Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI477

Incident date

February 23, 2017

Location

الموصل الجديدة, Mosul, Mosul al-Jadid / New Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.33164, 43.10481 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local and press sources said that four civilians were killed and twelve to sixteen others were injured, mostly children and women, when Coalition airstrikes targeted a residential building in the west of Mosul.

While Iraqi Spring spoke of “Coalition” airstrikes, the other sources blamed the US more specifically.

In two later posts, Iraqi Spring shared photos showing the huge destruction of buildings and several dead and wounded. It apologized for not including “for not showing all photos as they are shocking.” It spoke of US government aircraft.

The US-led alliance accepted responsibility for five deaths in the event in September 2018. Their monthly civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on
ISIS fighting positions, VBIED facilities and an explosive factory, five civilians were unintentionally killed.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 36.3323266, 43.1050515

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–16
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Several images of the alleged incident
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More images of the victims

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
    5
  • Stated location
    near Mosul al-Jadidah (New Mosul), Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF299224
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 27, 2018
  • February 23, 2017, near Mosul al-Jadidah (New Mosul), Iraq, via Airwars report. During a strike on ISIS fighting positions, VBIED facilities and an explosive factory, five civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For February 22nd – 23rd, the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed three mortar systems, two ISIS-held buildings, two VBIED factories, a supply cache, a fighting position, a front-end loader, an excavator, a dump truck, a generator trailer, a weapons cache and a vehicle; damaged 15 supply routes and three tunnels; and suppressed 17 mortar teams and an artillery team.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–16
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]