Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI715

Incident date

May 16, 2017

Location

حي النجار, Mosul, Al-Najjar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.35768, 43.09861 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local residents said that two named brothers had died in Najjar neighbourhood, after what two sources reported as Coalition airstrikes on their house. Other sources spoke of “indiscriminate shelling” more broadly, and Nineveh Media Center spoke of a rocket attack on the home.

Iraqyoon Agency said that the Coalition had targeted a house next to that of the brothers, which ISIL used to treat their wounded. This had caused the destruction of the house where Sajid Ahmed Sajid and his brother Amer Ahmad Sajid were residing at the moment of the strike. Amer was the father of two sons, called Emad and Ziad.

Airwars previously thought that this incident had been assessed as credible by the Coalition. However, in July 2019 Coalition officials indicated that CI715 had in fact been found to be non-credible. While investigating the allegations, they did find two civilians that had been killed in a separate event – this can be found in CI715a.

The Coalition’s April 2018 civilian casualty report noted: “After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Sajid Ahmed Sajid
Adult male Brother of Amer Ahmad Sajid killed
Amer Ahmad Sajid
Adult male Brother of Sajid Ahmed Sajid killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Amer Ahmad Sajid and Sajid Ahmad Sajid (via MNN)
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 information on the time and location
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF294253
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 26, 2018
  • May 16, 2017, near Mosul Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 15th-16th the Coalition publicly reported: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed nine fighting positions, two mortar systems, to medium machine guns, two VBIEDs, two ISIS-held buildings, two VBIED facilities, and a supply cache; damaged 13 ISIS supply routes and nine fighting positions; and suppressed three ISIS tactical units and two mortar teams.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]