Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad reported two alleged Coalition airstrikes, killing five and injuring two civilians called Mohammed Mohammed Ahmed and Ebtehalf Mohammed Yosef.
The first attack took place at 7.40 AM local time on the highway close to the town of Umm al-Dheban at that time. The second airstrike was at 8.40 AM local time on the highway close to the town of Umm Jereis. Jannie Schipper, a Dutch journalist who first broke the story, provided Airwars with details of the location and photo imagery.
The people were moving in a row of taxis from Mosul to Baghdad to flee from ISIS on 26 January 2015. Mr. Ahmed was with his mother in the first taxi and Mrs Yosef was with her husband and another couple in the second taxi. Around 7.40 AM the first taxi of the row was hit during an airstrike. Mr. Ahmed was wounded as a result. His mother and the driver did not survive the attack. After the airstrike the persons present in the second taxi provided first aid to the victims of the first taxi and they have ensured that the victims were taken to a medical facility in ISIS-held area by cars coming towards them. After the row of taxis had continued its journey, it was again hit around 8.40 by an airstrike. This time the second taxi was hit. Mrs Yosef was severely wounded as a result of this bombing. Her husband and the other couple have not survived the airstrike.
Mr. Ahmed and Mrs Yosef are presently being represented by Dutch lawyer Liesbeth Zegveld, who specializes in human rights liability.
The incident occured between 7:40 am and 8:40 am local time.
The victims were named as:
Summary
Sources (1) [ collapse]
Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]
Reports of the incident mention that two alleged Coalition airstrikes hit a convoy of taxis traveling towards Baghdad, carrying civilians fleeing fighting in Mosul. The location of the first airstrike, at around 07:40 local time, was on the Al Dhiban – Al Qaim Road, “close to the town of Umm al-Dhiban”. Approximate location (provided by eyewitness): 36.123785, 41.297725 The second airstrike hit at around 08:40 local time on the Al Dhiban – Al Qaim Road, “close to the town of Umm Jereis” ( ام جريس ). Approximate location (provided by eyewitness): 35.862952, 41.383814
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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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
According to the Coalition, between January 25th-26th 2015: “Near Mosul, four airstrikes [1 Canadian] struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL bunkers, two ISIL vehicles, and an ISIL armored vehicle.”