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\u00a0Report of Investigation into\u00a0the Civilian Casualty Near Harim, Syria, 5 November 2014<\/a> [76 Pages, 10.3MB]<\/p>\nDuring the late night and early morning hours of November 5-6, 2014, coalition aircraft\u00a0conducted airstrikes on targets in the vicinity of Harim City, Idlib Govemate, Syria. The strikes\u00a0were designed to destroy targets utilized by Khorasan Group-affiliated extremists to meet and\u00a0manufacture explosives, including an explosives-making and storage facility used by known\u00a0improvised explosive device (lED) manufacturers. Khorasan Group targets were assessed as\u00a0destroyed as a result of those airstrikes. Despite the success of the airstrikes in destroying the\u00a0targets, the strikes likely resulted in the deaths of two civilians, and caused minor injuries to two\u00a0other civilians residing near one of the targeted locations.<\/p>\n
During November, 2014, United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) received reports\u00a0of civilian casualties (CIVCAS) resulting from an airstrike in the vicinity of Harim City. The\u00a0reports appeared to describe the November 5-6 airstrikes. The reports contained statements that\u00a0confirmed the airstrikes targeted specific buildings that had been verified as enemy locations,\u00a0and the airstrikes were accurate in striking those locations. The reports stated that the strikes\u00a0destroyed buildings and ammunition depots used by enemy forces, and killed known fighters, but\u00a0also caused deaths and injuries to civilians, including \u00a0the daughter of a known enemy fighter.<\/p>\n
As a result of the reports of CIVCAS, a credibility assessment of the allegations was\u00a0conducted by the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) on\u00a0December 22, 2014 and completed on December 31,2014. The assessment found some of the\u00a0CIVCAS allegations to be initially credible based on the information available. Therefore, the\u00a0Commander, CJTF-OIR, initiated this formal investigation.<\/p>\n
The November 5-6, 2014 airstrikes in the vicinity of Harim City, Syria, likely resulted in the\u00a0destruction of Khorasan Group-affiliated targets that had been converted to military use. The\u00a0primary weapons used against the targets functioned properly, accurately struck the intended\u00a0targets, and caused secondary explosions.<\/p>\n
The targets engaged were valid military targets at the time of the strikes. The airstrikes in\u00a0question were conducted in accordance with all military authorities, targeting guidance, and\u00a0applicable rules of engagement. Additionally, reasonable measures were undertaken to avoid the\u00a0death or injury of civilians during the strike by thoroughly reviewing the targets prior to\u00a0engagement, relying on accurate assessments of the targets, and engaging the targets when the\u00a0risk to non-combatants was minimized. Nonetheless, the death of any civilians is regrettable,\u00a0and coalition targeting practices incorporating mitigation measures to prevent civilian casualties\u00a0to the maximum extent possible based on operational requirements, the rules of engagement, and\u00a0the Law of Armed Conflict will be continued.<\/p>\n