Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI505

Incident date

March 3, 2017

Location

Mosul, Al Mahatta, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.332192, 43.121382 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local residents said a number of civilians were killed after an alleged airstrike struck the Abu Huraira School in the station area. The school was reportedly being used by displaced families fleeing the violence in other neighbourhoods.

Mosul Ateka (Facebook) reported Fawad Ali Abu Abdullah as having been killed in the raids on March 3rd, 2017.

On April 30th 2017 the Coalition accepted responsibility for 10 deaths, noting: “March 3, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS headquarters, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.”

A senior Coalition official provided the following coordinates for the strike – 36°19’55.9″N 43°07’17.0″E – which locates it slightly to the south of the Ras al Jadah train station.

A UN report on the protection of civilians in context of Nineveh operations and the retaking of Mosul stated: ‘On 4 March, an airstrike reportedly targeted an ISIL convoy in the ISIL-controlled Mahata neighbourhood, western Mosul city. Sources reported that a nearby civilian residential compound was hit, killing 21 civilians, including eight women and six children, and wounding 15 others, including three children and three women. Sources also reported that a number of ISIL militants were killed and their vehicles were destroyed.’

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Fawad Ali Abu Abdullah
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 21
  • (6 children8 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    10
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3138822432
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 30, 2017
  • March 3, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS headquarters, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 2nd-March 3rd the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed six fighting positions, four heavy machine guns, three medium machine guns, two tunnels, a rocket-propelled grenade system, a VBIED, and a VBIED facility; damaged seven supply routes; and suppressed 22 mortar teams.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 21
  • (6 children8 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]