Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI067

Incident date

May 13, 2015

Location

بيجي‎, Masahag, Salah Al Din, Iraq

Geolocation

35.00444, 43.47343 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six members of one family were reported killed when a Coalition drone allegedly struck a vehicle distributing oil products to local people. Responding to questions from Airwars, an MoD spokesman said that no British Reaper drone strike took place in the vicinity of al Masahag on that date.

Bayji’s Mayor, Mohamed Mahmoud said in an interview that “Drone aircraft targeted a wheel loaded with oil derivatives to the north of Bayji killing six people, among them three brothers, all from the same family.” He said they were handing out oil derivatives to other families in the region. Mahmoud added that “the dead were all from the Jabour tribe of the people of Bayji, who had fled to the area after Daesh control of their area.”

On July 7th, 2017 – more than 2 years later – the Coalition confirmed responsibility for the incident, reporting: “May 13, 2015, near Bayji, Iraq, via Airwars report: During a strike on an ISIS weapons cache, it was assessed that six civilians may have been unintentionally killed.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 35.004388,  43.473673

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    6
  • Stated location
    near Bayji, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLD607746
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2019
  • May 13, 2015, near Bayji, Iraq, via Airwars report: During a strike on an ISIS weapons cache, it was assessed that six civilians may have been unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The coalition has confirmed heavy activity at Bayji around the time of the strike. On May 12th-13th 2015 it reported that “Near Bayji, four airstrikes struck one large and two small ISIL tactical units, destroying 10 ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL VBIED.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]