Incident Code

CI228

Location

صديرة, Sudayrah, Salah Al Din, Iraq

Geolocation

35.4669, 43.28284
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: I193)

According to local sources, unknown aircraft struck boats in Sidera village east of Shirkat north of Tikrit, killing 22 civilians and injuring at least 15 more.

Russia Today claimed that the night time event “killed five brothers from one family” with a number of houses in the village destroyed.

According to News of Iraq, the civilians died when boats carrying food were struck on the river: “It’s noteworthy that as a result of the siege of Fallujah and the hunger people are suffering, they are being forced to use boats to move some relief aid in from other regions, particularly after the destruction of nearby bridges.”

Al Sumaria blamed the Coalition, while News of Iraq said the Iraqi military was responsible.

 

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Civilians reported killed
22
Civilians reported injured
15–20

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sudayrah (صديرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.4669, 43.28284. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Not yet assessed
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For April 17th-18th 2016, the Coalition did report destroying a boat, though placed the attack near Mosul: “Near Mosul, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL mortar positions, two ISIL assembly areas, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL boat and suppressed an ISIL rocket team.“
Iraq Government Forces Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Iraq Government Forces
Iraq Government Forces position on incident
Not yet assessed