Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI358

Incident date

December 1, 2016

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Al Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.3957715, 40.9943684 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Fifteen civilians were reported killed and 8 wounded in an alleged Coalition raid, according to local sources.

Yaqein said that 15 civilians, including women and children, were killed in a Coalition strike that hit homes. Iraqi Spring Media Center also reported that 15 civilians were killed and that 8 were injured. They too blamed the Coalition.

However, in its February 2017 civilian casualty report the Coalition noted: Dec. 1, 2016, near Al Qa’im, Iraq, via social media report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in this geographic area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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
    Al Qa’im, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in this geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 30th-December 1st, the Coalition reported no strikes near al Qaim but reported “Near Rawah, two strikes engaged an ISIL VBIED staging area and destroyed a bunker.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]