Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CI076

Location

Mahmoudiya, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.3936155, 43.9653113
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: I055)

Although reporting was confused, there were claims of a fresh coalition airstrike in the vicinity of Hawija which killed a number of civilians.

A Facebook page calling itself Hawija Now said that five women and 2 children died in the nearby village of Mahmoudiya. One extremely graphic image appears to show a woman survivor of the event, clutching the body of a horrifically injured child.

Interviewing eyewitnesses who later fled to Mosul, Al Khaleej said that the alleged strike took place shortly before the end of the day’s Ramadan fast, and targeted an Islamic State headquarters at a location known as the Riyadh grain silo: “According to witnesses, who spoke to our correspondent, coalition aircraft had dropped leaflets on the region, on Wednesday, urging residents to get out and to stay away from the headquarters of IS and its gatherings,, because they will be vulnerable to bombing; prompting dozens of families to leave Hawija towards Mosul.”

 

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Civilians reported killed
5–7
2 Children, 5 Women
Civilians reported injured
6–13

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Mahmoudiya (المحمودية) in Hawija as well as the Hawija’s grain silos and the industrial area surrounding it. The generic coordinates for the village of Mahmoudiya (المحمودية) are: 35.3936155, 43.9653113. The coordinates of the Hawija grain silos are: 35.3216711, 43.7828113. On satellite imagery of March 2016 available to Airwars the grain silos and the industrial zone around them seem to be completely destroyed. Due to limited satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to further verify the date at which this destruction took place. 

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Non credible / Unsubstantiated
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 Mahmoudiyah, Iraq
Location accuracy
100 m
MGRS coordinate
38SME060171
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
The coalition confirmed an airstrike in the near vicinity for June 25th-26th 2015: “Near Al Huwayjah, one airstrike struck an ISIL mortar firing position.”
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2018-07-26
Original Source
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.

Media From Sources (4)