Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI213

Incident date

March 31, 2016

Location

يت, Hit, Al Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.642631, 42.8278537 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources claimed that Coalition aircraft targeted a civilian car in Hit and killed the driver, who was said to have no links to so-called Islamic State.

According to News of Iraq, the aircraft had been targeting a Daesh VBIED “driven by a suicide bomber” but that the attack also led to the destruction of another car and the killing of a civilian driver with no links to Daesh.

Its source added: “There is presently a heavy engagement by international aircraft above Hit, with the aim of bombing areas under the control of Daesh in preparation for an attack by government forces on the city centre.”

In its monthly casualty report for July 2017, the Coalition noted two allegations for Hit, both of which is dated to March 31st 2016. It stated that “The report contained insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ 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 Hit, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017
  • The report contained insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 30th-31st 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Hit, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL safe house and destroyed two ISIL supply caches, 15 ISIL rockets, three ISIL bunkers, and an ISIL tunnel.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]