Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI121

Incident date

October 9, 2015

Location

كبيسة, Kabaisa, Al Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.591421, 42.612228 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source alleged that a Coalition strike at Kabisa City near Hit in Anbar had killed four civilians.

A Coalition report issued in December 2016 noted: “After a thorough review of the facts and circumstances of each alleged civilian casualty report, CJTF-OIR assessed that the following 12 reports received in October are non-credible. Non-credible means that at this time there is not sufficient evidence available to determine that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in alleged civilian casualties…. 2. Oct. 9, 2015, near Kabaisa, Iraq: Insufficient evidence available to determine credibility.”

In July 2017 it also added: “Oct. 9, 2015, near Al Kabisa, Iraq, via Airwars report: The report contained insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Kabaisa (كبيسة), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.591421, 42.612228. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Kabaisa, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 1, 2016
  • The report contained insufficient information on the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 8th-9th 2015 the Coalition reported that “Near Hit, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL HME resupply truck and an ISIL HME cache.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]