Geolocation
Airwars assessment
A mass casualty incident was reported in Iraq, with at least 43 civilians killed and a further 68 injured, after aircraft were said to have bombed the Senyah region north west of Bayji. The target appeared to have been a former Iraq Army logistics base, while those killed were living nearby in tin shacks.
Locals urged Iraq’s Prime Minister to open a federal inquiry into the morning strike. Naim al-Gaood, a local tribal leader, told al-Sumaria News: “The warplanes of unknown nationality bombed stores and buildings west of Bayji and north of Salah al-Din, killing [and injurng] about 150 civilians, mostly children, women and the elderly.” He said that among the dead and injured were 50 people from the tribe of Albu Nimr, and demanded that Iraq’s Prime Minister “open an urgent investigation into the identity of the planes that bombed those buildings where displaced families and other clan members of the Albu Nimr tribe had sought safety; and to seek compensation for the victims and the dead.”
In its July 2017 monthly report, the Coalition said it had not conducted strikes in the area on the day: “Sep. 18, 2015, near Al Senyah, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties. ”
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention the town of Senjah (الصينيه), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.9346024, 43.4121323. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
Summary
Sources (10) [ collapse]
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 geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.
Original strike reports
For September 18th-19th 2015, the Coalition reported that “Near Bayji, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed one vehicle.”