Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

CI372

Incident date

December 14, 2016

Location

حي السكر, Mosul, Sukkar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.386139, 43.168111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were reportedly killed in an alleged Coalition strike on al Sukkar, survivors told the US news magazine Buzzfeed. The alliance later accepted responsibility for the incident.

Buzzfeed met with survivors in mid-2017, with the outlet later sharing its incident notes with Airwars: Eyewitness told journalist Mike Giglio when he met him at his home he had lost his wife and three daughters.

Date and approximate time: December 14, 2016, at around 12:45 pm

Casualties: The wife and three daughters of Abu Ali, a Jordan native who has been living in Mosul since the 1980s.

Comments: Abu Ali left his home to get gas for the family generator when the strike hit. There was no fighting in the neighbourhood. It had a heavy ISIS presence, but there were no ISIS-held buildings in the immediate vicinity. Abu Ali and witnesses were not sure why the strike hit there; they speculated that might be an important ISIS member was driving by. The blast destroyed the home and killed everyone inside.

In its September 2017 monthly casualty report, the Coalition accepted responsibility: Dec. 14, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: During a strike on an ISIS mortar position engaging partner forces, it was assessed that four civilians were unintentionally killed.

Officials confirmed to Airwars that this incident related to al Sukkur, with coordinates matching those provided by Buzzfeed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

The wife of Abu Ali
Adult female killed
Abu Ali's daughter 1
Age unknown killed
Abu Ali's daughter 2
Age unknown killed
Abu Ali's daughter 3
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Sukkar (السكر) in the east of Mosul. The generic coordinates for this neighbourhood are: 36.3910949, 43.1676006. Exact coordinates of the strike were provided by the eyewitness: 36.386139, 43.168111.

  • Location of the strike in the neighbourhood of Sukkar (السكر) in the east of Mosul

    Imagery:
    © 2019 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    4
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3569628336
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 1, 2017

  • Dec. 14, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: During a strike on an ISIS mortar position engaging partner forces, it was assessed that four civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 13th-14th, the Coalition reported “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units; destroyed three fighting positions, a supply cache, a bunker, a tunnel, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and a mortar system; suppressed two mortar systems and a bunker, and damaged six supply routes.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS022

Incident date

December 14, 2016

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.369073, 37.499594 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several sources reported the targeting of civilian infrastructure by Turkish warplanes in Al Bab, Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights wrote: “Turkish warplanes targeted the national hospital in the city of Bab in the north-eastern Aleppo countryside with several strikes, which is controlled by the Islamic State. No information about casualties so far.”

Khaled Shaban reported something similar on Twitter.

The ISIS news outlet Al A’amaq claimed that the hospital was hit by three strikes.

Step News said there were “deaths and injuries” but didn’t elaborate if they were civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1791a

Incident date

December 14, 2016

Location

الزبدية, Al Zibdiya, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.187222, 37.134167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were reported as killed and wounded following an alleged air and artillery strike in Al Zibdiya, Aleppo. Two sources blamed Russian warplanes, whereas all others remained impartial.

Step News Agency reported “Russian warplanes targeted with cluster bombs and missiles the Aleppo neighbourhoods of Al Zabadia, al Mashad, Salahudin, al Sukkari, Saif al Dawla, which led to the fall of dead and injured.”

All other sources reported a general “massacre” in Al Zibdiya.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1791

Incident date

December 14, 2016

Location

المشهد, Al Mashad, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.1834027, 37.1369648 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to ten people were injured in an air and artillery strike which struck a residential neighbourhood in Al Mashed, Aleppo. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame. One attributed blame to both Russia and Syrian regime artillery. The other two remained impartial.

There were no specific numbers of killed reported, however, the Step News Agency did report that “cluster bombs and missiles in the Aleppo neighbourhoods of Al Zabadia, al Mashad, Salahudin, al Sukkari, Saif al Dawla, led to the fall of dead and injured.”

One source specified that five cluster bombs struck the area.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any strikes between December 1st – 31st 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 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI371

Incident date

December 13, 2016

Location

حي السكر, Mosul, Sukkar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3910949, 43.1676006 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, up to 17 people were killed as a result of airstrikes on their homes in the Sukkar (Sugar) district, Mosul. The bodies were pulled from the rubble on January 8th, 2017.

Airwars contacted the Canadian-based elder brother of the family, who provided 11 names, photos and ages of eleven victims. All of them were killed at 1.30pm in an airstrike on December 13th 2016.

Airwars later carried a detailed description of the event: Salam al Sultan, a Moslawi who now lives in Canada, told Airwars how eleven members of his family were killed in the early afternoon of December 13th by one such incident in east Mosul – after airstrikes tried to take out an ISIL sniper a few houses down. Their bodies could only be recovered from the rubble a month later.

Salam’s uncle, Ahmed Nather Mahmood, lived with his wife and two sons, Sehab and Amear and their families in al Sukur, a Mosul neighbourhood which has recently seen heavy fighting.

Sometime around 1 pm, a neighbour who had planned to flee the fighting arrived to see if the Mahmood family would leave with him. Fearful of the violence around them, Salam’s family had already packed to escape but told the neighbour to linger just a bit longer. He came to them and said let us leave. They said let us finish our lunch, and we will leave together, said Salam, speaking to Airwars by phone from Canada. The neighbour said no I’m leaving.

Minutes later, an airstrike obliterated the home. Salam, who had already lost one brother to an ISIS execution in 2015 and another to unknown assailants during violence in Mosul in 2008, now lost eleven more members of his family. They were going to leave… Hanan said even my luggage was ready; my bag was ready, he said, referring to a female cousin who survived the attack, but whose whereabouts are now unclear. They were just going to finish their lunch.

For a month the bodies of Salam’s uncle, aunt, his brothers and their dead children lay under the shattered remnants of their home. Only on January 14th were other family members and neighbours able to start retrieving their corpses. The stench was overpowering. Salam says his family was fearful of airstrikes but considered them more accurate prior to the operation to retake the city, and especially of late. The Iraqi government, he said, was behind schedule – and now moved quickly with massive firepower.

Only after the attack did those who survived to learn why the area may have been targeted: an ISIS sniper had apparently been spotted on a roof two houses down. If there is a sniper how come they don’t use a small machine gun from a plane, how come they have to use a big rocket to destroy three or four houses?

Hind Amir Ahmad, also a relative of the family, spoke with Amnesty International, who said the Coalition carried out the airstrike. She lost eleven relatives in the raids, including her parents, grandparents and four young siblings in the raids, said Amnesty International in a report. Hind had told Amnesty International that: “We were sleeping when the house literally collapsed on us. It was a miracle none of us was killed. We ran to my uncle’s house nearby. At about 2 pm that house too was bombed and collapsed on us… almost everyone in the house was killed – 11 people. My cousin, two aunts and I were the only ones who survived. Everyone else died. It took us six days to find only pieces of their bodies, which we buried in a mass grave in a field nearby… I don’t know why we were bombed. All I know is that I have lost everyone who was dearest to me.

The Coalition has requested additional details relating to this event.

The incident occured at 13:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (11)

Ali Ameer Ahmed
Child male Via family member killed
Malak Ameer Ahmed
Child female Via family member killed
Muhand Ameer Ahmed
Child male Via family member killed
Athir Ameer Ahmed
Adult male Via family member killed
Ekhlas Jiyad Mohamed
Adult female Via family member killed
Ameer Ahmed Nather
Adult male Via family member killed
Ali Shihab Ahmed
Child male Via family member killed
Ahlam Shihab Ahmed
Child female Via family member killed
Shihab Ahmed Nather
Adult male Via family member killed
Badryiah Saeed Ali
Adult female Via family member killed
Ahmed Nather Mahmood
Adult male Via family member killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 17
  • (4–5 children1–2 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • A picture of Ali Shehab Ahmed, killed in alleged airstrikes targeted his house in the Sukkar (Sugar) district, Mosul (Via family member)
  • A picture of Badryiah Saeed Ali, killed in alleged airstrikes targeted her house in the Sukkar (Sugar) district, Mosul (Via family member)
  • A picture of Malak Amir Ahmed, killed in alleged airstrikes targeted her house in the Sukkar (Sugar) district, Mosul (Via family member)
  • A picture of Athir Ameer Ahmed, killed in alleged airstrike targeted his house in the Sukkar (Sugar) district, Mosul (Via family member)
  • A picture of Ameer Ahmed Nather, killed in alleged airstrike targeted his house in the Sukkar (Sugar) district, Mosul (Via family member)
  • A picture of Ali Ameer Ahmed, killed in alleged airstrikes targeted his house in the Sukkar (Sugar) district, Mosul (Via family member)
  • A picture of Shihab Ahmed Nather, killed in alleged airstrike targeted his house in the Sukkar (Sugar) district, Mosul (Via family member)
  • A picture of Ahmed Nather Mahmood, killed in alleged airstrike targeted his house in the Sukkar (Sugar) district, Mosul (Via family member)
  • A picture of Ahlam Shihab Ahmed, killed in alleged airstrike her house in the Sukkar (Sugar) district, Mosul (Via family member)
  • An image shows a destroyed house of Ahmed Nather Mahmood, where 11 family members died. Photograph courtesy of the family.
  • An image reveals the destruction following an alleged airstrike on houses in homes in the Sukkar (Sugar) district, Mosul (via newsofiraq3)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Sukkar (السكر) in the east of Mosul. The generic coordinates for this neighbourhood are: 36.3910949, 43.1676006. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • The neighbourhood of Sukkar (السكر) in the east of Mosul

    Imagery:
    © 2019 Google

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 12th-13th, the Coalition reported “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units; destroyed four ISIL vehicles, four mortar systems, four ISIL-held buildings, three rocket-propelled grenades, two VBIED facilities, two frontend loaders, a tunnel, a land bridge, and a supply cache; damaged 13 supply routes, a tunnel and bridge; and suppressed three ISIL tactical units.”

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
    11 – 17
  • (4–5 children1–2 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

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
Official source

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

CI370

Incident date

December 12, 2016

Location

حي الفلاح, Mosul, al Falah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.383778, 43.177611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to survivors, eight civilians died in a reported 2 pm following an alleged Coalition strike on Hay al Falah.

Buzzfeed journalist Mike Giglio met with survivors in Mosul in early 2017. he provided this account to Airwars: Eight civilian relatives of Nawal Fathi Khala, born 1954, also known as Um Ghassan. Leg wounds to neighbour Khayradeen Abdur Razzaq. 69, a retired labourer. There are also four wounded survivors of the Khala family. This was a targeted strike before the Mosul offensive reached this neighbourhood. It appears to be a case of faulty intelligence. There were three buildings across the street that was in use by ISIS. ISIS militants occasionally sat on the curb in front of the civilian home using radios. The civilian home was hit, and the ISIS buildings were not touched.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Eight relatives of Nawal Fathi Khala
killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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 Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3654328058
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For December 11th-12th the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units; destroyed five ISIL-held buildings, two VBIED facilities, three VBIEDs, six fighting positions, three mortar systems, a heavy machine gun, a weapons cache, two front-end loaders, two tactical vehicles, a tunnel, and two pieces of engineering equipment; damaged 15 supply routes; and suppressed an ISIL tactical unit.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS413 TS020

Incident date

December 12, 2016

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Twelve civilians were killed and up to 30 injured at al Bab in what local sources claimed was a ‘Coalition’ strike, but which may have been a result of Turkish-ISIS fighting.

Al A’maq, ISIS’s media wing, reported “12 dead and 30 injured, most of them women and children, following violent Turkish shelling with more than 150 missiles and rockets that fell on al Bab since this morning.” A video (since blocked) also showed a number of children being treated for serious injuries.

Ara News said that “Turkish forces shelled the city of al Bab and Tadef northeast of Aleppo, northern Syria, on Monday, and the shelling targeted civilian neighbourhoods.” The Syrian Observatory also blamed Turkish and Euphrates Shield forces.

However both Halab News and VDC blamed the US-led Coalition – which they may still have viewed Turkey as being an active member of.

Al Bab al Hadath said both Turkish and Coalition planes attacked the city, killing 12 including two families and injuring 20 civilians. In total it named twelve victims:

In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, Coalition officials requested additional information concerning the alleged event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mamdouh Noma
Adult male was killed with two of his girls killed
Daughter of Mamdouh Noma
Age unknown female killed
Second daughter of Mamdouh Noma
Age unknown female killed

Family members (1)

Al Boushi family
Age unknown 5 members were killed killed

The victims were named as:

Tarek Ahmad Zakkour al Alabi
15 years years old male killed
Omar Mohammad al Eido
16 years years old male killed
Mustapha Naqishbandi
Age unknown male killed
Alaa Hajjar
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (6 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–30
  • 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, Turkish Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • Al Bab following reported Turkish or Coalition strikes on December 12th 2016. (via Bab al Hadath)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims following reported Turkish or Coalition strikes on Al Bab, December 12th 2016. (via Al Bab al Hadath)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims following reported Turkish or Coalition strikes on Al Bab, December 12th 2016. (via Al Bab al Hadath)
  • Al Bab following reported Turkish or Coalition strikes on December 12th 2016. (via Bab al Hadath)
  • Al Bab following reported Turkish or Coalition strikes on December 12th 2016. (via Bab al Hadath)
  • Al Bab following reported Turkish or Coalition strikes on December 12th 2016. (via Bab al Hadath)
  • Al Bab following reported Turkish or Coalition strikes on December 12th 2016. (via Bab al Hadath)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of child being treated in hospital following alleged Turkish and Coalition raids on al Bab, 12th December 2016. (via Khaled Shaban)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of a child victim in hospital following an alleged Turkish and Coalition raid on al Bab, 16th December 2016. )via Khaled Shaban)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of a child victims in hospital following an alleged Turkish and Coalition raid on al Bab, 16th December 2016. (via Khaled Shaban)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of a male civilian casualty killed following an alleged Turkish and Coalition raid on al Bab, 16th December 2016. (via Khaled Shaban)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured children being treated in hospital following alleged Turkish and Coalition raids on al Bab, 12th December 2016. (via Khaled Shaban)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of child being treated in hospital following alleged Turkish and Coalition raids on al Bab, 12th December 2016. (via Khaled Shaban)
  • Photo of child being transported to hospital following alleged Turkish and Coalition raids on al Bab, 12th December 2016. (via Khaled Shaban)
  • Injured children being treated in hospital following alleged Turkish and Coalition raids on al Bab, 12th December 2016. (via Khaled Shaban)
  • Damaged building in the aftermath of the alleged raid on Al Bab, 12th November 2016. (via Halab today)
  • Damaged building in the aftermath of the alleged raid on Al Bab, 12th November 2016. (via Al Bab al Hadath facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al-Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 11th-13th 2016 the Coalition publicly reported no strikes in the vicinity of al Bab.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (6 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–30
  • 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, Turkish Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]