Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI074

Incident date

June 23, 2015

Location

المسحك, Mishak, Salah Al Din, Iraq

Geolocation

35.1772266, 43.3992002 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a report published in January 2016, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq cited an incident in Bayji which an alleged airstrike killed six civilians including four children. The Coalition has confirmed carrying out an airstrike in the vicinity.

According to UNAMI, “On 23 June, a house was allegedly targeted by an airstrike in Baiji district, Salah al-Din, which killed six civilians (including four children) and wounded eight others. The house was reported to have been located close to a mosque which, at the time of the attack, was occupied by ISIL. A local source from Baiji stated that the house was hit by mistake and that the target was the ISIL-occupied mosque. The source however could not confirm who carried out the airstrike.”

Local media also reported on the incident at the timem, with opinion divided on which party was responsible. According to Al Araby Iraqi planes “a report issued by the city of Baiji General Hospital said the eight dead included two children and a woman, while 27 others were injured” by Iraqi warplanes. Shafaaq noted that its local source “did not indicate whether it was an Iraqi plane or the international coalition led by the United States.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

According to the UNAMI report, a civilian house was allegedly targeted in an airstrike in the Baiji district, Salah al-Din. Alaraby and other local sources reported the strike to have happened in the village of Al Mishak (المسحك), located 30 km north of Baiji, for which the coordinates of its midpoint are: 35.1772266, 43.3992002

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–27
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

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
    near Baiji, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • 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

US-led Coalition

The Coalition confirms carrying out an airstrike in the vicinity on June 8th-9th 2015: “Near Bayji, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying three ISIL vehicles and an ISIL staging area.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–27
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]