SOUTHWEST ASIA-- Since the beginning of operations in 2014, the Coalition and partner forces have liberated nearly 110,000 square kilometers (42,471 square miles) from Daesh, eliminating their self-proclaimed territorial caliphate and freeing 7.7 million people from Daesh oppression. The Coalition will continue to work with partner forces to deny Daesh any physical space and influence in the region as well as deny Daesh the resources they need to resurge.
The Coalition conducted 34,573* strikes between August 2014 and the end of August 2019. During this period, based on information available, CJTF-OIR assesses at least 1,335 civilians have been unintentionally killed by Coalition actions since the beginning of Operation Inherent Resolve.
We follow a rigid targeting process for all of our strikes to ensure strict adherence to the Law of Armed Conflict while attempting to avoid collateral damage. Every accidental loss of life is tragic, and it will remain our goal to take all feasible precautions to avoid putting civilians in danger in our pursuit of a ruthless enemy.
In the month of August, CJTF-OIR carried over 97 open reports from previous months and received two new reports. CJTF-OIR completed 20 civilian-casualty allegation assessment reports. Out of the 20 completed casualty allegation reports, seven reports were determined to be credible and resulted in 22 unintentional civilian deaths. CJTF-OIR assessed the remaining 13 reports as non-credible. Seventy-nine reports are still open, including two that CJTF-OIR had previously closed but reopened due to the availability of new information.
The results of each investigation of an allegation will fall into one of two categories, either "credible" or "non-credible." An assessment of "credible" means that our team investigated the allegation and determined that, based on available evidence, more likely than not, the death was the result of Coalition action. A "non-credible" evaluation means that the information we have to assess the allegation, using our available resources, cannot determine, to the standard of "more likely than not", that the death was the result of Coalition action. There could be a number of reasons for this, to include no corroborating strikes at that time or that location, there was insufficient evidence to support the allegation, or there is simply insufficient or overly vague data in the allegation itself.
It is important to note that while the Coalition has a substantial quantity of data at its disposal to investigate every claim, we welcome any information from any source that will enable us to determine the truth. Furthermore, we routinely reopen closed investigations based on new information that might help us attain more accurate results.
Credible Reports: in the seven incidents assessed as credible in August, the investigations assessed that CJTF-OIR took all feasible precautions, and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict. Coalition forces work diligently to be precise during the planning and execution of strikes to reduce the risk of harm to civilians.
1. October, 13, 2016, in Qayyarah, Iraq, via media report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh facility. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike.
2. April 5, 2017, in Al Shafa, Iraq, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh mortar position. Regrettably, 16 civilians were unintentionally killed as a result of the strike.
3. May 6, 2017, in Al Mayadin, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh facility. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed as a result of the strike.
4. June 4, 2017, in Abu al Naital, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh facility. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed as a result of the strike.
5. October 17, 2017, in Abu Kamal, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh headquarter building. Regrettably, two civilians were unintentionally killed as a result of the strike.
6. July 16, 2018, in Deir ez-Zor, Syria, via self-report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh explosive factory. Regrettably, two civilians were unintentionally killed as a result of the strike.
7. December 12, 2018, in Hajin, Syria, via self-report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against Daesh terrorists. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike.
Non-Credible Reports: after a thorough review of the facts and circumstances of each civilian casualty report, CJTF-OIR assessed the following 13 reports as non-credible. At this time there is insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition action resulted in civilian casualties.
1. February 10, 2017, in Hatra, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.
2. March 25, 2017, in Al Mayadin, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.
3. May 13, 2017, in Between Two Bridges, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.
4. July 6, 2017, in Raqqa, Syria, via Amnesty International report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action.
5. July 25, 2017, in Raqqa, Syria, via Amnesty International report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action.
6. December 29, 2017, in Al Bahra, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.
7. June 13, 2018, in Al Soussa, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.
8. June 21, 2018, in Al Shafah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.
9. December 20, 2018, in Al Shafah, Syria, via social media report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.
10. January 18, 2019, in Al Baghouz, Syria, via social media report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.
11. January 22, 2019, in Ash Shajilah, Syria, via self-report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.
12. July 13, 2019, in Badit Faltih, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.
13. July 16, 2019, in Al Takaihi, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.
Open Reports: CJTF-OIR is still assessing 79 reports of civilian casualties.
1. Nov. 7, 2014, near Al-Tanak Oilfield, Syria, via Syrian Human Rights Network report.
2. Dec. 28, 2014, near Jarabulus, Syria, via Airwars report.
3. Aug. 24, 2015, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report.
4. Oct. 30, 2015, near Qayyarah, Iraq, via media report.
5. Nov. 7, 2015, near Qayyarah, Iraq, via media report.
6. June 1, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report.
7. Jan. 3, 2017, near Sarmada, Syria, via social media report (previously closed, but reopened due to new information).
8. Jan. 11, 2017, near Saraqib, Idlib, Syria, via Airwars report.
9. Feb. 3, 2017, near Sarmin, Idlib, Syria, via Airwars report.
10. Mar. 11, 2017, near Al Karamah, Syria, via Airwars report.
11. Mar. 27, 2017, near Sarmada, Idlib, via Airwars report.
12. Apr. 28, 2017, near al-Tabaqah, Syria, via Airwars report.
13. May 9, 2017, near Abu Kamal, Syria, via Airwars report.
14. June 6, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
15. June 9, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
16. June 9, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
17. June 9, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
18. June 13, 2017 near Kasrat Sheikh Jum’ah Syria, via Airwars report.
19. June 13, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
20. June 17, 2017, near Hawijah al-Swafi, Raqqah, Syria via Airwars report.
21. June 21, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
22. June 21, 2017, near Amn al-Dawlah neighborhood, Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report.
23. June 22, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
24. June 30, 2017, near Al Dashaisha, Syria via Airwars report.
25. July 2, 2017, near Al Soor, Syria via Airwars report.
26. July 4, 2017, near Tal al-Jayer, Syria, via Human Rights Watch.
27. July 7, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
28. July 13, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria via Airwars report.
29. July 17, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
30. July 23, 2017, near Nazlet Shahata, Syria via Airwars report.
31. Aug. 1, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
32. Aug. 1, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
33. Aug. 10, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
34. Aug. 11, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report.
35. Aug. 14, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
36. Aug. 15, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
37. Aug. 16, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
38. Aug. 16, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
39. Aug. 19, 2017, near Al-Helo, Syria, via Human Rights Watch.
40. Aug. 22, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report.
41. Sept. 4, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria via Airwars report.
42. Sept. 5, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
43. Sept. 10, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
44. Sept. 18, 2017, near al Mrashdah village, Albu Kamal, Syria, via Airwars report.
45. Sept. 23, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
46. Sept. 25, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
47. Sept. 27, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
48. Oct. 3, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
49. Oct. 3, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
50. Oct. 8, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Amnesty International report.
51. Oct. 10, 2017, near Deir Ez Zor, Syria via self-report.
52. Oct. 13, 2017, near Husaybah, al Qaiem, Iraq via Airwars report.
53. Nov. 26, 2017, near Daranj, Syria, via Airwars report.
54. Nov. 28, 2017, near El Qata, Syria, via self-report.
55. Dec. 5, 2017, near al-Jarthi, Syria, via Airwars report.
56. Dec. 22, 2017, near Hajin, Syria, via Airwars report.
57. Feb. 6, 2018, near al-Shafaa, Syria, via self-report.
58. Feb. 28, 2018, near al-Sha’fah village, Syria, via Airwars report.
59. Mar. 2, 2018, near al-Bajari, Syria, via Airwars report.
60. May 27, 2018, near al-Soussa, Syria, via Airwars report.
61. June 4, 2018, near Al-Helo, Syria, via Human Rights Watch.
62. Nov. 17, 2018, near Abu al-Hasan, Syria, via Syrian Observatory for Human Rights report.
63. Nov. 25, 2018, near Al- Sha’fa, Syria, via social media report.
64. Nov. 29, 2018, near Al-Kashma, Syria, via social media report.
65. Dec. 10, 2018, near al-Kashmah, Syria, via social media report.
66. Dec. 12, 2018, near Abu Kamal, Syria, via self-report.
67. Jan. 3, 2019, near Al-Shafah, Syria, via social media report (previously closed, but reopened due to new information).
68. Jan. 3, 2019, near al-Khuskhieh, Syria, via Human Rights Watch.
69. Jan. 10, 2019, near al-Shajlah, Syria, via self-report.
70. Jan. 23, 2019, near al-Baghouz, Syria, via social media report.
71. Jan. 25, 2019, near al-Baghouz Fawqani, Syria, via self-report.
72. Jan. 25, 2019, near al-Mrashdah, Syria, via self-report.
73. Feb. 6, 2019, near al-Busayrah, Syria, via self-report.
74. Feb. 10, 2019, near Omer Oil fields, Syria, via media report and Airwars report.
75. Feb. 11, 2019, near al-Baghouz, Syria, via social media report.
76. Feb. 12, 2019, near al-Baghouz, Syria, via social media report.
77. Mar. 2, 2019, near al-Baghouz Fawqani, Syria, via self-report.
78. Mar. 13, 2019, near al-Baghouz, Syria, via Airwars report.
79. Mar. 18, 2019, near al-Baghouz Fawqani, Syria, via self-report.
*Editor’s Note: In the August 29, 2019 Monthly Civilian Casualty Report, CJTF-OIR reported there was a total of "34,580" strikes to the end of July 2019. This was an administrative error that should have been "34,547". The total strike numbers have been updated and reflects the accurate number on this report.