US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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
text search
2984 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

CI094

Incident date

August 21, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, NINA, reported that a Coalition strike on a house at Hamam al-Alil, near Mosul “led to the martyrdom of all the family that inhabited consisted of nine members, including three children and a woman.“

As NINA noted: “Local residents told the National Iraqi News Agency that the international coalition aircraft bombed a rocket on a house in Hamam al-Alil, which led to the martyrdom of all the family that inhabited consisted of nine members, including three children and a woman. They added that the bodies were handed over to the forensic medicine department in Mosul.”

In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event to be ‘non credible’, noting: “August 21, 2015, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 2812/CI094 38SLF294240”.

The Coalition also provided coordinates showing the area it had assessed, accurate to within 100 metres.

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition again assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (3) [ collapse]

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, Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF435034
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • August 21, 2015, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 2812/CI094 38SLF294240

  • Aug. 21, 2015, in Hamam al-Alil, Iraq, 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. 2812/CI094 38SLF435034

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

A number of strikes were reported by the Coalition for August 20th-21st 2015: “Near Mosul, six airstrikes struck three ISIL tactical units and an ISIL mortar firing position and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL excavators, two ISIL heavy machine guns and an ISIL mortar firing position.“

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS260

Incident date

July 12, 2016

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Four children from one family were killed in an alleged Coalition strike on Raqqa.

According to Shaam News, the dawn strike totally destroyed the home of Ahmed Salem al Amin, killing his four young children. Nine other civilians were also reported wounded. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered named the children as Salem, Fatima, Rimas and Mais.

In what may be the same or a separate incident, Raqaa is Being Slaughtered also reported: “Five civilians from the Ouda family were killed in addition to the injury of Yasser Azouz al Hassan al Hajji, 4 years old, following the targeting by warplanes of their home in al Baddou neighbourhood at dawn today.”

In a detailed description, Syria News Desk reported: “Media opposition activist Mohamed Osman, quoting civilian sources from within Raqqa, told Syria News desk that Coalition aircraft launched five raids on the city, centered on the National Hospital and tal Nai’m roundabout near its center, and Al Wadi street near al Dalla roundabout north of the city center, pointing out that the dead children’s parents were seriously injured in Al Wadi Street, as the injured were taken to a medical point for treatment, while the bombing fully resulted in the destruction of two buildings, and material damage to a large hospital building and other property.” Daesh fighters were also reported killed.

While most sources blamed either the Coalition or unnamed aircraft, the Syrian Network said government shelling was responsible for the children’ deaths. However the Coalition has confirmed strikes in the near vicinity.

In the second of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Salem
Child male killed
Fatima
Child female killed
Rimas
Child female killed
Mais
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Yasser Azouz al Hassan al Hajji,
4 years years old male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 9
  • (4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The children Salim, Fatima, Rimas and Mais Ahmad Salim Al Amein died in government warplanes missiles fired on Raqqa city, July 12, 2016 (via SNHR)

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
    37SEV008784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • July 12, 2016, in Raqqah, 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. 3008/CS260 37SEV008784

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 11th-12th the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes struck an ISIL used-bridge and destroyed an ISIL oil wellhead and three ISIL pump jacks.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 9
  • (4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS671

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

الشعيرات, Shoa'yrat, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.494027, 36.947032 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to nine civilians were alleged to have died and 14 others injured in a unuilateral US cruise missile strike on Shoa’yrat airfield, according to local sources – though the combatant status of some or all victims is uncertain.

The state news agency Sana reported: “Nine civilians, including four children, were killed by a number of rockets fired by the United States at dawn today on houses in a number of villages in the south-eastern Homs countryside.” The source said that two missiles which had targeted a Syrian Air Force base instead struck “the village of Shoa’yrat causing the deaths of five civilians, including three children, in addition to the destruction of homes.” It added that a US missile was also fired on “the village of Hamarat, killing four civilians, including a child, while seven civilians were injured when a rocket hit houses in the center of the village of Manzul, about four km from the air base.” The BBC, citing the Sana report, giving the same figures.

HMC published a video in which Activist Mohammed al-Sibai, spokesman for the Homs Media Center, was asked how accurate the allegations were. He said that there were no civilians in the area because it’s a military zone.

Syrian News Center also said that nine civilians died in the strike, as did RT who cited Sana.

Nady Homs published a list of victims and said that six of the names listed were soldiers, but the rest were civilians. The source said that the list of names was issued by Shay’rat hospital.

However, the rebel-aligned Homs Media Center told Airwars that in its assessment all the names in the document issued by the Sha’yrat hospital are of soldiers and that no civilians died.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khalil Issa Ibrahim
Adult male Eldorar lists him as “Brigadier General Khalil Issa Ibrahim killed
Issa Ahmad Ali
Adult male Alarabiya lists Issa Mohammed Ali as military killed
Firas Yusuf Hamoud
Adult male Eldorar lists him as a First Luitenant
Ibrahim Al Mansour
Adult male Reported as Sergeant killed
Muhi Al Din Suheil Alisha
Adult male killed
Ali Haydar Abboud
Adult male killed
Firas Mahmoud Al-Babki
Adult male Eldorar lists him as military killed
Wael Issa Mihoub
Adult male Enabbaladi lists him as military killed
Abdel Karim Salim Jadid
Adult male Colonel - Right hand broken injured
Salem al Atrash
Adult male Major - left hand broken injured
Khaled Rahhal
Adult male Shrapnel in stomach injured
Ayman al Ahmad
Adult male Shrapnel injured
Suleiman Ali AlMohammad
Adult male Sergeant, surface wound injured
Alaa Abdul Latif Mohammad
Adult male Surface wound and shrapnel injured
Mohammad Asaad Mohammad
Adult male Shrapnel injured
Haidar Majed Hamoud
Adult male Bruises injured
Shoueib Suleiman
Child male Right foot burns injured
Samir Ahmad Sakar
Adult male Right shoulder dislocated injured
Alaa Abdel Hamid Sarem
Adult male Shrapnel injured
Ram’mah Jamil al Asaad
Adult male Military aid with bruises injured
Moussa Ismail
Adult male Shrapnel injured
Nabil Ibrahim Khalil
Adult male Shrapnel injured
Majid Khudar Yusuf
Adult male Shrapnel injured
Adnan Hasan al Ali
Adult male Shrapnel injured
Ali Mohammad Assaf
Adult male Shrapnel injured
Salman Ali Ghadir
Adult male Shrapnel injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 9
  • (0–4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–14
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • List of victims both killed and injured from Shay'rat hospital, from Nady Homs Facebook page posted April 7th 2017.
  • Military affiliated Issa Mohammed Ali who was alleged killed in an Coalition airstrike, posted by Alarabiya on April 7th 2017.
  • Funeral of the military men who were alleged killed in an Coalition airstrike, tweeted by @AJA_Syria on April 7th 2017.
  • Sarin gas alleged used in a chemical attack that the Syrian regime was reported to have a role in, to which the Coalition responded with an airstrike on Syrian Air Force airfield (image by Mousa Omar on April 7th 2017).
  • Sarin gas alleged used in a chemical attack that the Syrian regime was reported to have a role in, to which the Coalition responded with an airstrike on Syrian Air Force airfield (image by Mousa Omar on April 7th 2017).
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Shoa’yrat, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCU076189
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The attack was a unilateral US action in retaliation for the Syrian regime’s alleged role in a chemical weapon attack. According to the Pentagon: “At the direction of the president, U.S. forces conducted a cruise missile strike against a Syrian Air Force airfield today at about 8:40 p.m. EDT (4:40 a.m., April 7, in Syria). The strike targeted Shayrat Airfield in Homs governorate, and were in response to the Syrian government’s chemical weapons attack April 4 in Khan Sheikhoun, which killed and injured hundreds of innocent Syrian people, including women and children.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 9
  • (0–4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–14
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI039

Incident date

February 17, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Cultural area, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.375, 43.141667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

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.”

 

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the residential “Al-thaqafiyah complex (Cultural)” ( ثقافي ) area, North of Mosul. The incident would have occurred around “dawn,” which would be at approximately 6:30 local time. The location of the midpoint of the Cultural ( ثقافي ) area is: 36.375, 43.141667

  • Cultural ( ثقافي ) area, North Mosul

    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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF333271
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 16th-17th 2015 the coalition has confirmed that “Near Mosul, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL mortar position and an ISIL fighting position.”

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS664

Incident date

April 6, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Up to nine civilians died in an airstrike on Raqqa, local media said.

According to the Smart News Agency, eight civilians died and 11 were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa. A local source told Smart that “the raids targeted the building of the Central Bank near the Bulman garage, south of the city”.

Syrian Mirror put the death toll at nine with ten wounded and also blamed the Coalition.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–11
  • 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]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties. (1289)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For April 5th-6th, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes destroyed an ISIS vehicle.”
For April 6th-7th, the Coalition reported: "Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; and destroyed four fighting positions and a tactical vehicle."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–11
  • 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

CI063

Incident date

April 21, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, East, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3672543, 43.1793594 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A claimed coalition airstrike on the centre of Mosul killed up to 23 militants and five or more non-combatants according to reports, after four homes were destroyed.

NINA cited a medical source as saying that 23 civilians died when aircraft struck the Mdaana neighbourhood – though this appears to be a mis-cite of other casualties (see below).

NRT-TV was more conservative, reporting that “The forensic medicine department in Mosul received the bodies of the martyrs of nine civilians, including four women and a child following [coalition] aerial bombardment on the areas of Al Sukkar, Al Sadiq and Al Muthanna east of Mosul. At the same time Mosul’s hospitals received 12 wounded, including an elderly woman and six children.”

Iraqi News placed the death toll at 5 non-combatants, adding that 23 “Daesh militants” had also died: “A medical source told the Iraqi News Agency, that the forensic medical department received 23 bodies of killed members of IS killed in a coalition raid targeting the power station in Adan neighborhood east of Mosul, explaining that the station was used by IS as a headquarters.“

 

The incident was first reported on April 21, 2015 at 10:50 am by Iraqi News Agency.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (1 child4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhoods of Sukkar ( حي السكر ), Saddiq ( حي الصديق ) and Muthana ( حي المثنى ) in East Mosul. One report alleged the airstrike targeted the “power station in Aden neighborhood ( حي عدن ),” also located in East Mosul. The coordinates for the midpoint of East Mosul are: 36.3672543, 43.1793594

  • East Mosul, showing Sukkar ( حي السكر ), Saddiq ( حي الصديق ), Muthana ( حي المثنى ) and Aden ( عدن )

    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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Actions were reported in the vicinity for April 20th-21st: “Near Mosul, four airstrikes struck an ISIL staging area, an ISIL IED factory and multiple ISIL fighting positions.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (1 child4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI519

Incident date

March 7, 2017

Location

Mosul, Dur al Resala, Nineveh, Iraq

Airwars assessment

Nine members of a family were reported killed in an airstrike in ‘early to mid March’ including four children and three women.

Amnesty International has published the following account: “Witnesses told Amnesty International that in early-mid March (they could not be certain of the exact date), a warplane hit two houses in al-Risala neighbourhood, near al-Hamdilullah mosque. “Karim”, a local resident, described being at home at 11am on the day in question, sheltering from shelling in the back room of his house. He heard an explosion nearby that was followed around 15 minutes later by a second one.

Karim said: “I later found out that the first explosion had hit a house on a street behind mine, perhaps 100m away. It was an old house and it collapsed completely. Six people were killed, all civilians. They were a simple family. Abdel Rahman was the owner and head of the family. He worked as a grave digger. He was killed along with his wife and their four children. The children were aged four, five, six and seven.

“I didn’t go to the scene of the first explosion but I ran to the scene of the second one. This one destroyed a house on my street, less than 100m down. I didn’t see the victims’ bodies; they were buried in the rubble and we didn’t manage to dig them out. It was a rented house and the owner lived nearby. He had come to see the damage and was in the street shouting. He told us that three people had been living there and they had all been killed. They were ordinary civilians, two women and one man.

According to other witnesses, there had been an IS checkpoint on the corner of the street, around 25m from Abdel Rahman’s house. The IS position was usually manned by three fighters, who according to the witnesses, were all killed in the attack. After the first strike, IS fighters were seen running from the neighbourhood. One witness saw two IS fighters running along his street, where the second explosion happened. They had run past the house that was destroyed in the second explosion 10 minutes before it was struck. They were not killed or injured in the explosion, as they had left the area by the time it happened.

Amnesty International cannot be sure whether the delivery system for these explosions was a warplane, as some of the witnesses assumed, or another weapon system. Whatever delivery system was used, the incident illustrates the toll on civilians of using explosive weapons with wide area effects in west Mosul. Six civilians were killed in the first strike, which appears to have been aimed at an IS target that was stationary at the time of attack.

The target for the second strike is less clear, although witnesses told Amnesty International they believe it was an attempt to hit mobile IS targets as they ran through the neighbourhood. Three civilians and no IS fighters were killed in the second strike. Based on the information available, the method of attack pro-government forces employed appears to have been indiscriminate.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdel Rahman
Adult male Grave digger killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (4 children3 women1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (4) [ 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
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 6th-March 7th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed nine fighting positions, five VBIEDs, four vehicles, three roadblocks, two mortar systems, two tactical vehicles, two rocket-propelled grenade systems, a supply cache, an artillery system, a sniper position, a UAV launch site, and a VBIED factory; damaged 23 vehicles, 10 supply routes, and a tunnel; and suppressed two mortar teams.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (4 children3 women1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI640

Incident date

April 15, 2017

Location

ريحانة, Rayhana, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.340814, 42.02837 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two local sources reported that nine civilians were killed and others injured after Coalition airstrikes allegedly hit Rayhana village near Anah, in Anbar province. The exact number of wounded was not determined.

Yaqein placed the village 210 km west of Ramadi.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For April 14th-15th the Coalition did not report strikes near Anah.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]