mosul.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

In the past week, (11th-18th) France conducted 27 sorties, including 22 armed reconnaissance and ground support (CAS), 1 refueling outlet and 4 intelligence gathering sorties by Atlantic 2 or Rafale patrols. Two strikes were carried out in the Raqqah region of Syria. They helped support the Syrian democratic forces in their offensive to retake the city.

OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, A Raqqah, la progression des forces démocratiques syriennes se poursuit. Au sud de la ville, la manœuvre de tenaille, amorcée il y a 15 jours, s’est achevée en fin de semaine dernière. Elle a permis de réaliser la jonction des fronts est et ouest. Depuis, les forces démocratiques syriennes ont relancé une offensive vers le centre de la ville mais elles font face à une défense acharnée des combattants de Daech. En Irak, Les forces de sécurité irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations dans l’objectif de libérer, à terme, le nord de l’Irak. Actuellement, elles focalisent leur effort sur l’encerclement de la ville de Tall Afar. Les combattants de l’organisation terroriste réalisent un travail de valorisation de leurs positions défensives pour se préparer aux combats à venir alors que les populations tentent de fuir la ville. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Les soldats de l’opération Chammal poursuive leur mission d’appui au profit des unités irakiennes engagées contre Daech. Cette semaine, sur le théâtre, les aéronefs ont réalisé 27 sorties aériennes dont 22 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), 1 sortie de ravitaillement ainsi que 4 sorties de recueil de renseignement par Atlantique 2 ou patrouille de Rafale. Deux frappes ont été conduites dans la région de Raqqah en Syrie. Elles ont permis d’appuyer les forces démocratiques syriennes dans leur offensive pour reprendre la ville. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 13 missions de tir en appui de la 15e division à l’ouest de Mossoul vers Tal Afar. En particulier, les artilleurs ont fourni des feux de harcèlement et d’éclairement pour interdire aux combattants de Daech de mener des actions au sol ou de réaliser des tirs indirects contre les positions irakiennes. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève 1330 frappes, 2102 objectifs détruits et 6946 sorties. ‘

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children1 woman2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Incident Code

CS1372a

Incident date

August 14, 2017

Location

al-Badu , Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.961957, 39.008184 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to several local sources and field research by Amnesty International, a mother and her three children were killed in al-Badu, Raqqa, as an alleged Coalition airstrike hit their building.

Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality found that  “a double air strike killed nine civilians from two families in two adjacent buildings. The strikes destroyed a five-storey building, killing a Nahla Mahmoud and her three children who were sheltering on the ground floor. The bombed building collapsed on the adjacent one-storey house killing five members of the al-Hassan family.” The latter incident is treated as a separate event, in CS1372b.

Nahla’s husband told Amnesty’s researcher that he had gone out to look for bread and when he returned he found a pile of rubble in place of the building, and could not even retrieve the bodies of his wife and children buried under so much rubble.

A tweet by @7UFCmSxd0IUBffH echoed Amnesty’s findings, reporting that the Coalition bombed a five-storey building in the Al Bedou neighbourhood, killing a family consisting of a mother and her four children (the victims named below).

All known sources pointed to the Coalition as responsible.

On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition reported this incident to be “non-credible”, stating that “After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

The incident occured at 16:15:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Nahla Hammoud
40 years old female killed
Mohammed Mazen Al-Shehab
4 years old male killed
Mariam Mazen Al-Shehab
12 years old female killed
Marwa Mazen Al-Shehab
7 years old female

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The three siblings, Marwa, Mariam and Mohammed, were all killed in the alleged Coalition airstrike in al-Badu, Raqqa, August 14th, 2017 (via Amnesty and Airwars’s report: War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality)
  • The remains of the house after being subject to alleged Coalition airstrikes, al-Badu, Raqqa, August 14th, 2017 (via Amnesty and Airwars’s report: War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality)

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 35.96195, 39.00817

  • Satellite image of the structure pre strike

  • Satellite image of the structure post strike

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
    Open incident
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV0073779728
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 10, 2022

  • Aug. 14, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report. After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike. 2716/CS1372a 37SEV0073779728

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 13th-14th the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, 16 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions, an anti-aircraft artillery system, a logistics node, a heavy machine gun, a vehicle and an IED.” It additionally reported that “On Aug. 13, near Raqqah, Syria, 17 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units; and destroyed 12 fighting positions, four vehicles, two logistics nodes, two ISIS communications lines, two communications infrastructure items, and an IED.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For Aug 9-15th, France report 2 strikes in Raqqah, Syria – and 13 artillery missions in Mosul.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

In the past week, (11th-18th) France conducted 27 sorties, including 22 armed reconnaissance and ground support (CAS), 1 refueling outlet and 4 intelligence gathering sorties by Atlantic 2 or Rafale patrols. Two strikes were carried out in the Raqqah region of Syria. They helped support the Syrian democratic forces in their offensive to retake the city.

OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, A Raqqah, la progression des forces démocratiques syriennes se poursuit. Au sud de la ville, la manœuvre de tenaille, amorcée il y a 15 jours, s’est achevée en fin de semaine dernière. Elle a permis de réaliser la jonction des fronts est et ouest. Depuis, les forces démocratiques syriennes ont relancé une offensive vers le centre de la ville mais elles font face à une défense acharnée des combattants de Daech. En Irak, Les forces de sécurité irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations dans l’objectif de libérer, à terme, le nord de l’Irak. Actuellement, elles focalisent leur effort sur l’encerclement de la ville de Tall Afar. Les combattants de l’organisation terroriste réalisent un travail de valorisation de leurs positions défensives pour se préparer aux combats à venir alors que les populations tentent de fuir la ville. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Les soldats de l’opération Chammal poursuive leur mission d’appui au profit des unités irakiennes engagées contre Daech. Cette semaine, sur le théâtre, les aéronefs ont réalisé 27 sorties aériennes dont 22 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), 1 sortie de ravitaillement ainsi que 4 sorties de recueil de renseignement par Atlantique 2 ou patrouille de Rafale. Deux frappes ont été conduites dans la région de Raqqah en Syrie. Elles ont permis d’appuyer les forces démocratiques syriennes dans leur offensive pour reprendre la ville. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 13 missions de tir en appui de la 15e division à l’ouest de Mossoul vers Tal Afar. En particulier, les artilleurs ont fourni des feux de harcèlement et d’éclairement pour interdire aux combattants de Daech de mener des actions au sol ou de réaliser des tirs indirects contre les positions irakiennes. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève 1330 frappes, 2102 objectifs détruits et 6946 sorties. ‘

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Monday 14 August – Tornados and Typhoons struck five Daesh targets in Raqqa, and a truck-bomb command post in eastern Syria…A flight Typhoons destroyed a Daesh position in Raqqa on Monday 14 August with Paveway IVs. A mixed Tornado and Typhoon pair also patrolled over the city and they conducted Paveway IV attacks, which destroyed a sniper team and two machine-guns. The aircraft moved off towards the east of Syria, where a command post that was controlling truck-bomb attacks had been identified 40 miles south of Al Hasakah. This was destroyed with a further Paveway.’

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]