Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI342

Incident date

November 17–18, 2016

Location

حي عدن, Mosul, Aden, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.35316, 43.21461 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local reports and an eyewitness inside east Mosul said up to 24 civilians from four families who had been gathered in one room within a three-story house, were killed in Aden Quarter by an alleged Coalition airstrike at 2.30pm during the main offensive by Iraqi security forces.

Iraqi reporter Majid Sharif noted on the day “Heavy fighting in the district of Aden by my brothers, heroes of the fight against terrorism.” And fellow reporter Issa Abdul Razzaq noted that “Counter-terrorism forces have stormed the district of Aden.”

On April 30th 2017, the Coalition confirmed that it had killed eight civilians in the attack: “Nov. 17, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report: During a strike on ISIS fighters firing on partnered forces from a building Nov. 18, it was assessed that eight civilians were unintentionally killed and 12 civilians unintentionally injured in the building.”

A field report by the Los Angeles Times also confirmed the event: “Sunday’s report confirmed that eight civilians were mistakenly killed and a dozen injured on Nov. 17 in east Mosul’s Aden neighbourhood by a strike meant to hit Islamic State fighters. Victims identified, including an adult man, 6 children and an unborn niece. His mother suffered burns to her scalp and back. His 40-year-old sister’s legs were broken and she still cannot walk. ‘The way they are targeting ISIS is wrong: They will target one ISIS militant, and as a result, many civilians will die,’ Jasim, 30, said Sunday. An unemployed taxi driver, he is trying to get his injured relatives treated, but said no one would lend him the money.”

Between April 2016 and June 2017, reporters Azmat Khan and Anand Gopal visited the sites of nearly 150 airstrikes across northern Iraq for the New York Times Magazine.

Regarding this specific incident, they noted that, “On 11/17-18/2016, the family of Jassim Mohammad Ali was at home when an airstrike hit their home, killing eight of his grandchildren, including one who was born only two days earlier, and injuring three family members.

“Naha Mohammad Hussain, who was among the injured, had just given birth two days earlier, woke up under the rubble, looking up to see sky, thinking about the pain in her right hand and right leg, and where her children were. Her husband pulled her out of the rubble, and she was treated at Salam Hospital. Her right arm has already had three operations, but her hand hangs completely limp. Doctors say she will take two years to recover. Also injured were Zohra Hassan, who has a very deep gash in her head, where you can see her skull, and back, and Fatiiya Jasim, who has a chunk of her left leg missing. The family has rebuilt parts of the house, but still are seeking costly medical treatment for injuries.”

Jassim Mohammad Ali, originally badly injured in the event, passed away in December 2017.

In July 2019, the Coalition additionally provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (12)

Imad Jasim
5 years old male killed
23 years old male killed
12 years old male killed
8 years old male killed
5 years old male killed
4 years old male killed
1 years old male killed
1 years old female 2 days old killed
Adult male Died December 2017 killed
Naha Mohammad Hussain
Adult female Mother of Rahma Omar injured
Zohra Hassan
Age unknown female injured
Fatiiya Jasim
Age unknown female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 24
  • (6–7 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A photo shows the house which was destroyed by the alleged Coalition airstrike in Aden Quarter in the Baysan neighbourhood of Mosul where reportedly up to 24 civilians were killed (via LA times)

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 36.3535686, 43.2141209

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Inside target building
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    8
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    12
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF398246
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 30, 2017
  • Nov. 17, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via NGO report: During a strike on ISIS fighters firing on partnered forces from a building Nov. 18, it was assessed that eight civilians were unintentionally killed and 12 civilians unintentionally injured in the building.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 16th-17th, the Coalition reported “Near Mosul, three strikes [1 British] engaged three ISIL tactical units; destroyed six mortar systems, four watercraft, three storage containers, two fighting positions, two vehicles, a bunker, a trench, and an ISIL-held building; degraded two tunnels; and suppressed two tactical units and a rocket-propelled grenade system.“

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 24
  • (6–7 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (5) [ collapse]