Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Five Kurdish non-combatants, all from the same family, died in a reported Coalition strike on the village of Fadhiliyah, near Mosul. A major field investigation by the Guardian later identified the dead.
Three family members survived the attack though were injured. Rahim, an eyewitness and relative, told the Guardian: “We wrapped the dead in blankets and buried them the same day.”
CENTCOM later confirmed that the coalition had struck targets at Fadhiliya on April 4, with a spokesman adding that it was “looking into this further”. Local MP Mala Salim Juma Mohammad said he had been able to confirm that the family had no connection to militants, adding of the strike that “It was a mistake. The coalition needs to compensate the family adequately.”
A declassified CENTCOM report published by Airwars in August 2015 revealed that a US A-10 Warthog had struck the village, in response to a ‘troops in contact’ request by a unit labelled the Irbil Strike Cell. As the report notes, “Strike imagery shows a structure in the strike radius” and a formal investigation was launched into the attack. The results are not presently known.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Family members (5)
Summary
Sources (8) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]
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April 4th Danya Laith Hazem (Guardian)
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Extract from declassified CENTCOM document detailing the Fadhiliya case
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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5 KIA, 1 WIA At 2225Z [zulu = local time] the Irbil Strike Cell received a report of Troops in Contact IVO Mosul, IRQ. KRSC reported DShsK contact from al-Fadhiliya village [ ] A-10 US engaged with GBU-38s utilizing ROE 008. Initial BDA was assessed as 2x DShsK fighting positions destroyed. Strike imagery shows a structure in the strike radius. USEMB later received CIVCAS allegation. 4/6/2015: CJFLCC-I is preparing the "first impressions report" to determine a credibility assessment IAW CENTCOM. If the allegation is found to be credible, an AR-15 6 will be conducted and if the allegation is found to be not-credible it will be filed.