Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI014

Incident date

November 4, 2014

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Al Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.3957715, 40.9943684 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged coalition airstrike reportedly hit a market at Al Qaim in western Anbar, killing at least 3 people and injuring up to 35. Two of the victims were named as as Mohamed Ahmed and Ahmed Munir Khitab. Significant damage was reported at the scene. However, the coalition denies carrying out any airstrike in the vicinity on this date.

According to one eyewitness, the attack happened after Islamic State militants in the vicinity fired on coalition aircraft: “The reckless action of the militants led to the death and injuries of more than 37 people, all of them civilians, and causing substantial material damage in the shops.”Al Jazeera cited witnesses as saying that 15 died and 35 were injured in an ‘international coalition’ strike, adding that according to one source, “the aircraft bombed once then bombed a second time once people had gathered to look for the victims.” NINA placed the number of injured significantly lower, at 14.

The attack was denounced by Sheikh Najm Al Alyawi, a member of the council of tribes of the district, who said in a press release “The people of the district strongly denounce the bombing by warplanes of the main market in Al Qaim, western Anbar province, which resulted in the death and injury of dozens of innocent citizens.”

The United Nations cited the incident in its quarterly report on Iraq, noting: “It was also alleged that on 4 November, an air strike hit a market in al-Qaim, western Anbar, killing at least five civilians and wounding at least 27 more.” The attack was generally attributed to Iraqi government forces and their allies, which might include the coalition.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohamed Ahmed
Age unknown male Listed by Herak killed
Ahmed Munir Khitab
Age unknown male Listed by Herak killed
Imad Hadi
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Ahmed Abboud
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Ra’ed Nuri
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Nouri Afar
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Mohammad Yousuf
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Hakim Marwan
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Amash Jassim
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Bilal Abdul-Jabbar
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Subhi Jamil
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Ali Naseer
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Mohamed Wadah
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Zia Abboud
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Yousef Salem
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Saif Abdul Hadi
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Qusay Rahim
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Hamad Talal
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Osman Yusuf
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Walid Youssef
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Amal Eid
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Mua’az Nuri
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Raed Nuri
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Abdul Rahman Hamid
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Mohammed Shaker
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Rifa’at Radi
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Atheer A’thal
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Alaa Jassim
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Yasser Sabbar
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Ammar Yasir
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Osama Haitham
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Muhannad Mohammed Ahmed
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Wassfiya Jawhar
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Mu’awya Muhannad
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Walid Youssef
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Adnan Mohamed Ahmed
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured
Mua’az Sabah Awad
Age unknown male Listed by Herak injured

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the alleged Coalition strike hit a market in the city of Al-Qaim, for which the coordinates for its midpoint are: 34.3957715,40.9943684. One source reports a “market in the Rumanna (رمانة) area,” which is just North of the Euphrates river, opposite the city of Al-Qaim. The coordinates for the midpoint of this area are: 34.3930610, 41.0779810

  • Location of a "market in the Rumanna (رمانة) area,” North of the Euphrates river opposite the city of Al-Qaim

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 15
  • (0–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14–35
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of the alleged strike (via Herak)
  • Another image of the alleged incident (via Herak)
  • Another image of the alleged incident (via Herak)
  • Another image of the alleged incident (via Herak)
  • Another image of the alleged incident (via Herak)
  • Another image of the alleged incident (via Herak)
  • Another image of the alleged incident (via Herak)

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-Qaiem, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU833078
    Military Grid Reference System

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

No coalition reports of airstrikes on Al Qaim or the vicinity for November 3rd-5th 2014. A spokesman also later told Airwars that “no Coalition airstrikes have taken place in the vicinity” on the date in question.

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 15
  • (0–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14–35
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (6) [ collapse]