Geolocation
Airwars assessment
In a fresh day of reported Coalition airstrikes on Mosul University, local sources said three university professors and some of their families were killed and many other civilians wounded, after jets hit academic residences. Up to 15 Daesh fighters also reportedly died.
Heavy Coalition activity above the city was reported from dawn onwards. Yagen was among the news outlets reporting that strikes on “professors’ residences” killed eight civilians. Radio Zuhor claimed that “One university professor recognized his wife from her hand only, specifically a wedding ring, after her body was torn to shreds.”
ARA News reported an eyewitness within Mosul as saying that “dozens of Daesh elements have been killed in an intense aerial bombardment by Coalition aircraft targeting the University of Mosul – where the organization responded by using anti-aircraft from inside residential neighbourhoods, while indifferent to the consequences.”
Multiple sources published five victim names, included their families members. Most of the victims were professors that are working at the University or staff members.
In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition deemed the incident non-credible due to insufficient evidence of civilian harm: “Mar. 22, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”
Based on available evidence, Airwars continues to assess this event as Fair – and has requested additional clarification from the Coalition.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Family members (5)
- Dr. Ziad Adult male (via Radio Zuhor) killed
- The wife of Dr. Ziad Adult female (via Radio Zuhor) killed
- Chile 1 Child (via Radio Zuhor) killed
- Chile 2 Child (via Radio Zuhor) killed
- Chile 3 Child (via Radio Zuhor) killed
Family members (3)
- Professor Dr. Dhafer Ramadan Al Badrani Adult male (via Radio Zuhor) killed
- The wife of Professor Dr. Dhafer Ramadan Al Badrani Adult female (via Radio Zuhor) killed
- Daughter. Dr Al Badrani female (via Radio Zuhor) killed
- Professor Fadia Muwaffaq al-Hayali Adult female killed
- Qusay Muthafar Jalaleddin Adult female killed
- Haitham Adult male killed
Summary
Sources (14) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]
Attached to this civilian harm incident is the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, 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.
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.
Original strike reports
For March 22nd-23rd 2016, the Coalition reports that “Near Mosul, three strikes [1 French] struck an ISIL headquarters, an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL assembly area and an ISIL vehicle.”