PRESS RELEASE | July 28, 2016
July 28: U.S. Central Command releases Iraq and Syria civilian casualty assessments
July 28, 2016

Release Number 20160728-18
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. Central Command announced the results of several civilian casualty assessments today. After a thorough review of the facts and circumstances for each allegation, the evidence indicates six separate U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and Syria from July 28, 2015 to April 29, 2016, have unfortunately resulted in the death of 14 civilians and injuries to an additional civilian. We deeply regret the unintentional loss of life and injuries resulting from our airstrikes and express our sympathies to those affected.

The Coalition takes all reasonable measures to avoid non-combatant casualties during the course of military operations. In each of the cases released today, the assessment determined that although all precautions were taken and the strikes complied with laws of armed conflict, civilian casualties unfortunately did occur.

As a part of our commitment to transparency, here is a description of six U.S. airstrikes alleged to have resulted in civilian casualties and determined to be credible:

1. On July 28, 2015, near Idlib, Syria, during a strike on a senior Khorasan Group advisor, it is assessed that three civilians were killed and one vehicle destroyed when their vehicle appeared in the target area after the Coalition aircraft released its weapon.

2. On February 15, 2016, near Al Qaim, Iraq, during a strike on an ISIL staging area, it is assessed that three civilians were killed.

3. On February 16, 2016, in Ar Rayhaniyah, Iraq near Mosul, during a strike on an ISIL vehicle, it is assessed that one person was injured along the side of the road.

4. On April 5, 2016, in Mosul, Iraq, during a strike on an ISIL financial storage facility, it is assessed that three civilians were killed.

5. On April 26, 2016, in Sharqat, Iraq, near Qayyarah, during a strike on an ISIL checkpoint, it is assessed that one civilian was killed when a motorcycle unexpectedly appeared in the target area after the U.S. aircraft had already released its weapon.

6. On April 29, 2016, in Mosul, Iraq, during a strike targeting Neil Prakash, an ISIL external operations facilitator, it is assessed that four civilians were killed when the weapon struck three civilians on the road and one civilian located on an adjacent compound.