Israeli Military in Syria & the Gaza Strip

A child uses his mobile device in the ruins of a building in Beit Lahia, Gaza Strip on May 26th 2021. © Mohamed Zaanoun

Belligerent
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

RS1788

Incident date

December 12, 2016

Location

عقيربات, Akeirbat, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.0412099, 37.464692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a major civilian casualty incident widely reported as a sarin gas attack, between 20 and 102 civilians, including women and between five and 28 children, were killed and between 100 to 500 civilians were injured in airstrikes against the village of Akeirbat in the eastern suburb of Hama, according to local media. Sources were conflicted as to whether Russian or regime planes were responsible for the airstrikes.

Initial estimates put the number of casualties between 20-35 but at the time of reporting, the correspondent for Orient, Saif Al-Abdullah, noted that “the number of [dead] is likely to rise due to the large number of seriously injured, the lack of atropine, and the absence of medical [locations].”

According to local media, more than 20 airstrikes carrying both bombs and sarin gas targeted civilians in Akeirbat, which was said to have been under the control of the Islamic State at the time.

The raids focused on the residential areas of Aquirbat, Nuaimiyah, Al Qstil, Al Hanouta, and Alsaliya, which were heavily occupied with refugees who had fled violence in other cities. The area of Akeirbat had been repeatedly bombed as part of a campaign against the city of Palmyra in Homs – and was facing a media blackout at the time.

There was no consensus among reporters of who who was responsible for the chemical bombing, with reports equally split between Russian and regime blame.

Many local sources, including Syria News Desk and Zaman Al Wasl, identified regime planes as the culprit while various other sources, including Al A’maq and Smart News, blamed Russian planes for the airstrikes.

Other sources, such as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, did not identify who was responsible for the bombing while others, such as Alarabiya, specifically pointed out that it did not know if the planes belonged to Russia or the regime.

Victims of the sarin gas attack were treated at local hospitals for fainting, suffocation, nausea, involuntary urination, paralysis, and eye swelling. Most victims reportedly had no signs of physical injuries or blood, offering evidence for a toxic gas attack. Local medics claimed that the gas had no colour or smell, which distinguishes it from chlorine.

Media activist Ahmed Al-Hamwi told Syria News Desk that entire families were among those killed in the airstrikes. Many of those killed had hidden in trenches before they knew that toxic gas was being dropped, which is heavier than air and therefore suffocated those in the trenches.

The London-based Guardian also reported on this event. It’s report said: “Up to 300 people were also reported to have been injured in the strikes on Monday morning around 130 miles west of the city of Palmyra, which was retaken from Syrian forces by the Islamic State group. Witnesses to the attacks say that none of those who died had blast injuries.

“’Most of the dead were families’,” said Ahmad al Hamawi, head of a regional council. ‘They had built primitive shelters and they ran to them, not knowing it was poison gas. While they were in the shelters the gas entered because of the wind direction, and killed dozens, mostly women and children.'”

@AleppoAMC said that up to 500 people had suffered from “suffocation”.

The incident occured at approximately 12:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 102
  • (5–28 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    100–500
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children killed in airstrikes against the town of Akeirbat, Dec. 12th (via Alarabiya News)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children killed in airstrikes against the town of Akeirbat, Dec. 12th (via Alarabiya News)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Massacre in Akeirbat that resulted in more than 100 killed and hundreds injured, Dec. 12th (via @Ahmadmuaffaq)
  • Victims receiving treatment at a local medical center following toxic gas attacks on Akeirbat, Dec. 12th (via @SyrianCoalition

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between December 1st – 31st 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 102
  • (5–28 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    100–500
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1813

Incident date

December 31, 2016

Location

الأتارب, Al Atarib, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1371787, 36.8106364 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One source reported that 109 civilians were killed by Russian or Syrian regime warplanes in Al Atarib, Aleppo.

One other source reported that there was shelling due to Syrian regime warplanes which wounded civilians and destroyed building.

There are no other sources at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 109
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between December 1st – 31st 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 109
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1397

Incident date

August 20, 2017

Location

Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between 50 and 118 civilians were killed, including many women and children, in the city of Raqqa in the last 48-72 hours. The sources blamed US-led Coalition airstrikes for the significant number of life lost over the short period. According to @AhmadShbli, seven whole families were part of those killed.

Smart news agency reported “in Raqqa, 50 civilians were killed and about 60 wounded on Tuesday night by an air strike likely to be the international coalition and the gunners of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) “.

According to Euphrates Post and @kalimahorra1 “most” of the 118 victims killed over a 48 hour period were women and children.

This is a general civilian casualty entry, it may encompass numbers from other incidents.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    50 – 118
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • # Raqqa: 118 martyrs, many of them children and children have been killed by coalition aircraft bombed the city of Raqqa in the past 48 hours.

Geolocation notes

Reports of these incidents mention the city of Ar Raqqah (الرقة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148. Due to the limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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

For August 19th-20th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions.“

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    50 – 118
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1480

Incident date

September 14, 2017

Location

IDP camp near Jadid Akeidat, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.254309, 40.355344 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A major civilian casualty incident allegedly took place at an IDP camp near Jadid Akeidat, Eastern Deir Ezzor countryside. Al Yaqeen reported about 100 displaced people were killed, mostly women and children, following an alleged aerial bombardment by the US-led Coalition at the camp (pictured). However this was contested – with Euphrates Post asserting that this news was in fact propaganda put out by the so-called Islamic State organization.

Activists quoted in the Syrian Mirror described a “massacre of about 120 civilians, including 100 children”, the death tolls were reiterated by Jisrtv – both blamed the US-led Coalition.

Activists shared concern “about the increase in the number due to the injuries of varying degrees of danger, in light of the weakness of medical services and the shortage of medicines and medical staff” with Shaam News, they also posted pictures which showed the wounded and “significant physical destruction in the targeted area’”. According to Shaam “Al-Assad and his Russian ally planes fly with the International Coalition aircraft to bomb areas under the control of the Islamic State in Deir al-Ghazal countryside, which are full of civilians. None of the planes have taken any notice of the lives of children, women and the elderly”.

Sadaalsham News did not identify a culprit, and referred only to “unknown military aircraft”, however it cited Step News Agency which quoted a source “close to Daesh”, which attributed blame to the US-led Coalition. @abazeid89 blamed both the US-led Coalition and Russia for the massacre, and posted a graphic photograph of a girl bloodied following the raid.

RFS Media Office said Moscow was responsible, asserting that “Russian warplanes” carried out the “horrific massacre” on the IDP camps in Deir Ezzor city’s countryside.

A later report from Euphrates Post revealed a significant discrepancy with reporting and said the incident did not happen. According to the Post the Al-A’amaq agency, the media wing of so-called Islamic State, “broadcast a video showing children victims’ bodies it claimed to have died as a result of the bombing of the international coalition aircraft on a camp near the village of Jadid Akeidat rural Deir Ezzor East”. However the Post “ found that the children martyrs were killed as a result of the bombing by Russian warplanes on the town of Khisham on Thursday morning and that the children’s pictures belong to the children of Fadil Mohammed Al Khamis, who are displaced from the village of Al Bou Amro and they are in the town of Khasham”. Euphrates Post claimed “There is also no camp in the village of Jadid Akidat or near it. There were no raids on the town of Jadid Akeidat yesterday. What Al A’amaq broadcast were the victims or the massacres in al mayadeen, Bokdors and Khisham”

Two named children were killed in the town of Khasham, according to Euphrates Post, and reported by al a’amaq as having been killed in the alleged Jadid Akeidate camp.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Amal Fadel Mohammed al Khamis
Child reported killed by IS at the camp, however killed in Khasham according to Euphrates Post killed
Walaa Mohammed al Khamis
Child reported killed by IS at the camp, however killed in Khasham, Euphrates Post killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    100 – 120
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The camp near the village of "Jadid Akeidat" (via Al Yaqeen news agency)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic stills from a video post by A'amaq Agency, September 14th (via Shaam)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A little girl covered in blood, likely killed following airstrikes. The source alleged she was killed in the camp near the village of Jadid Akidat however it is unclear whether the reports are so-called Islamic State propaganda, September 14th (via @abazeid89)
  • The children of Fadil Mohammed Al Khamis alleged killed by A'amaq Agency. According to Euphrates post they were killed in Khasham town, not the camp, the source reported the camp does not exist. September 14th (via Euphrates Post)
  • A row of children killed in alleged airstrikes on an IDP camp near Jadid Akeidad. The incident, initially reported by A'amaq was disounted by Euphrates Post as so-called Islamic State propaganda. September 14th (via Euphrates Post)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention an IDP camp near the town of Jadid Akeidat (جدید عكیدات). Airwars was unable to locate an IDP camp or individual tents/structures of IDPs near this town on satellite image before or after the alleged incident. The coordinates for the town of Jadid Akeidat (جدید عكیدات) are: 35.254309, 40.355344

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 Jadid Akeidat, al Mayadin, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU324762
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 13th-14th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, nine strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed two tactical vehicles, an ISIS fuel station and a fighting position " and, “Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed an ISIS headquarters.“

For September 14th-15th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two vehicles", and "On Sept. 14, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria six strikes destroyed an ISIS UAS, a fighting position, an ISIS supply route and suppressed three fighting positions"

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Wednesday 13 September – a Reaper twice engaged terrorists on foot, as well as a truck-bomb, whilst Tornados and Typhoons struck a Daesh building, all near Dayr az Zawr…On Wednesday 13 September, another Reaper continued patrolling near Dayr az Zawr. It used two Hellfire missiles to attack terrorists spotted on foot, then employed a third missile to destroy an armoured truck-bomb positioned next to a main road. A mixed Tornado and Typhoon pair meanwhile targeted a group of Daesh in a building nearby, scoring a direct hit with a Brimstone.’

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    100 – 120
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS273

Incident date

July 19, 2016

Location

التوخار كبير, Tokhar Kabir, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.63981, 37.98093 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what may have been the single greatest loss of life from a Coalition action in the first two years of its war against Daesh, between 78 and 203 civilians were reported killed in a catastrophic event at the village of Tokhar – the scene of a number of other recent civilian fatalities from alleged Coalition strikes.

The Coalition later admitted that “up to 24 civilians who had been interspersed with combatants were inadvertently killed.”

Local group Manbij Mother of All The World was the first to report the event, initially noting 25 or more fatalities. The group quickly raised the death toll to 56 then 59 civilians, eventually reporting that as many as 203 non-combatants had died. Most others placed the fatality range in the low 100s. Manbij Direct noted shortly after the strike, for example, that “so far there have been 94 martyrs identified, but there are still entire families under the rubble.” So-called Islamic State also issued a tweet mid-morning suggesting that 160 civilians had died. At least 73 deceased civilians have so far been named, including 11 or more children.

There was some confusion about the site of the event. While Manbij Mother of All Worlds said five homes were struck on the outskirts of town, most other sources said a former school being used by displaced civilians was hit.

According to Syria Direct, “The airstrike, at 3:00am Tuesday morning, destroyed a school in a-Tokhar.” The news site quoted local citizen journalist Abu Omar al-Manbiji as saying: “That school housed displaced people from neighboring villages. So far we count 124 dead from the attack, and that number could very well increase.” Others placed the event nearer 5am.

The Coalition told reporters it was aware of the Tokhar allegations and had launched a preliminary investigation.

The New York Times reported that “The Pentagon claimed that the 2016 strike had killed as many as 24 civilians, but some estimates ran much higher than that, possibly higher than 200.” Witnesses recounted to the reporter that “as the fighting between the Syrian Democratic Forces and ISIS grew more and more intense, some 200 villagers from homes near the front line trekked to the outer edge of Tokhar and took shelter in four homes, in a place far from the fighting. They assumed they would be safe there, because ISIS had not been near any of the homes. But on July 19, coalition forces carried out a series of strikes.”  The reporter put the death toll at at least 120 people killed in the Tokhar strike ad spoke with more than a dozen, who showed her debilitating injuries. “Some told me that so many people were killed that there weren’t enough young men left to pull the bodies from the rubble. It took nearly two weeks, and even then, some of the victims were never found.”

The Coalition provided this information to the NYT reporter: “A dynamic strike had been called in by a Special Operations force — I later learned from another source that it was Task Force 9 — in northern Syria. Members of Task Force 9, which was supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces, had received reports of ISIS fighters traveling in areas that were “devoid of civilians.” Concluding that the fighters were assembling for a counterattack against the S.D.F., the task force destroyed three “staging sites” and five vehicles. They were confident of having killed 85 ISIS fighters, but the assessment team later concluded that between seven and 24 civilians “may have been intermixed” with ISIS fighters. ”

The US’s proxies said they had supplied the intelligence for the strike, with the SDF noting in a statement that “a large group of Daesh militants was moving in the vicinity of the village and within Altokhar, with their vehicles and military equipment… We had received information that the village is free from civilians.”

The SDF also claimed local groups were fabricating civilian casualty claims, in order to aid ISIL and discredit Kurdish forces.

In contrast, the US’s other proxy the Free Syrian Army condemned “the horrific massacres committed – and which are still being committed – by the international coalition aircraft against unarmed civilians in the city and countryside of Manbej.”

The Assad regime-controlled SANA instead claimed French aircraft were reponsible for the deaths: “French warplanes working as part of the so-called ‘international coalition’ led by the United States over the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic committed an illegal and bloody massacre (which is an affront to humanity) near the Syrian-Turkish border. They targeted with a violent aerial bombardment the village of Greater Tokhar, a peaceful village located in the northern outskirts of the city Manbej – exterminating entire families and flattening homes in an inhumane manner.”

In a case study issued in October 2016, it was noted that “Satellite imagery from 21 July 2016 analysed by Amnesty International indicates nine locations in which houses were severely damaged or destroyed – although given other fighting and air strikes in the area they cannot be conclusively linked with the same air strikes.” The international NGO added that “The attacks appear to have been conducted without adequate precautions taken to safeguard civilians and may have amounted to indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks.”

And following its own lengthy investigation, the Syrian Network noted: “SNHR documented the killing of 98 civilians, including 59 children and 27 women, in a bombing by fixed-wing international coalition forces warplanes on Al Toukhar village.”

On December 1st the Coalition issued a lengthy statement in which it conceded it had killed civilians – though far below public estimates: “During a strike that killed nearly 100 ISIL fighters, and destroyed 13 fighting positions, seven ISIL vehicles, two VBIEDs, a tactical vehicle, and a mortar system, it is assessed that up to 24 civilians who had been interspersed with combatants were inadvertently killed in a known ISIL staging area where no civilians had been seen in the 24 hours prior to the attack. Reports indicated that approximately 100 ISIL fighters were preparing for a large counterattack against partnered Syrian Arab Coalition/Syrian Democratic Forces and, unknown to Coalition planners, civilians were moving around within the military staging area, even as other civilians in the nearby village had departed over the previous days”

In July 2019 the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Khaled Al Nasser
Age unknown male killed
Nasim Al Nasser
Age unknown male killed

Family members (7)

Mahmoud Abdurrahman
Age unknown male killed
Samiya Al Shaikh Mousa,
Adult female Wife of Mahmoud Abdurrahman killed
Nisreen Mahmoud Abdurrahman
Adult female killed
Batoul Mahmoud Abdurrahman
Child female killed
Eman Mahmoud Abdurrahman
Child female killed
Maher Mahmoud Abdurrahman
Child male killed
Enas Mahmoud Abdurrahman
Child female killed

Family members (8)

Bakkar Al Ramadan
Age unknown male killed
Ramadan Bakkar Al Ramadan
Child male killed
Mohammad Bakkar Al Ramadan
Child male killed
Mahmoud Bakkar Al Ramadan
Child male killed
Ibrahim Bakkar Al Ramadan
Child male killed
Raghad Bakkar Al Ramadan
Child female killed
Duha Bakkar Al Ramadan
Child female killed
Khalaf Bakkar Al Ramadan
Child male killed

Family members (8)

Hasan Ibrahim Al Ousi
Age unknown male killed
Zreifa Al Ousi
Adult female Wife of Hasan Ibrahim Al Ousi killed
Abdou Hasan Al Ousi
Child male killed
Mohammad Hassan Al Ousi
Child male killed
Mahmoud Hasan Al Ousi
Child male killed
Na’iema Hasan Al Ousi
Child female killed
Eman Hasan Al Ousi
Child female killed
Zahra Hasan Al Ousi
Child female killed

Family members (17)

AbdulMalek Rajab Qaso
Age unknown male killed
Gharam AbdulMalek Qaso
Child female killed
Fa’eda AbdulMalek Qaso
Child female killed
Nagham AbdulMalek Qaso
Child female killed
Mohammad AbdulMalek Qaso
Child male killed
Qusai Rajab Qaso
Age unknown male killed
Houriya Mohammad Rajab Qaso
Age unknown female killed
Rihana
Adult female Wife of Loai Rajab Qaso killed
Qusai Loai Rajab Qaso
Child male killed
Ghosoun Loai Rajab Qaso
Child male killed
Hayat Mowelid Qaso Al Saghir
Adult female killed
Odoula Mowelid Qaso Al Saghir
Adult female killed
Yaser Mowelid Qaso Al Saghir
Child male killed
Dahiya Mowelid Qaso Al Saghir
Adult female killed
Mohammad Rajab Mowelid Qaso
Child male killed
Mais
Adult female Wife of Mohammad Mowelid Qaso killed
Yaser Mohammad Mowelid Qaso
Age unknown male killed

Family members (14)

Sanaa Mowelid Al Kabir
Adult female killed
Fatouma Mowelid Al Kabir
Adult female killed
Ahmad Mowelid Al Kabir
Age unknown male killed
Wife of Ahmad Mowelid Al Kabir
Adult female killed
Son of Ahmad Mowelid Al Kabir
Child male killed
Daughter of Ahmad Mowelid Al Kabir
Child female killed
Daughter of Mohammad Moweld Al Kabir
Child female killed
Daughter of Mohammad Mowelid Al Kabir
Child female killed
Daughter of Mohammad Mowelid Al Kabir
Child female killed
Hayat Muhajeri
Adult female Wife of Qasim Mowelid killed
Mohammad Mowelid Qasim Al Kabir
Child male killed
Doaa Qasem Mowelid Al Kabir
Child female killed
Son of Qasom Mowelid Al Kabir
Child male killed
Ghofran Qasim Mowelid Al Kabir
Child female killed

Family members (17)

Abd Mawwas Al Abd
Age unknown male killed
Sukaina
Adult female Wife of Abd Mawwas Al Abd killed
Sham Abd Mawwas Al Abd
Age unknown female killed
Mayyada Abd Mawwas Al Abd
Child female killed
Fatouma
Adult female Wife of Mawwas Al Abd killed
Second wife of Mawwas Al Abd
Age unknown female killed
Child, son of Mawwas Al Abd
Child male killed
Child, son of Mawwas Al Abd
Child male killed
Child, son of Mawwas Al Abd
Child male
Child, son of Mawwas Al Abd
Child male killed
Child, son of Mawwas Al Abd
Child male killed
Child, son of Mawwas Al Abd
Child male killed
Child, son of Mawwas Al Abd
Child male killed
Haloum Al Abd
Adult female Sister of Mawwas Al Abd killed
Child, son of Halloum Al Abd
Child male killed
Child, son of Halloum Al Abd
Child male killed
Child, son of Halloum Al Abd
Child male killed

Family members (8)

Mohammad Suliman Al Thaher
Child male killed
Ammar Suliman Al Thaher
Child male killed
Yaser Suliman Al Thaher
Child male killed
Daughter of Suliman Al Thaher
Child female killed
Walid Al Thaher
Child male killed
Daughter of Suliman Al Thaher
Child female killed
Rehab Al Thaher
Child female killed
Daughter of Suliman Al Thaher
Child female killed

Family members (3)

Amina Al Mawwas
Age unknown female Wife of Hussein Al Saleh killed
Khaled Hussein Al Saleh
Age unknown male killed
Aziza Mohammad Haj Saleh
Child female killed

Family members (2)

Nadwa
Age unknown female Wife of Jasim Al Bakkar killed
Ahd Jasim Al Bakkar
Age unknown female killed

Family members (2)

Daughter of Mohammad Abu Ibeid
Child female killed
Marwa
Age unknown female Wife of Mohammad Abu Ibeid killed

Family members (2)

Hadi Kamel Hasan Al Sattou
Child male killed
Amouna
Adult female Wife of Kamel Hasan Al Sattou killed

The victims were named as:

Fatima Qaso
Adult female killed
Fa’eda
Adult female killed
Yasmin
Adult female killed
Maha
Adult female killed
Child, son of Saeed Al Ahmad
Age unknown male

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    78 – 203
  • (25–71 children7–29 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    85

Sources (65) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of an alleged Coalition strike near Manbij July 19th are buried in a mass grave (via Manbij Mother of All Worlds)

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest village at 36.6398429, 37.9810023

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
    Unseen at time of engagement
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    24
  • Stated location
    near Manbij, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA089554
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 1, 2016
  • July 18, 2016, near Manbij, Syria: During a strike that killed nearly 100 ISIL fighters, and destroyed 13 fighting positions, seven ISIL vehicles, two VBIEDs, a tactical vehicle, and a mortar system, it is assessed that up to 24 civilians who had been interspersed with combatants were inadvertently killed in a known ISIL staging area where no civilians had been seen in the 24 hours prior to the attack. Reports indicated that approximately 100 ISIL fighters were preparing for a large counterattack against partnered Syrian Arab Coalition/Syrian Democratic Forces and, unknown to Coalition planners, civilians were moving around within the military staging area, even as other civilians in the nearby village had departed over the previous days.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 18th-19th 2016 the Coalition reported. “Near Manbij, 18 strikes struck 15 separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 13 ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL mortar system, seven ISIL vehicles, two ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, an ISIL staging area, and an ISIL tactical vehicle.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    78 – 203
  • (25–71 children7–29 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    85

Sources (65) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1903

Incident date

March 3, 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

Local sources reported that the Coalition had renewed shelling on Al Baghouz after midnight on March 3rd 2019. One of the shells allegedly struck an ammunition depot that caused a large explosion in the camp. According to one local source, Hamah.Now, up to 250 civilians were killed and wounded in the event.

In a tweet, @Sakeraldeen reported that the only field hospital tent was set on fire, with dozens of wounded women and children inside. The source included a video that shows several burned bodies. He added that the Coalition used white phosphorus in the attack.

According to the Step News Agency on March 4th, “Coalition forces renewed shelling on the Al-Bagouz camp in the eastern suburb of Deir Al-Zour after midnight last night, targeting an ammunition depot which caused a large explosion in the camp, resulting in casualties among women and children amid the absence of any medical staff”.

sakeraldeen reported that “International Alliance aircraft targeted the only field hospital tent in the Al Baghouz camp with white phosphorus, which led to the burning of many tents  and burning of dozens of children and women”.

In a civilian casualty assessment released July 10th 2021, the Coalition classed this event as ‘non credible’, claiming that “After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.”

The incident occured around midnight.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 250
  • (2–25 children2–25 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–250
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Video from the battleground in Al Baghouz on March 3rd 2019 (via @fahadiraq5).
  • Photo's of the alleged Coalition airstrikes on Al Baghouz on March 3rd 2019 (via @The God Father10q).
  • Video of the alleged Coalition airstrikes on Al Baghouz on March 3rd 2019 (via SDF).
  • Video of the alleged Coalition airstrikes on Al Baghouz on March 3rd 2019 (via Alarabiya).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Video depicting the burned bodies of people who were killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Al Baghouz on March 3rd 2019 (via @sakeraldeen).

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU794135
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 10, 2021
  • Mar. 3, 2019, near al Baghouz, Syria via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3274/CS1903 37SFU794135

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Between Feb. 24 - March 9, 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted 99 strikes consisting of 139 engagements against Daesh targets in Syria and Iraq.In Syria, CJTF-OIR conducted 97 strikes consisting of 137 engagements, engaged 228 Daesh tactical units, and destroyed 71 tactical vehicles, 35 vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, 17 supply routes, 11 fighting positions, 10 weapons caches, eight staging areas, four command and control nodes, two tunnels, two heavy machine guns, one anti-aircraft gun, one fuel tanker, and one boat.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For February 27th to March 5th, French MoD report 4 firing missions from the Iraqi territory by Task Force Wagram. Aircraft carried out 18 sorties. There was one strike.

CHAMMALSituation militaire du théâtreOffensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en SyrieEn moyenne vallée de l’Euphrate, les combats menés par les Forces démocratiques syriennes, appuyées par la coalition, se poursuivent autour de la ville de Baghouz.Poursuite des actions en IrakLa situation sécuritaire reste stable. Les Forces de sécurité intérieures poursuivent leur effort dans la lutte contre Daech.ACTIVITÉ DE LA FORCELe dispositif français déployé au Levant n’a pas évolué.La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’EuphrateLa Task Force (TF) Wagram continue d’appuyer les forces démocratiques syriennes contre Daech au sud de la ville d’Hajin.La TF Wagram a réalisé, depuis le territoire irakien 4 missions de tir (soit 1 mission d’aveuglement et 3 missions de certification – bilan du 27 février au 05 mars inclus).Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des opérationsLes aéronefs français basés en Jordanie et aux Émirats arabes unis poursuivent leurs actions contre Daech, au sein de la coalition.Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 18 sorties aériennes (bilan du 27 février au 05 mars inclus). Les Rafale français ont conduit une frappe cette semaine.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 250
  • (2–25 children2–25 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–250
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1603

Incident date

October 7, 2017

Location

Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Multiple local sources said that over 240 civilians had been killed and large numbers wounded in the past four days, allegedly by aircraft and airstrikes of the US-led Coalition. Sharqiya Voice estimated that 250 were killed in a 48 hour period, though all other sources alleged the slightly lower toll occurred over four days.

Please note that this is a general civilian casualty estimate, and will almost certainly encompass figures from other entries.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    240 – 250
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–50
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of these incidents mention the city of Ar Raqqah (الرقة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148.

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

For October 3rd – 4th the Coalition reported •Near Raqqah, 30 strikes engaged 16 ISIS tactical units; destroyed 14 fighting positions, two vehicles, and a logistics node; and suppressed four fighting positions.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    240 – 250
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–50
  • 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

CS1912

Incident date

March 18–19, 2019

Location

الباغوز, Al Baghouz, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

As the SDF sought to take control of Al-Baghouz, the last ISIS territorial stronghold in Syria, local sources reported on what was referred to as a significant “massacre” in which between 160 and 300 civilians including 45 children were alleged killed by Coalition airstrikes according to local sources. However, Central Command has only admitted to killing four civilians and was not able to determine whether another 60 people killed were civilians or militants.

Nors For Studies – an Arabic language source which describes itself as a Syrian research centre though which was not known for casualty claims in Deir Ezzor until very recently – alleged the staggering number of 3,000 people killed by Coalition bombardments. It was unclear whether this referred to a general number of fatalities, or whether it referred to one specific incident. According to the source, 300 people were reported killed as a result of “sniping” and 300 charred bodies were found, most of whom were reported to be children and women.

According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silenty (RBSS), these people were killed in Coalition air and ground attacks aimed at expelling ISIS from the town. The source reported that ISIS used hundreds of civilians as human shields during the raids. It alleged that after SDF took control of the town, “SDF militias dug mass graves to bury those killed and even those merely injured”. Alongside the report, RBSS posted numerous graphic photos of human remains and charred bodies.

Several sources including Al Hasaka Arabea and RBSS reported that after “the images leaked”, journalists were prevented from entering Al-Baghouz camp by the “intelligence service of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party”. This intelligence service was reported to have entered with a convoy of trucks “in order to get rid of the bodies of the massacres committed by the Kurdish protection units”. Al Hasaka Arabea also claimed that the Coalition did not distinguish between civilians and members of ISIS.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SO4HR) reported 200 people including ISIS members and their families were killed in alleged Coalition bombing on Al-Baghouz camp carried out on Tuesday March 19th. The source reported that among the victims were 160 civilians, including 45 children. The bodies were reportedly buried on Wednesday morning March 20th.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights called for an independent investigation into what it described as “the massacre”. The Syrian Observatory questioned whether the international coalition knew during the bombing of the camp of the presence of children and women from the families of ISIS and why media was prevented from entering the area on the morning of March 20th.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) reported a much lower number of individuals killed in aerial and ground attacks on Al Baghouz camp over the course of the last four days before the declared capture of Al Baghouz on March 23rd. The Syrian Network said that tens of individuals were killed, including women and children, most of whom were reported to be family members of ISIS members. The Network added that it was unable to specify the details of the attacks and the death tolls at the time of writing.

The Daily Beast included information that “By the second week of March, those emerging from the town told reporters “about bodies, body parts in the streets of women and children.” Reporting at night, as Coalition strikes in the near-distance hit parts of the town where women and children likely still sheltered, CNN’s Ben Wedeman said, “There have probably been a very high number of civilian casualties, fatalities as a result of the ferocity of the airstrikes, the artillery, the mortars as well as the heavy machine gun fire.”

In May 2019, the Coalition announced that it had assessed this allegation of civilian harm as non-credible, noting “the report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.” However, they have since admitted to the attack.

An in-depth report by the New York Times years later describes a scene in which a US military drone was circling Baghouz searching for military targets but only saw a crowd of women and children. Just minutes later, “Without warning, an American F-15E attack jet streaked across the drone’s high-definition field of vision and dropped a 500-pound bomb on the crowd, swallowing it in a shuddering blast. As the smoke cleared, a few people stumbled away in search of cover. Then a jet tracking them dropped one 2,000-pound bomb, then another, killing most of the survivors. It was March 18, 2019. At the U.S. military’s busy Combined Air Operations Center at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, uniformed personnel watching the live drone footage looked on in stunned disbelief, according to one officer who was there.“Who dropped that?” a confused analyst typed on a secure chat system being used by those monitoring the drone, two people who reviewed the chat log recalled. Another responded, “We just dropped on 50 women and children.” The initial battle damage assessment put the number of dead at about 70.

The Times investigation found that “the bombing had been called in by a classified American special operations unit, Task Force 9, which was in charge of ground operations in Syria. The task force operated in such secrecy that at times it did not inform even its own military partners of its actions. In the case of the Baghuz bombing, the American Air Force command in Qatar had no idea the strike was coming, an officer who served at the command center said.”

Conflicting information was given about what happened the day of the strikes. According to Central Command, recounted by the Times, “At about 10 a.m., local Syrian forces reported they were under fire and in danger of being overrun, and called for an airstrike, Central Command said. The task force drone tracked a group of fighters as they made their way through the camp to the area where the women and children sheltered. A 5th Special Forces Group officer in the task force looked at the drone footage and didn’t see any civilians, a task force officer said. But the drone he relied on had only a standard-definition camera. Central Command said there were no high-definition drones in the area that could get a better view of the target. The Special Forces officer gave the order to fire. With no precision missiles left, the command said, the ground commander called in 500- and 2,000-pound bombs. The strike log classified the strike as self-defense.”

However, a high-definition drone was available and it was steaming footage of the area to the operations center in Qatar. According to three people who viewed the footage, “two or three men — not 16 — wander through the frame near the crowd. They have rifles but do not appear to be maneuvering, engaging coalition forces or acting in a way that would seem to justify a self-defense strike with 2,000-pound bombs. A chat log used by analysts who were watching the footage noted the presence of women, children and a man with a gun, but did not mention any active combat, two people who viewed the log said.”

Key findings from the Times’ investigation include that there were makeshift tents in the area at the time of the strikes and that in the days following, when the Coalition had taken over the area, the site appeared to have been bulldozed.

US Central Command acknowledged the strike and told the New York Times that “80 people were killed but the airstrikes were justified. It said the bombs killed 16 fighters and four civilians. As for the other 60 people killed, the statement said it was not clear that they were civilians, in part because women and children in the Islamic State sometimes took up arms.”  “We abhor the loss of innocent life and take all possible measures to prevent them,” Capt. Bill Urban, the chief spokesman for the command, said in the statement. “In this case, we self-reported and investigated the strike according to our own evidence and take full responsibility for the unintended loss of life.”

In response to The New York Times’ report on the incident in Baghouz, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III “promised to revamp military procedures and hold top officers responsible for civilian harm, but he did not discuss any systemic problems that allowed civilian casualties to persist on battlefields in Syria and Afghanistan. He also did not say whether senior officers would be held accountable.”

The Times of Israel reported that in response to the Times’ investigation, Central Command said that their investigation found that the incident “the strike was “legitimate self-defense,” “proportional” and that “appropriate steps were taken to rule out the presence of civilians.” They also added their findings that 16 ISIS fighters and at least four civilians were killed and eight civilians were wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 300
  • (1–45 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    16

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    On March 20th, RBSS published several pictures alongside a report that SDF "dug mass graves to bury those killed and even those merely injured" after taking control of Al-Baghouz.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    On March 20th, RBSS published several pictures alongside a report that SDF "dug mass graves to bury those killed and even those merely injured" after taking control of Al-Baghouz.
  • The aftermath of alleged Coalition shelling on Al Baghouz camp, March 18th-19th, in which up to 300 civilians reportedly died (via RBSS)
  • The aftermath of alleged Coalition shelling of Al Baghouz camp, March 18th - 19th 2019, which allegedly killed dozens of civilians (via Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    On March 20th, RBSS published several pictures alongside a report that SDF "dug mass graves to bury those killed and even those merely injured" after taking control of Al-Baghouz.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    On March 20th, RBSS published several pictures alongside a report that SDF "dug mass graves to bury those killed and even those merely injured" after taking control of Al-Baghouz.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    On March 20th, RBSS published several pictures alongside a report that SDF "dug mass graves to bury those killed and even those merely injured" after taking control of Al-Baghouz.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    On March 20th, RBSS published several pictures alongside a report that SDF "dug mass graves to bury those killed and even those merely injured" after taking control of Al-Baghouz.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    On March 20th, RBSS published several pictures alongside a report that SDF "dug mass graves to bury those killed and even those merely injured" after taking control of Al-Baghouz.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    On March 20th, RBSS published several pictures alongside a report that SDF "dug mass graves to bury those killed and even those merely injured" after taking control of Al-Baghouz.
  • On March 20th, RBSS published several pictures alongside a report that SDF "dug mass graves to bury those killed and even those merely injured" after taking control of Al-Baghouz.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    On March 20th, RBSS published several pictures alongside a report that SDF "dug mass graves to bury those killed and even those merely injured" after taking control of Al-Baghouz.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    On March 20th, RBSS published several pictures alongside a report that SDF "dug mass graves to bury those killed and even those merely injured" after taking control of Al-Baghouz.
  • On March 20th, RBSS published several pictures alongside a report that SDF "dug mass graves to bury those killed and even those merely injured" after taking control of Al-Baghouz.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    On March 20th, RBSS published several pictures alongside a report that SDF "dug mass graves to bury those killed and even those merely injured" after taking control of Al-Baghouz.
  • On March 20th, RBSS published several pictures alongside a report that SDF "dug mass graves to bury those killed and even those merely injured" after taking control of Al-Baghouz.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known 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
    4–64
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    8
  • Stated location
    near al-Baghouz, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU794135
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2019
  • Mar. 18, 2019, near al-Baghouz, Syria, via Airwars report. The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

TAMPA, Fla. –
November 16, 2021

Release # 20211116-01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

While reviewing the investigation and coordinating the public statement regarding details of the U.S. airstrikes on March 18, 2019, in Baghouz, Syria, the CENTCOM Public Affairs shop misidentified the munitions used as two 2,000-pound precision guided munitions and one 500-pound precision guided munition.

In fact, all three munitions used were two different variants of precision-guided 500-pound bombs. The CENTCOM Public Affairs shop apologizes for the error.

- Captain Bill Urban, USN, U.S. Central Command Spokesman

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For March 13th-19th, France report that Task Force Wagram did not carry out any artillery missions. Aircraft carried out 57 sorties and there was one strike. It also provides a review of the four years of training of TF Narvik and Monsabert

CHAMMALSITUATION MILITAIRE DU THÉÂTREOffensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en SyrieEn moyenne vallée de l’Euphrate, les combats menés par les Forces démocratiquessyriennes, appuyés par la coalition, pour reconquérir le réduit de Baghouz continuent. Les combats sont intenses, la progression effective, mais lente, en raison de l’évacuation de nombreux civils, et de l’imbrication des combattants et des non combattants.Poursuite des actions en IrakLa situation sécuritaire est stable en Irak, et reste sous contrôle des Forces de sécurité intérieures qui poursuivent leur effort dans la lutte contre Daech.ACTIVITÉ DE LA FORCELe dispositif français déployé au Levant n’a pas évolué depuis la semaine dernière. Le groupe aéronaval participe toujours à l’opération Chammal : une frappe aérienne a été réalisée par ses Rafale cette semaine en appui des forces démocratiques syriennes.En parallèle, le groupement naval est intégré, en soutien associé, à l’opération Sea Gardian, opération maritime de l’OTAN qui accomplit actuellement trois tâches de sûreté maritime en Méditerranée : la constitution de capacités de sûreté maritime, la connaissance de la situation maritime, et la lutte contre le terrorisme.Enfin, la frégate britannique HMS Duncan a rejoint le groupe aéronaval cette semaine.Bilan des quatre ans de formation des TF Narvik et MonsabertDepuis mars 2015, en complément de l’appui feu aux troupes engagées au sol contre Daech, la France a déployé à Bagdad des militaires dont la mission est d’améliorer les capacités de commandement et les savoir-faire des troupes irakiennes. Deux Task Force (TF), Narvik et Monsabert, aux périmètres différents, ont été mises en place pour assurer cette mission.La TF Narvik prend part à la formation des forces spéciales de l’Iraki Counter Terrorism Service (ICTS), dans des domaines d’expertise immédiatement exploitables dans la lutte contre Daech : le combat en zone urbaine, le renseignement, le tir aux armes collectives et armes lourdes, la lutte contre les engins explosifs ou le sauvetage au combat.Les premiers mandats proposaient des instructions générales et spécialisées aux jeunes recrues et aux soldats expérimentés. L’ICTS est progressivement devenue autonome dans ces domaines et la TF Narvik porte désormais ses efforts sur la formation des cadres et des opérateurs spécialisés tout en perfectionnant à travers des stages dédiés des bataillons opérationnels de l’ICTS.Au bilan, la TF Narvik a formé plus de 8000 soldats et 300 instructeurs, et a mené des stages de perfectionnement au profit de plus de 3000 soldats, ce qui représente 25 % des actions de formation menées par la coalition pour l’ICTS.De son côté, la TF Monsabert fournit assistance et conseil (Advise and Assist — A2) à l’État-major et aux soldats de la 6e division d’infanterie, responsable notamment de la sécurisation de Bagdad.Dans le cadre de son partenariat avec la 6e division, la TF Monsabert a formé depuis sa création plus de 3300 soldats irakiens, et plus de 1700 formateurs.En constante évolution pour répondre aux besoins de ses partenaires irakiens, la TF Monsabert a récemment mis en place des cycles d’évaluation des savoir-faire fondamentaux des soldats de la 6e division. Plus de 4000 soldats irakiens ont déjà été passés au crible, permettant aux experts de la TF et au commandement de la 6è division de disposer d’une appréciation globale du niveau des différents régiments.Enfin, depuis 6 mois, dans le cadre de son partenariat avec l’école d’artillerie irakienne la TF Monsabert a formé 330 officiers et sous-officiers irakiens.Depuis quatre ans, ce sont au bilan plus de 20 000 soldats irakiens qui ont bénéficié de l’expertise de 1400 instructeurs français qui se sont relayés au sein de l’opération Chammal, dispensant 150 stages et participant à plus de 200 missions de conseil et d’appui.La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’EuphrateLa Task Force (TF) Wagram continue d’appuyer les forces démocratiques syriennes contre Daech au sud de la ville d’Hajin.La TF Wagram n’a pas réalisé de missions de tir, depuis le territoire irakien, cette semaine (bilan du 13 au 19 mars inclus).Sorties air hebdomadaires (bilan du 13 au 19 mars inclus)Les aéronefs français basés en Jordanie et aux Émirats arabes unis, et projetés depuis le groupe aéronaval poursuivent leurs actions contre Daech, au sein de la coalition.Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 57 sorties aériennes (bilan du 13 au 19 mars inclus). Les Rafale français ont conduit 01 frappe cette semaine, réalisée par les aéronefs du groupe aeronaval.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 300
  • (1–45 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    16

Sources (18) [ collapse]