Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI184

Incident date

February 4, 2016

Location

يت, Hit, Al Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

36.1984343, 40.7096672 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several sources reported that an alleged Coalition air strike had hit the Qalqah area of Hit City, resulting in the deaths of up to six civilians and the wounding of 11 others, most of them women and children.

Photographs obtained by the Iraqi Spring Media Center appeared to show significant damage, with a number of collapsed homes. One of the civilians killed was later named

Responding to a request for clarification about possible involvement given declared UK strikes ‘around Ramadi and Fallujah’ that day, the MoD told Airwars that “after extensive research, we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the alleged event at Hit.

In their February 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male (via Heat city of Peace FB account) killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • A photo shows a destroyed site by an alleged Coalition airstrike February 4th 2016, which reportedly killed six civilians (via Iraqi Spring Media Center)
  • The picture of the victim Othman Nasser Al Khairi Abdul Rahman who was killed in the alleged coalition airstrike (via Heat city of Peace FB account)
  • The picture shows the destroyed site of an alleged Coalition airstrike February 4th 2016, which reportedly killed 6 civilians (via Iraqi Spring Media Center)
  • A picture shows the destroyed site of an alleged Coalition airstrike February 4th 2016, which reportedly killed 6 civilians (via Iraqi Spring Media Center)
  • A picture shows the destroyed site of an alleged Coalition airstrike February 4th 2016, which reportedly killed 6 civilians (via Iraqi Spring Media Center)

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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SKC987237
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020
  • Feb. 4, 2016, in Hit, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2894/CI184 38SKC987237

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

No Coalition strikes were publicly reported at Hit between February 3rd-5th 2015, although a total of seven airstrikes were reported at nearby Ramadi.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]