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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US-led Coalition
Country
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Incident Code

CS591

Incident date

March 19, 2017

Location

حمرة بلاسم, Hamra Blassem, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.878056, 39.197222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one named civilian was reportedly killed in a Coalition airstrike which hit a bakery in the town of Hamra Blassem village.

According to multiple sources, Mazid Adham Al-Mazid died in the raid and at least two other civilians were injured. One source claimed that ten people died in the attack – though this may have confused the event with one at nearby al Tabaqa that day. Shaam News and others said the strikes had targeted areas around a refinery and a bakery. All sources blamed the US-led Coalition.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mazid Adham Al-Mazid
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 10
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Hamra Balasim, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV178708
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 19th-20th it stated: “Near Ar Raqqah, 18 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units; destroyed 10 fighting positions, six barges, three ISIS headquarters, a tactical vehicle, an IED factory, and a weapons factory; and damaged a supply route.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 10
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1333

Incident date

August 5, 2017

Location

السفارنة, Al-Safarna, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.940833, 39.019167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least five civilians including two children and a woman died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa’s Al-Safarna neighbourhood, according to local media.

According to Zamanalwasl, “five civilians from one family, including two children and a woman, were killed as a result of a bombardment by the international coalition forces targeting al-Safarna neighborhood east of al-Raqqa.”

However, other reports put the death toll at six with a further eight wounded – all blaming the US-led Coalition.

On August 5th, The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights “documented the death of at least 10 persons including 2 children and 1 citizen woman, they were killed in the past 24 hours.” However, some caution is required as this could be a general number and not specific to just this event.

In July 2019 the Coalition announced that it had assessed this allegation of civilian harm to be non-credible. Their monthly civilian harm report noted: “After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood or street of Al Safarna (السفارنة) in Raqqa (الرقة‎). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. It is possibly a part of the neighbourhood of Hisham bin Abdul Malik (هشام عبد الملك), for which the coordinates are: 35.940833, 39.019167.

  • The neighbourhood of Hisham bin Abdul Malik (هشام عبد الملك) in the city of Raqqa

    Imagery:
    © 2019 Google

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Other
  • Stated location
    Raqqa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV017774
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2019

  • Aug. 5, 2017, Raqqa, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 5th-6th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 23 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed 19 fighting positions, five ISIS-held buildings, three IED factories, an ISIS communications tower and a UAS launch site.” It additionally reported that “On Aug. 5, near Raqqah, Syria, five strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions and a heavy machine gun.”

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • For August 3rd-9th, France report 1 strike in Iraq and 1 in Syria, along with 9 artillery strikes in Mosul. (via EtatMajorFR)

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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

CS056

Incident date

February 22, 2015

Location

سليمة, Salima, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.5842441, 41.6493416 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A number of sources report that up to 10 civilians, including possibly children, were killed after the coalition mistakenly bombed the wrong village. According to the Stepagency site: “Today six children and a few other civilians were killed in the village of Salima after the coalition planes bombed the village by mistake as it was supposed to bomb the village of Khuza’a, which lies next door and where fierce battles are taking place between IS and Kurdish militia. A number of other civilians were martyred when the coalition bombed the villages of Lazzaka and al Taweel.”

Other sources reported only two non-combatants killed.

In February 2019, the Coalition assessed this event to be not credible – their report noted: “After review of all available strike records it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

 

The incident occured around dusk.

The victims were named as:

Sarhan Khodar Al Abbas
Adult male killed
Ali Hijab Al Abbas
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 10
  • (6 children2 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 (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the strike to have occurred in the village of Salima (قرية سليمة), near Al-Shadadi (الشدادي ), Al Hasaka, in the “evening”. The coordinates for the midpoint of Salima (قرية سليمة) are: 36.5842441, 41.6493416. The incident was first reported at 00:05, Feb. 23rd, 2015 local time by Step Agency

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Other
  • Stated location
    near Salima, al-Shadadi, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SGA369518
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 28, 2019

  • Feb. 22, 2015, near Salima, al-Shadadi, Syria, via Airwars report. After review of all available strike records it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The coalition has confirmed 13 airstrikes in the vicinity. It reports that for February 21st-22nd 2015, “Near Al Hasakah, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 10
  • (6 children2 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1061

Incident date

June 23, 2017

Location

المربع الامني (امن الدولة), Ar Raqqah: Amn Al Dawla (Security Box), Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9493692, 39.0074435 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Sharqiya Voice, “10 martyrs displaced from the province of Deir al-Azur died in the Amn Al-Dawla area in Raqqa, as a result of bombing by the international coalition aircraft.”

Raqqa Post placed the death toll at seven.

It is possible that this event is the same as a previous on June 21st, namely 1054.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 22nd-23rd the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 19 strikes engaged 14 ISIS tactical units; destroyed 12 fighting positions, two vehicles, and an IED cache; and damaged an ISIS supply route.” It additionally reported that On June 22, near Raqqah, Syria, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions.” and that “On June 22, near Raqqah, Syria, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed two fighting positions, two vehicles, a weapons cache, and an ISIS staging area; and damaged 14 fighting positions.”

For June 23rd-24th: “Near Raqqah, 21 strikes engaged 15 ISIS tactical units; destroyed 10 fighting positions, six vehicles, a VBIED, an ISIS staging area, a tactical vehicle, a mortar tube, and a mortar system; damaged an ISIS supply route; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.” It additionally reported that “On June 23, near Raqqah, Syria, seven strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and suppressed two ISIS tactical units.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

19 strikes were made by French aircraft in Iraq and Syria in the last week. Most of them were carried out in the battles of Mosul and Raqqah. These strikes were aimed at groups of Daech fighters. The other strikes were carried out in Syria and targeted regrouping and refueling areas used by jihadi fighters. Task Force Wagram carried out 16 artillery strikes in Mosul.

Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 31 sorties aériennes dont 29 de reconnaissance armée ou d’appui au sol (CAS) et 2 de recueil de renseignements. 19 frappes ont été réalisées par les avions français en Irak et en Syrie. La majeure partie d’entre elles ont été réalisées dans le cadre des batailles de Mossoul et de Raqqah. Ces frappes visaient des groupes de combattants de Daech. Les autres frappes ont été réalisées en Syrie et ont visé des zones de regroupement et de ravitaillements utilisées par les combattants djihadistes.

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

Friday 23 June – Tornados and Typhoons hit three Daesh sniper teams in Mosul, and a truck-bomb and armoured personnel carrier in Raqqa…The next day [June 23rd], a mixed Tornado and Typhoon pair used two Paveway IVs to target successfully a large group of Daesh fighters operating with a truck-bomb and an armoured personnel carrier in Raqqa, while in Mosul a Tornado flight conducted three precision attacks with Brimstone missiles on sniper positions.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1637

Incident date

October 17, 2017

Location

Al Heif neighbourhood, Ar Raqqah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.944, 39.008 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that 10 bodies were recovered in the Al Heif neighbourhood of Raqqa, though it was unclear at which point during the Raqqa campaign the deaths occurred.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Bodies uncovered at the site of a mass grave. It is unclear when or how they died. (via Marsad Ar Raqqa)
  • Bodies uncovered at the site of a mass grave. It is unclear when or how they died. (via Marsad Ar Raqqa)
  • Bodies uncovered at the site of a mass grave. It is unclear when or how they died. (via Marsad Ar Raqqa)
  • Bodies uncovered at the site of a mass grave. It is unclear when or how they died. (via Marsad Ar Raqqa)
  • Bodies uncovered at the site of a mass grave. It is unclear when or how they died. (via Marsad Ar Raqqa)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the area around the Abu Al Heif gas station (كازیة أبو الهیف), for which the coordinates are: 35.944, 39.008.

  • Reports of the incident mention the area of Abu Al Heif gas station (كازیة أبو الهیف) in the neighbourhood of Al Heif

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Date of event currently unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI811

Incident date

July 14, 2017

Location

Mosul, Nabi Jarjis, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.347788, 43.132997 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of ten civilians in an event in the Nabi Jaris neighbourhood of Old Mosul.

Their September 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIS tunnel system, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.”

Coordinates supplied by officials to Airwars – 36°20’52.0″N 43°07’58.8″E – placed the strike in a house on the river Tigris, in the residential Nabi Jarjis neighbourhood, Old City of Mosul. The location is close to the Tal Qali’at hill.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    10
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3246424142
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017

  • July 14, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS tunnel system, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 13th-14th, the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units, destroyed 22 fighting positions and a tunnel, and damaged three fighting positions.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI186

Incident date

February 10, 2016

Location

حي الكرامة, Mosul, Karama, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3435269, 43.2140027 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

 A number of sources reported that at least seven civilian forced labourers were killed in an alleged Coalition on a Daesh pickup truck. The incident took place in the main street area of Karama, a neighbourhood to the east of Mosul.

NRN News said that the civilians were being used by Daesh as forced labourers to demolish graves in the city. At the time of their deaths “, they were on their way back to prison before their release.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 10
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the main street in the neighbourhood of Karama (الكرامة) in the east of Mosul. The generic coordinates for this main street are: 36.3435269, 43.2140027.

  • The neighbourhood of Karama (الكرامة) in the east of Mosul, the main street marked in black

    Imagery:
    © 2019 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 February 10th-11th 2016, the Coalition confirmed it had targeted a vehcle in the city, reporting that “Near Mosul, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL checkpoint, seven ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL assembly area.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 10
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1905

Incident date

March 10, 2019

Location

مخيم الباغوز, Al Baghouz camp, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.447579, 40.953426 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between seven and ten civilians were killed – including children – and as many as 18 were wounded, following air and artillery on Al Baghouz camp. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. Most media blamed the US-led Coalition, and more than seven sources attributed the blame to both the Coalition and the Kurdish-based ٍSDF militia.

Horrya News put the death toll as high as ten, while other local sources reported that only seven were killed. 

@DeirEzzor24 initially tweeted that there was heavy artillery shelling by a helicopter. Many sources additionally claimed that “the international Coalition air force targeted [with] several raids on the farms in the town of Al-Baghouz”.

Local media initially specified that there were exactly three shells fired on the vicinity. The following day, Horrya News reported that there were also “dozens of missiles”. 

Smart News Agency tweeted this was one of the “last strongholds of the ISIS organisation”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 10
  • (0–2 children0–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–18
  • 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, Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (11) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

"Between March 10 - 23 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted 250 strikes consisting of 398 engagements against Daesh targets in Syria and Iraq.

In Syria, CJTF-OIR conducted 193 strikes consisting of 338 engagements, engaged 346 Daesh tactical units, and destroyed 104 vehicles, 63 supply routes, 39 fighting positions, 31 vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, nine tactical vehicles, six fuel tankers, four weapons caches, two command and control nodes, one tunnel, one tanker for petroleum oil and lubricants, one mortar system, and one checkpoint."

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 10
  • (0–2 children0–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–18
  • 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, Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (11) [ collapse]