Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI242

Incident date

May 25, 2016

Location

الرشيدية, Mosul, Al-Rashidiyah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.39371, 43.15459 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several local sources said 6 or more civilians were killed and 13 to 25 wounded, including children and women, after the Coalition struck a shopping mall in the Al Rashidiya region north of Mosul.

News of Iraq noted in its report that “Our source in Mosul pointed out that the bombardment was a very strong cause of inflicting serious damage to residential role and shops nearby, which explains why the fall of so many civilians.”

The US later admitted to causing casualties, noting: “near Mosul, Iraq, during a strike against an ISIL tactical unit, it is assessed that one civilian was killed.”

One child name has been published by Alwayat al-Tahrir page account on FB.

In what may be the second event that day (or possibly repeat reporting of the previous May 24th event in Mosul) a further three civilians were reported killed and 12 more injured after an alleged Coalition strike on the house in the July 17th neighbourhood.

In July 2019 the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box. The location given placed the event near the shopping mall.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child male (via Alwyat al-Tehrir) killed

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 36.4125106, 43.0977345

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 9
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–25
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A picture of the child (Kamal Hatem) who was killed in an alleged coalition aircraft in the area of Rashidiya Mosul on May 25th, 2016 (via Alwyat al-Tehrir)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF345292
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 9, 2016
  • May 25, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, during a strike against an ISIL tactical unit, it is assessed that one civilian was killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 24th-25th 2016 the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL vehicle, three ISIL assembly areas, three ISIL bed down locations, and an ISIL tunnel and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 9
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–25
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]