Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Dozens of civilians were killed or wounded in Tal Afar due to airstrikes and shelling, according to many local sources.
Yaqein reported that scores of unarmed civilians were killed by Coalition strikes as well as selling by government-aligned militias. A source told Yaqein that Tal Afar hospital is currently teeming with dozens of people injured due to indiscriminate shelling of the [Coalition] alliance and militia.
Several other outlets, including News of Iraq, reported both airstrikes as well as shelling from Popular Mobilization units.
Al Jazeera said that dozens of civilians were killed or wounded, but also reported that the Iraqi Defense Ministry said that the Iraqi Air Force was involved in bombing raids.
Fursan al Malhama noted fighting in the area involving government-aligned militias and claimed that 15 militia members had been killed.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (6) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]
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An image shows smoke rising from the scene of reported airstrikes and shelling (via news ofiraq3)
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.
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.
Original strike reports
For November 17th-18th, the Coalition reported no strikes “near Tal Afar” but did report “Near Kisik, one strike destroyed a mortar system and suppressed a bunker” and “Near Sinjar, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit.“ For November 18th-19th, the Coalition reported no strikes “near Tal Afar” but did report “Near Kisik, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL-held building and a mortar system.”