Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI851

Incident date

September 19, 2017

Location

Huwaija, Sina'iya area, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.321848, 43.785152 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to two local sources, some civilians killed following an alleged Coalition airstrike targeted the residential neighbourhoods in Huwaija.

Al Rafdain said that a number of civilians were killed and others wounded in an aerial bombardment, with a press source reportedly adding that aircraft bombed three sites in the Sina’iya area in Hawija, resulting in deaths and injuries in addition to causing damage and destruction of homes and property of citizens.

Later the Coalition published the report: September 19, 2017, near al-Hawijah, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of available information, it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Industrial neighbourhood, or Al Sina’iya (الصناعي) in the town of Hawija (حویجة). The generic coordinates for this neighbourhood are: 35.321848, 43.785152.

  • The neighbourhood of Al Sina'iya (الصناعي) in the town of Hawija

    Imagery:
    © 2019 Google

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • An image shows the destruction following an alleged Coalition airstrike targeted the residential neighbourhoods in Huwaija ( via Alrafidain)

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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near al-Hawijah, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 18th – 19th the Coalition reported “Near Huwijah, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed four heavy machine guns, three fighting positions, a tactical vehicle, a bunker, a front-end loader, a mortar system, a staging area and an ISIS headquarters.”

Summary

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