Military Reports

Military Reports

UK MoD for July 24, 2015 – July 25, 2015
Original
Annotated

Report Date

July 25, 2015

On Friday 24 July, a Reaper was again patrolling over western Iraq, providing overwatch for Iraqi troops. The aircraft’s crew spotted an anti-aircraft gun being used by ISIL to fire on the Iraqi forces, and promptly destroyed the gun with a Hellfire. A second Hellfire accounted for a machine-gun position.

The Reaper also helped coordinate a series of successful air strikes by several coalition jets, which destroyed two terrorist positions as well as a pair of armoured personnel carriers, one of which appeared to have been converted into a large car-bomb.

Report Date

July 25, 2015

On Friday 24 July, a Reaper was again patrolling over western Iraq, providing overwatch for Iraqi troops. The aircraft’s crew spotted an anti-aircraft gun being used by ISIL to fire on the Iraqi forces, and promptly destroyed the gun with a Hellfire. A second Hellfire accounted for a machine-gun position.

The Reaper also helped coordinate a series of successful air strikes by several coalition jets, which destroyed two terrorist positions as well as a pair of armoured personnel carriers, one of which appeared to have been converted into a large car-bomb.

CJTF–OIR for July 23, 2015 – July 24, 2015
Original
Annotated

Report Date

July 24, 2015

July 24th 2015 – On July 23, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted eight airstrikes using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 19 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense using attack, fighter-attack, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.

“Coalition airstrikes in coordination with Iraqi Security Forces continue to destroy ISIL units and equipment around Iraq,” said Col. Mike Indovina, CJTF-OIR spokesman. “The coalition’s persistent attacks reduce ISIL

Report Date

July 24, 2015

Report Summary

  • 27 total strikes
  • 19 in Iraq (3393 – 3411)
  • 8 in Syria (2158 – 2165)

Confirmed Actions

US, Canada, UK

July 24th 2015 – On July 23, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted eight airstrikes using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 19 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense using attack, fighter-attack, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.

July 23, 2015

“Coalition airstrikes in coordination with Iraqi Security Forces continue to destroy ISIL units and equipment around Iraq,” said Col. Mike Indovina, CJTF-OIR spokesman. “The coalition’s persistent attacks reduce ISIL

Canadian MoD for July 23, 2015 – July 24, 2015
Original
Annotated

Report Date

July 24, 2015

On 23 July 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position east of Mosul using precision guided munitions.

Report Date

July 24, 2015

On 23 July 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position east of Mosul using precision guided munitions.

UK MoD for July 23, 2015 – July 24, 2015
Original
Annotated

Report Date

July 24, 2015

Two Tornado GR4s from RAF Akrotiri, supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker, conducted two air strikes on Thursday 23 July, when they flew a close air support mission to assist the Kurdish peshmerga near Sinjar. The first attack was on a building from which a sniper was firing at the peshmerga; the precision of the Paveway IV guided bomb and careful planning by the RAF aircrew allowed a successful attack without danger to the friendly forces.

Shortly afterwards, a second target was identified – a terrorist mortar position – this was also destroyed with a Paveway.

Further south that day, a Reaper destroyed another ISIL supply vehicle with a Hellfire missile, and also provided surveillance support for a strike on a terrorist position by other coalition aircraft.

In western Iraq, meanwhile, a Reaper identified a building from which an ISIL group were firing on Iraqi soldiers; this allowed a coalition jet to conduct a successful attack. The Reaper then mounted its own Hellfire attack to destroy a nearby heavy machine-gun position.

Report Date

July 24, 2015

Two Tornado GR4s from RAF Akrotiri, supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker, conducted two air strikes on Thursday 23 July, when they flew a close air support mission to assist the Kurdish peshmerga near Sinjar. The first attack was on a building from which a sniper was firing at the peshmerga; the precision of the Paveway IV guided bomb and careful planning by the RAF aircrew allowed a successful attack without danger to the friendly forces.

Shortly afterwards, a second target was identified – a terrorist mortar position – this was also destroyed with a Paveway.

Further south that day, a Reaper destroyed another ISIL supply vehicle with a Hellfire missile, and also provided surveillance support for a strike on a terrorist position by other coalition aircraft.

In western Iraq, meanwhile, a Reaper identified a building from which an ISIL group were firing on Iraqi soldiers; this allowed a coalition jet to conduct a successful attack. The Reaper then mounted its own Hellfire attack to destroy a nearby heavy machine-gun position.

Incident Code

CS104

Incident date

July 23, 2015

Location

ﺣﻠﺐ, Nahiyat Sereen near Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.206137, 37.140688 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A reported Coalition airstrike at 3.45pm killed up to seven civilians including two children, at Nahiyat Sereen near Aleppo.

One young victim, Mohammad Jassen Al Abou Rakan, was decapitated in the incident, with graphic images of his body widely distributed on social media.

Islamic State later published a propaganda video of the event, including interviews with eyewitnesses and rescuers. One man told the camera: “Civilians coming here to get bread are getting killed. What is this? Where are civilians supposed to go? Are they supposed to go to the wilderness to save themselves? Damn them.“

Another man described the buildings reportedly hit in the raid: “Today the coalition planes came to continue what the criminals from the PKK had started. More than 4 or five missiles were fired at once destroying many houses. The house of Hajj Ali and the house of the son of Hajj Ali; the house of Ali Al Hassani; the house of Mohammad Al Hajrashi; and a big number of civilian shops. All the victims are civilians that have nothing to do with what is happening at all.“

The Syrian Observatory also reported activity by Turkish aircraft in the region on this date.

In its civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year, the Coalition assessed this event as ‘not credible, asserting: “July 23, 2015, in Aleppo, 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. 2806/CS104 37SCA328084”.

Officials published a location for the event to within 100 metres of where they had remotely assessed the incident.

The incident occured at 15:45:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Jassem Al Abou Rakan
Child male son of Jassem Al Abou Rakan killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected targets
    Al Qaeda/HTS, ISIS

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Warning: EXTREMELY GRAPHIC PHOTOS. Series of tweets from Nasser al Tamimi wIth photos showing the aftermath of the strikes on Sareen in Aleppo, 24th July 2015

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Warning: EXTREMELY GRAPHIC PHOTOS. tweets from Nasser al Tamimi with a photo of a man holding the body of his headless child. Described as a man in the IS-controlled areas with his decapitated child as a result of air raids. 23rd July 2015

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of a decapitated child's body tweeted by @abomuslim121212 [account now suspended]. Photo labelled in Sareen and tweeted on 23rd July 2015

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Tweet from @nasertamimi with very graphic photos of man holding decapitated body of child allegedly as a result of aerial bombardment in IS-held areas. 23rd July 2015

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Tweet from @nasertamimi with very graphic photos of man holding decapitated body of child allegedly as a result of aerial bombardment in IS-held areas. 23rd July 2015

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More graphic photos of the body of a decapitated child in Sareen as a result of 'Saudi and Western bombardment' tweet by Adam the Syrian Tweets on 23rd July 2015. [Account now suspended]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More graphic photos of the body of a decapitated child in Sareen as a result of 'Saudi and Western bombardment' tweet by Adam the Syrian Tweets on 23rd July 2015. [Account now suspended]
  • Photo of the alleged bombardment of Sareen, Aleppo. Tweeted by Adam the Syrian Tweets on 23rd July 2015. [Account now suspended]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of an injured child as a result of the alleged bombardment of Sareen, Aleppo. Tweeted by Adam the Syrian Tweets on 23rd July 2015. [Account now suspended]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Nahiyat Sereen near Aleppo (ﺣﻠﺐ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.206137, 37.140688. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Aleppo, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCA328084
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • July 23, 2015, in Aleppo, 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. 2806/CS104 37SCA328084

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No coalition strikes were publicly reported in the vicinity of Sereen between July 22-24th 2015.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected targets
    Al Qaeda/HTS, ISIS

Sources (11) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR for July 22, 2015 – July 23, 2015
Original
Annotated

Report Date

July 23, 2015

July 23rd 2015 – On July 22, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted seven airstrikes using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 11 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense using attack, fighter-attack, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.

“Coalition airstrikes are supporting Iraqi-planned and led ground operations around the Anbar capital Ramadi, specifically targeting Daesh fighting positions and weapons,” said Col. Wayne Marotto, CJTF-OIR chief of public affairs. “Coalition Air Power is proving to be a great enabler in the fight to retake Ramadi.”

The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

  • Near Al Hasakah, three airstrikes struck an ISIL large tactical unit and two small ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL bunkers, 12 ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.
  • Near Kobani, four airstrikes struck an ISIL large tactical unit, an ISIL small tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL VBIED and five ISIL fighting positions.

Iraq

  • Near Habbaniyah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL command and control node.
  • Near Haditha, one airstrike destroyed two ISIL vehicles.
  • Near Makhmur, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL mortar position and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
  • Near Mosul, two airstrikes [1 Canadian] struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL rocket position and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
  • Near Ramadi, two airstrikes struck an ISIL large tactical unit and an ISIL small tactical unit and destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL heavy weapons and an ISIL mortar position.
  • Near Sinjar, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy weapon.
  • Near Tal Afar, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL excavator and five ISIL bunkers.

Report Date

July 23, 2015

Report Summary

  • 6 total strikes
  • 4 in Syria
  • 2 in Iraq

Report Summary

  • 16 total strikes
  • 11 in Iraq (3382 – 3392)
  • 5 in Syria (2151 – 2167)

Confirmed Actions

US, Canada

July 23rd 2015 – On July 22, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted seven airstrikes using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 11 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense using attack, fighter-attack, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.

July 22, 2015
Syria: 4 strikes
Iraq: 2 strikes

“Coalition airstrikes are supporting Iraqi-planned and led ground operations around the Anbar capital Ramadi, specifically targeting Daesh fighting positions and weapons,” said Col. Wayne Marotto, CJTF-OIR chief of public affairs. “Coalition Air Power is proving to be a great enabler in the fight to retake Ramadi.”

The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

Near Al Hasakah, three airstrikes struck an ISIL large tactical unit and two small ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL bunkers, 12 ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle. Near Kobani, four airstrikes struck an ISIL large tactical unit, an ISIL small tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL VBIED and five ISIL fighting positions.

Iraq

Near Habbaniyah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL command and control node. Near Haditha, one airstrike destroyed two ISIL vehicles. Near Makhmur, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL mortar position and destroyed an ISIL vehicle. Near Mosul, two airstrikes [1 Canadian] struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL rocket position and destroyed an ISIL vehicle. Near Ramadi, two airstrikes struck an ISIL large tactical unit and an ISIL small tactical unit and destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL heavy weapons and an ISIL mortar position. Near Sinjar, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy weapon. Near Tal Afar, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL excavator and five ISIL bunkers.

Canadian MoD for July 22, 2015 – July 23, 2015
Original
Annotated

Report Date

July 23, 2015

On 22 July 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position southeast of Mosul using precision guided munitions.

Report Date

July 23, 2015

On 22 July 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position southeast of Mosul using precision guided munitions.

CJTF–OIR for July 21, 2015 – July 22, 2015
Original
Annotated

Report Date

July 22, 2015

July 22nd 2015 – On July 21, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 15 airstrikes using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 15 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense using attack, fighter-attack, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.

“Coalition airstrikes are supporting Iraqi-planned and led ground operations around the Anbar capital Ramadi, specifically targeting Daesh units, vehicles, buildings, material and IED stores, ,” said Col. Wayne Marotto, CJTF-OIR chief of public affairs. “”We select targets that would provide Daesh a tactical advantage.”

The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

  • Near Al Hasakah, 10 airstrikes struck eight tactical units and destroyed two ISIL vehicles, five ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL staging area, two ISIL bunkers, an ISIL excavator and three ISIL check points.
  • Near Ar Raqqah, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL excavator.
  • Near Kobbani, four airstrikes struck two tactical units and destroyed an ISIL mortar position, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL heavy weapon and an ISIL fighting position.

Iraq

  • Near Bayji, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
  • Near Fallujah, one airstrike destroyed two ISIL bridges.
  • Near Habbaniyah, one airstrike destroyed eight ISIL rocket rails.
  • Near Haditha, two airstrikes [1 Canadian] struck an ISIL large tactical unit and ISIL terrain and destroyed an ISIL sniper position and ISIL mortar position.
  • Near Makhmur, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL heavy weapons.
  • Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical units and an ISIL heavy weapon and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
  • Near Ramadi, three airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL excavator, an ISIL building and an ISIL VBIED.
  • Near Tal Afar, four airstrikes struck an ISIL rocket position and destroyed six ISIL bunkers.

Report Date

July 22, 2015

Report Summary

  • 8 total strikes
  • 4 in Syria
  • 4 in Iraq

Report Summary

  • 30 total strikes
  • 15 in Iraq (3367 – 3381)
  • 15 in Syria (2136 – 2150)

Confirmed Actions

US, Canada, UK

July 22nd 2015 – On July 21, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 15 airstrikes using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 15 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense using attack, fighter-attack, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.

July 21, 2015
Syria: 4 strikes
Iraq: 4 strikes

“Coalition airstrikes are supporting Iraqi-planned and led ground operations around the Anbar capital Ramadi, specifically targeting Daesh units, vehicles, buildings, material and IED stores, ,” said Col. Wayne Marotto, CJTF-OIR chief of public affairs. “”We select targets that would provide Daesh a tactical advantage.”

The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last press release:

Syria

Near Al Hasakah, 10 airstrikes struck eight tactical units and destroyed two ISIL vehicles, five ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL staging area, two ISIL bunkers, an ISIL excavator and three ISIL check points. Near Ar Raqqah, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL excavator. Near Kobbani, four airstrikes struck two tactical units and destroyed an ISIL mortar position, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL heavy weapon and an ISIL fighting position.

Iraq

Near Bayji, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle. Near Fallujah, one airstrike destroyed two ISIL bridges. Near Habbaniyah, one airstrike destroyed eight ISIL rocket rails. Near Haditha, two airstrikes [1 Canadian] struck an ISIL large tactical unit and ISIL terrain and destroyed an ISIL sniper position and ISIL mortar position. Near Makhmur, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL heavy weapons. Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical units and an ISIL heavy weapon and destroyed an ISIL vehicle. Near Ramadi, three airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL excavator, an ISIL building and an ISIL VBIED. Near Tal Afar, four airstrikes struck an ISIL rocket position and destroyed six ISIL bunkers.