Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI450

Incident date

February 6, 2017

Location

17 تموز, Mosul, July 17th, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.371403, 43.080035 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident previously reported by so-called Islamic State, the Coalition confirmed on April 1st that it had accidentally injured three non-combatants in an attack. ISIS had reported five deaths and 29 injuries. Locals also said at least five people had died.

The Coalition noted in its April 2017 casualty report: “near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on ISIS fighters, it was assessed that three civilians were unintentionally injured when they entered the target area after the munition was released.

Officials later confirmed to Airwars that the event took place at 17 Tamuz. For the same date, ISIL’s media wing had claimed that “two children, a woman, and two men were killed and 24 others were wounded due to coalition warplanes shelling in 17 Tamuz neighbourhood in Mosul.”

That claim was later corroborated by eyewitnesses who told Amnesty International in a previously unpublished report that “In first week of February, in the afternoon, there was an attack on a building next to al-Jamhouri hospital. The building had five floors. The strike collapsed the building – it was completely destroyed. Only the first floor was left. They started bringing the bodies to the hospital, and they used the loudspeakers to call for help. I went to the building as soon as I could – I got there 10 minutes later. Dust was everywhere, and so many bodies were buried under the rubble. I used a shovel to move the rubble and to try to uncover the bodies. I saw at least five bodies, dead. I think it was an airstrike, because the damage was so huge, but I’m not sure. [He was also not sure how many civilians / how many fighters killed.]”

The Coalition provided Airwars with coordinates for the event, accurate to a one metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–29
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "According to A’maq, two children, a woman, and two men and 24 others were wounded due to coalition warplanes shelling in 17 Tamuz neighbourhood in Mosul."

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
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    3
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF2776326855
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 1, 2017
  • Feb. 6, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on ISIS fighters, it was assessed that three civilians were unintentionally injured when they entered the target area after the munition was released.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For February 5th-6th 2017 the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, three strikes destroyed 23 ISIL-held buildings, an ISIL headquarters and a front-end loader; and damaged 14 supply routes and a tunnel.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–29
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]