Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CI247

Location

الفلوجة‎, Fallujah, Al Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.3532137, 43.7875674
Accuracy: City

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: I209)

A reported air raid by Iraqi or Coalition aircraft on the Julan neighbourhood of Fallujah resulted in the deaths of an entire family.

Najah Jameel Mahmoud Al-Lihibi, his wife and their five children all died in the attack, according to local media. Amis noted that both Iraqi government and Coalition aircraft conducted strikes in the vicinity, making attribution difficult.

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

Victims

Family members (7)

Adult male (via Iraqi Spring Media Center) killed
Adult female (via Iraqi Spring Media Center) killed
Child (via Iraqi Spring Media Center) killed
Child (via Iraqi Spring Media Center) killed
Child (via Iraqi Spring Media Center) killed
Child (via Iraqi Spring Media Center) killed
Child (via Iraqi Spring Media Center) killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
7
5 Children, 1 Woman, 1 Man

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Fallujah (الفلوجة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.3532137, 43.7875674. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
MGRS coordinate
38SLB850920
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For June 5th-6th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Fallujah, four strikes [2 British] struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) factory, two ISIL VBIEDs, an ISIL warehouse, and an ISIL tunnel entrance and denied ISIL access to terrain.”
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2020-03-25
Original Source
June 6, 2016, in Fallujah, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2957/CI247 38SLB850920
Iraq Government Forces Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Iraq Government Forces
Iraq Government Forces position on incident
Not yet assessed