Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI048

Incident date

March 5, 2015

Location

برطلّة, Bartalah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3534649, 43.3793879 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to NINA, a source in the forensic medicine department of the local hospital reported that numerous civilians died “in bombing by the international coalition aircraft [which] targeted a stronghold of the Islamic State in Bartalah north of Mosul.” Among 16 alleged civilian victims were five children and two women, whose bodies were said to have been transferred to the hospital.

Iraq4All confirmed airstrikes near Bartalah, noting: “Islamic State elements have been shooting at the Peshmerga forces on a daily basis from those sites that were bombed.” However, it made no mention of civilian casualties.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention Bartalah village (برطلّة), North of Mosul, in the Nineveh province, Iraq. The location of the midpoint of Bartalah village (برطلّة) is: 36.3534649, 43.3793879

  • Boundary of Bartalah village ( برطلّة ) and Bazkartan village ( باس خيرا ) visible on the top left

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16
  • (5 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

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 Bartalah, Mosul, 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

Three coalition airstrikes in the vicinity of Mosul have been confirmed around this time. On March 4th-5th, the coalition reported: “Near Mosul, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.” And on March 5th-6th, “Near Mosul, two airstrikes [1 Canadian] struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL anti-aircraft artillery system.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16
  • (5 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]