Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI278

Incident date

August 19, 2016

Location

الجوسق, Mosul, Al-Jawsaq, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3280482, 43.1503701 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 19 civilians reportedly died in an alleged Coalition airstrike at Jissag near Mosul. Up to nine children and five women were said to be among the dead.

Yaqein reported the deaths of a woman and her four children in what was described as a Coalition strike. The Iraqi Spring Media Centre also initially said this figure, but later revised upwards its tally to 15 civilians killed. NRN News placed the death toll at 13.

News of Iraq reported that heavy strikes targeted an empty headquarters of Daesh [trans: or possibly an abandoned building], which led to the collapse of houses adjacent and caused casualties among civilians. Al Rafidain said the targeted building was the local municipal directorate, with those buildings nearby acting as guesthouses. The US-led Coalition later said it had struck an ISIL beddown location that day. Al Jazeera reported that three Daesh fighters also died in the event. .

So-called Islamic State issued a video following the event, which showed the widespread destruction of a civilian neighbourhood as well as graphic footage of at least three dead children. One apparent eyewitness speaks to camera: How can God allow America to kill 19 family members at their home, mostly kids? Are they fighters? May God take revenge on America.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 19
  • (4–9 children1 woman)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A reported image of destruction at Jissag, following an alleged Coalition airstrike on August 19th which killed or more civilians (News of Iraq)
  • A video shows the aftermath of the airstrike by the coalition allegedly in Jissag near Mosul, where at least 19 civilians reportedly died including nine children and five women (Al Jazeera TV)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 18th-19th 2016, the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, an ISIL finance storage center, and an ISIL finance distribution center and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, two ISIL mortar systems, four ISIL assembly areas, and an ISIL tunnel and suppressed an ISIL tactical unit and denied ISIL access to terrain.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 19
  • (4–9 children1 woman)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]