Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI561

Incident date

March 20, 2017

Location

النبي جرجيس, Mosul, Nabi Jarjis, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.342256, 43.126231 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A family of eleven or seventeen members was reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Nabi Jarjis neighbourhood. While most sources did not specify who carried out the raids, Yaqein news said it was the Coalition.

“The US-led coalition forces on Monday bombed houses on the western side of the city of Mosul, the center of Nineveh province, killing 17 civilians in the continued brutal aggression by the forces on Mosul and its people.

A press source said in a statement that “the coalition forces targeted the bombing of civilian housing in the area of Nabi Jarjis west of the city of Mosul.”

“At least 17 civilians were killed and dozens wounded,” the source said.

The source pointed out that “the number of dead is likely to rise sharply in light of the presence of a number of bodies under the rubble, which is difficult to limit because of the intensity of the bombing and its continuation.”

Iraq News center spoke of indiscriminate shelling on the neighbourhood and said 11 of the family were killed.

A UN report on the protection of civilians in context of Nineveh operations and the retaking of Mosul stated: “In the morning of 20 March, an airstrike reportedly targeted ISIL fighters in the neighbourhood of Nabi Jarjees in western Mosul. The airstrike killed 11 civilians—all members of one family, including two women and three children—and wounded five others, including one child. A woman was also reported missing.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 17
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ 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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Nabi Jarjis, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF316238
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 26, 2018
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 19th-20th the Coalition stated: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and four ISIS sniper teams; destroyed 17 fighting positions, six heavy machine guns, four vehicles, three rocket-propelled grenade systems, a mortar system, a VBIED factory, an artillery system, and a roadblock; damaged nine supply routes; and suppressed six ISIS mortar teams, five ISIS tactical units, and an ISIS anti-air artillery team.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 17
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]