(Previous Incident Code: I047)

Summary: A devastating airstrike on the Mosul neighbourhood of Rifai reportedly killed numerous non-combatants and injured up to 150 people. Among those killed in the event was Ayman al Hayali (who ran a clothing shop) and his family, including his wife and young son.

Other sources claimed that 5 women and at least 3 children were among the dead, including a girl named Habiba aged four.

According to most media, the deaths and injuries occurred after a house used by Islamic State to store ammunition was hit by the coalition, leading to major secondary explosions in the vicinity of the Bahauddin mosque.

Mosul TV cited a local eyewitness as saying that “seven houses and five shops were completely destroyed” in the attack, and that scuffles broke out between survivors and militants over ISIL’s policy of storing munitions in a civilian neighbourhood. Local people also urged the coalition to be far more careful in its targeting.

In a later report issued January 2016 the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) noted: “On 22-23 May, UNAMI/OHCHR received a report that airstrikes hit al-Najjar, al-Rifai and Sahaa areas in western Mosul in Ninewa, allegedly killing 30 civilians and wounding 62 others, including women and children. UNAMI/OHCHR was not able to verify this report.”