Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CI305

Location

بخديدا (Bakhdida), Qaraqosh, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.27093, 43.37758
Accuracy: City

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: I259b)

The Coalition announced it was conducting an assessment of a possible civilian casualty event: Currently, three reports received in October are still being assessed… 3. Oct. 23, 2016, near Qaraqosh and Hasana, Iraq.

A Coalition report issued the following month noted: Oct. 23, 2016, near Qaraqosh and Hasana, Iraq: Insufficient information provided or available to assess the credibility of the reported civilian casualties.

A senior Coalition official later told Airwars that the allegation had been “Based on Russian social media and Russian MinDef accusations.

However local reporting at the time said that Coalition airstrikes were conducted at Qaraqosh in support of ISF ground operations.

Given reported British actions in the area that day, Airwars flagged the incident to the UK’s MoD which said ” we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the event. However given that RAF strikes were reported in Qaraqosh the previous day [see above], Airwars has requested further clarification.

 

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Discounted
Civilians reported injured
0–1

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Qaraqosh (بخديدا (Bakhdida)), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.27093, 43.37758. 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
Other
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
Stated location
Qaraqosh and Hasana, Iraq / near Jarbua, Iraq
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For October 23rd 2016, the Coalition reported at the time that “Near Mosul, six strikes [5-6 British] engaged four ISIL tactical units, two rocket systems, two anti-aircraft artillery systems and two staging areas; destroyed 19 fighting positions, 17 vehicles, 10 heavy machine guns, nine mortar systems, eight command and control nodes, six repeater towers, and four tunnels; and damaged four fighting positions, two vehicles, a mortar system, and a tunnel.”
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2017-01-02
Original Source
Insufficient information provided or available to assess the credibility of the reported civilian casualties.