US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

Belligerent
US-led Coalition
Country
Iraq
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident date

March 5, 2015

Incident Code

CI048

LOCATION

برطلّة, Bartalah, Nineveh, Iraq

According to NINA, a source in the forensic medicine department of the local hospital reported that numerous civilians died “in bombing by the international coalition aircraft [which] targeted a stronghold of the Islamic State in Bartalah north of Mosul.” Among 16 alleged civilian victims were five children and two women, whose bodies were said to

Summary

First published
March 5, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
16
(5 children2 women)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

March 3, 2015

Incident Code

CI047

LOCATION

الجمهورية, Fallujah, Jamhouriya, Nineveh, Iraq

Aircraft bombed a primary school and a hospital in the Jamhouriya neighbourhood of Fallujah, reportedly killing up to 12 civilians and injuring 9. Local media reported that children were among the dead, including 11-year old Suhaib Jassem Batawi. According to Arabi21, the attack was the work of the Iraq Air Force and had killed three

Summary

First published
March 3, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian infrastructure
School
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 12
(1–3 children)
Civilians reported injured
4–9
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

February 28, 2015

Incident Code

CI046

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Algiers, Al Faisaliah, flowers, and July neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

Sources in Mosul claimed that Coalition airstrikes hit a residential neighbourhood in the city, “killing 17 civilians, including six children, and wounded another 23 who were taken to hospitals in Mosul.” According to BasNews, Daesh/ Islamic State appeared to have recently shifted its headquarters and military positions “into residential neighborhoods,” a move which had likely

Summary

First published
February 28, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
16 – 24
(6 children)
Civilians reported injured
23–24
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 26, 2015

Incident Code

CI045

LOCATION

القائم, Al Qa'im, Al Anbar, Iraq

According to Reuters, a coalition airstrike which killed 17 Islamic State militants also caused the deaths of 9 non-combatants: “The hospital source in al-Qaim, a town on the Euphrates River, said nine civilians were killed and 29 militants were wounded in the strike by the U.S.-led coalition which is bombing Islamic State targets in Iraq

Summary

First published
February 26, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 12
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 26, 2015

Incident Code

CS059

LOCATION

تل تمر, Tal Tamr, Al Hassakah, Syria

A woman from the town of al-Hussainiyah- said to be the mother of four children – was reported killed in a coalition airstrike on the nearby town of al-Tamr in al Hasakah, according to sources.  

Summary

First published
February 26, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
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 belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

February 25, 2015

Incident Code

CI044

LOCATION

الرطبة, Ar Rutbah, Al Anbar, Iraq

According to Reuters, a Coalition airstrike caused significant casualties in Ar Rutbah: “Coalition planes bombed al-Rutba district, 385 km west of Baghdad, killing six Islamic State militants and 11 civilians, according to a source in the local hospital.” ARA News placed the civilian death toll from coalition strikes at Rutba at 10. In July 2017,

Summary

First published
February 25, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
10 – 11
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 24, 2015

Incident Code

CI043

LOCATION

الكرمة, Garma, near Fallujah, Al Anbar, Iraq

Seven civilians from one family – including young children – were killed and 8 injured when a house was allegedly struck by a coalition aircraft. However other sources attributed the attack to an artillery assault by the Iraq Army. The dead were later named by the Iraqi Spring Centre. Seven additional people were named as

Summary

First published
February 24, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7 – 20
(2 children4 women1 man)
Civilians reported injured
7
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
14 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

February 24, 2015

Incident Code

CI042

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, al-Zohour, al-Tahrir, al-Bunook [also known as Al Massaref] and al-Muthanna neighborhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

Reported Coalition airstrikes on multiple targets in eastern Mosul – said to be occupied by Islamic State forces – allegedly killed 14 civilians, including women and children. According to NINA, medical forensic teams in Mosul “received 14 dead bodies belonging to civilians, [who] were killed in al-Zohour, al-Tahrir, al-Bunook [also known as Al Massaref] and

Summary

First published
February 24, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
14
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 23, 2015

Incident Code

CS057

LOCATION

تل حميس, Tall Hamis, Al Hassakah, Syria

According to Syria’s Violations Documentation Center, a Coalition airstrike at Tal Hamis – scene of a major battle between Kurdish forces and Islamic State at the time – resulted in the death of a male teenager. In July 2017, the Coalition classed the event as non credible on grounds of lack of available evidence of

Summary

First published
February 23, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

February 23, 2015

Incident Code

CS058

LOCATION

الجيسي, Al Jesse, Al Hassakah, Syria

It was reported that a coalition airstrike in the vicinity of Al Hassakah had killed three unnamed civilians: “The car was bombed while it was on the bridge of a village near the town [of Al Hassakah] which led to the death of three civilians, displaced from the city of Tal Hamis,” according to Thawrah.

Summary

First published
February 23, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 22, 2015

Incident Code

CS056

LOCATION

سليمة, Salima, Al Hassakah, Syria

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

Summary

First published
February 22, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
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 belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

February 18, 2015

Incident Code

CI041

LOCATION

حديثة, Haditha, Al Anbar, Iraq

Local sources in Haditha reported that up to 15 civilians were killed and an unknown number were injured after an alleged coalition airstrike hit Albu Haiyat mosque at midday prayers. Al Iraq News stated that among those killed were captured “members of the Iraqi security forces who are were being guarded at the mosque.” However

Summary

First published
February 18, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
12 – 15
(1–10 men)
Civilians reported injured
2–4
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
10 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

February 18, 2015

Incident Code

CS055

LOCATION

الشدادي, Al Maryajib crossroads, in area 47, Al Hassakah, Syria

It was reported that one civilian male was killed in a coalition airstrike at al Shadadi. According to Thiqah he was in the area by chance when coalition aircraft struck: “One civilian was killed and others wounded yesterday (Thursday), when coalition aircraft bombed several areas of the rural southern city of Al-Hasakah.” Activists in the

Summary

First published
February 18, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

February 17, 2015

Incident Code

CI039

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Cultural area, Nineveh, Iraq

According to NINA, citing a security source, nine members of a family – including women and children – died after coalition warplanes “bombed a house at dawn in the Althaqafiyah residential complex area in the north of Mosul, suspected of being taking a den or a hideout by Daash terrorists.”  

Summary

First published
February 17, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9
(3 children2 women)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 17, 2015

Incident Code

CI040

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, multiple neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

According to a single source, local eyewitness claimed one unnamed civilian was killed and five others were severely injured after the coalition allegedly bombed several areas in Makhmoor, south of Mosul  

Summary

First published
February 17, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
5
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 11, 2015

Incident Code

CS054

LOCATION

كبيبة, Kbeibah, Al Hassakah, Syria

Two oil workers were killed and two others injured in a reported Coalition airstrike on a house used by workers at Kbeibah, according to a number of sources The two dead men were buried at Hadida Cemetery in Hassakah. The Syrian Network for Human Rights published a detailed report on the event: “On Wednesday February

Summary

First published
February 11, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 men)
Civilians reported injured
2
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 belligerent
US-led Coalition
Suspected target
ISIS
Named victims
3 named
View Incident

Incident date

February 8, 2015

Incident Code

CI038

LOCATION

الموصل‎, 100km South of Mosul on ‘Road 1’, Nineveh, Iraq

An alleged coalition airstrike struck a vehicle on the road between Mosul and Baghdad, which was carrying Jordanian mosque janitor Ahmed Abdul Aqi [sometimes Baqi], his wife and daughter. All three died in the incident. The driver of the car Ahmed al Azzawi (pictured below) also died according to his family. In a detailed report

Summary

First published
February 8, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
(1 child2 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Unknown
Named victims
4 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

February 6, 2015

Incident Code

CS052

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

A Jordanian airstrike against an “ISIL weapons compound” – in coordination with the US military – allegedly killed US aid worker and hostage Kayla Mueller, along with up to 30 militants from Islamic State. The US later said that “with the information that we have there’s no evidence of civilians in the target area prior

Summary

First published
February 6, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 woman)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

February 6, 2015

Incident Code

CS053

LOCATION

الشدادي, Shadadi, Al Hassakah, Syria

A coalition airstrike allegedly killed four unnamed civilian males in the vicinity of Al Shadadi, according to VDC. The Step news agency reported multiple coalition strikes in the vicinity: “The Alliance today carried out a number of raids on ISIL targets south of Al Hassakah. Five missiles fell on the city of Shadadi followed by

Summary

First published
February 6, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
(4 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 4, 2015

Incident Code

CS051

LOCATION

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

An internal CENTCOM review cited claims from a redacted Twitter user that “Coalition aircraft killed an entire family in an airstrike on Ar Raqqah ‘in response to the killing of Jordanian pilot Mu’adh al-Kasasibah.’ The allegation was accompanied by an attached photo showing the alleged victims wrapped in white cloth.“ An internal review found that

Summary

First published
February 4, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 3, 2015

Incident Code

CI036

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Kisik Junction, Nineveh, Iraq

An internal post-strike review for CENTCOM of full-motion video revealed a “possible child entering a targeted bunker and then disappearing out of the field of view (FOV) approximately 19 minutes before Strike.” The dynamic strike, conducted by a French Mirage 2000 using a Bu-49 bomb, killed an estimated five enemy fighters. Claims that a child

Summary

First published
February 3, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 2, 2015

Incident Code

CS050

LOCATION

الشدادي, Shadadi, Al Hassakah, Syria

In a second alleged incident in the area for this night, it was reported that civilian oil workers died in a Coalition attack. According to Thiqa, “preliminary reports refer to the fall of the martyrs among civilians working in the oil, as well as a number of wounded civilians arrived at the field hospital located

Summary

First published
February 2, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 2, 2015

Incident Code

CS049

LOCATION

الشدادي, Shadadi, Al Hassakah, Syria

Major coalition air raids on the oil fields around Shadadi reportedly led to the deaths of up to four non-combatants. Residents described a significant attack, with one site reporting: “Among the most prominent oil fields targeted were Al Rawees and Al Howyaziah east of Shadadi. The fires are also still burning in Kabiba close to

Summary

First published
February 2, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 6
(2 women1–4 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
3 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 29, 2015

Incident Code

CS048

LOCATION

الطيانة, Eastern Al Buwaida or Kobane, Deir Ezzor, Syria

A non-combatant civilian male, Abd Al Rahman Ahmad Bkar, from the town of Al Kussair near Homs was reported killed in an airstrike. While Syrian Martyrs attributed the strike to the Coalition, VDC blamed the Assad regime. Other reports were unclear. The location of the man’s death was also confused, given variously as Kobane in

Summary

First published
January 29, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Suspected target
ISIS
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 28, 2015

Incident Code

CI035

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Centre, Nineveh, Iraq

Citing a police source in the city, NINA claimed that nine civilians were killed and seven injured in an international coalition airstrike: “The source said that ‘the international coalition targeted the homes of civilians which resulted in the killing and injuring of dozens of civilians’… He pointed out that ‘the bodies of the martyrs arrived

Summary

First published
January 28, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9
(1 child3 women)
Civilians reported injured
7
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 26, 2015

Incident Code

CI034

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, South, Nineveh, Iraq

Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad reported two alleged Coalition airstrikes, killing five and injuring two civilians called Mohammed Mohammed Ahmed and Ebtehalf Mohammed Yosef. The first attack took place at 7.40 AM local time on the highway close to the town of Umm al-Dheban at that time. The second airstrike was at 8.40 AM local time

Summary

First published
January 26, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
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 belligerent
US-led Coalition
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 25, 2015

Incident Code

CS047

LOCATION

ﺣﻠﺐ, Aleppo, Syria

The Syrian Martyrs website identified a single non-combatant victim of a reported Coalition strike in Aleppo.  He was also named by the Damascus Centre for Human Rights Research which said he was originally from Idlib, though didn’t specify if he was a civilian or a militant. However, all other sources described al Jolani as a

Summary

First published
January 25, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
(0–1 men)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
Suspected target
ISIS
Named victims
1 named
Belligerents reported killed
1
View Incident

Incident date

January 24, 2015

Incident Code

CI033

LOCATION

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

The previously-secret CENTCOM file also noted reports by redacted “prominent anti-ISIL Twitter users” that “civilians are being killed in the bombardment.” With so few details to go on, CENTCOM concluded that there was “insufficient evidence to determine date and time of any specific allegation.”

Summary

First published
January 24, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 23, 2015

Incident Code

CI032

LOCATION

الرمادي, Ramadi, Al Anbar, Iraq

An internal CENTCOM report cited a Tweet on January 23rd as claiming that 6 members of one family had been killed in a Coalition strike in Anbar province. The identity of the tweeter was redacted in a publicly-released version of the file, though they were described as “Pro-ISIL… reported coalition airstrikes killed 6 family members

Summary

First published
January 23, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

January 22, 2015

Incident Code

CI030

LOCATION

خزيمة, Aski Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

An internal CENTCOM report identified concerns of civilian fatalities raised by local Nineveh MP Abd al Rahman al-Luwayzi. According to the MP, “Arab families, fleeing the area of Aski Musil were targeted by coalition aircraft, killing or wounding ‘scores of civilians.” The town is situated on the banks of the Tigris River to the north

Summary

First published
January 22, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US-led Coalition
View Incident