Geolocation
Airwars assessment
An alleged coalition airstrike reportedly hit a market at Al Qaim in western Anbar, killing at least 3 people and injuring up to 35. Two of the victims were named as as Mohamed Ahmed and Ahmed Munir Khitab. Significant damage was reported at the scene. However, the coalition denies carrying out any airstrike in the vicinity on this date.
According to one eyewitness, the attack happened after Islamic State militants in the vicinity fired on coalition aircraft: “The reckless action of the militants led to the death and injuries of more than 37 people, all of them civilians, and causing substantial material damage in the shops.”Al Jazeera cited witnesses as saying that 15 died and 35 were injured in an ‘international coalition’ strike, adding that according to one source, “the aircraft bombed once then bombed a second time once people had gathered to look for the victims.” NINA placed the number of injured significantly lower, at 14.
The attack was denounced by Sheikh Najm Al Alyawi, a member of the council of tribes of the district, who said in a press release “The people of the district strongly denounce the bombing by warplanes of the main market in Al Qaim, western Anbar province, which resulted in the death and injury of dozens of innocent citizens.”
The United Nations cited the incident in its quarterly report on Iraq, noting: “It was also alleged that on 4 November, an air strike hit a market in al-Qaim, western Anbar, killing at least five civilians and wounding at least 27 more.” The attack was generally attributed to Iraqi government forces and their allies, which might include the coalition.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]
Reports of the incident mention the alleged Coalition strike hit a market in the city of Al-Qaim, for which the coordinates for its midpoint are: 34.3957715,40.9943684. One source reports a “market in the Rumanna (رمانة) area,” which is just North of the Euphrates river, opposite the city of Al-Qaim. The coordinates for the midpoint of this area are: 34.3930610, 41.0779810
Summary
Sources (6) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]
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The aftermath of the alleged strike (via Herak)
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Another image of the alleged incident (via Herak)
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Another image of the alleged incident (via Herak)
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Another image of the alleged incident (via Herak)
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Another image of the alleged incident (via Herak)
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Another image of the alleged incident (via Herak)
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Another image of the alleged incident (via Herak)
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.
Original strike reports
No coalition reports of airstrikes on Al Qaim or the vicinity for November 3rd-5th 2014. A spokesman also later told Airwars that “no Coalition airstrikes have taken place in the vicinity” on the date in question.