Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI300

Incident date

October 20, 2016

Location

حي الحدباء, Mosul, Hadba, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3951712, 43.1503487 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian male was killed in Mosul’s Hadba neighbourhood by Coalition strikes, according to local reports.

Al Rafidain Network for Human Rights reported that a young man named Mustafa Bushar al Qaddu was killed inside his home due to Coalition strikes.

Iraaq 18 said the civilian casualties occured after the Coalition destroyed a vehicle-borne IED: “A member of the Nineveh provincial council, Hossam El Din al-Saffar, said the international coalition aircraft targeted a car bomb which was on its way to elements of the Nineveh [Iraq] army in the east of the city, which led to the fall of martyrs and wounded among civilians. Al-Saffar said in a press statement that … the explosion led to the martyrdom and wounding of a number of civilians who were fleeing the clashes.”

A marty’s page to Mr Al Quddu was later posted by relatives in Ireland, which proclaimed: “I declare the news of the martyrdom of Mustafa Bashar Al Qaddu who was the victim of a missile bombing which targeted their home today noon in Hadba neighbourhood Oct.20.2016 in our Beloved Mosul before its liberation – which he will now never be able to witness.”

A video posted by blogger Akram Almashaddani claimed to show significant destruction from Coalition strkes that day on the city.

Given reported British actions in the area that day, Airwars flagged the incident to the UK’s MoD which said ” we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the event. However given that RAF strikes were reported in northand north east Mosul, Airwars has requested further clarification.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mustafa Bushar al Qaddu
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Condolence post for Mustafa Bushar al Qaddu
  • Another image of Mustafa Bushar al Qaddu (via Al Rafidain)
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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Hadba, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3422029415
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 19th-20th the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units and two staging areas; destroyed four vehicles, four ISIL-held buildings, four fighting positions, three containers, two mortar systems, a tunnel entrance, a bunker, an artillery system, a front end loader, a weapons cache, a heavy machine gun, and a tanker trailer; damaged a VBIED; and suppressed three mortar positions and a fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]