Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI348

Incident date

November 24, 2016

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.349611, 43.2167441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

There were claims by local sources that as many as 70 civilian casualties occurred in Mosul as a result of Coalition strikes, ISIL bombardment or Iraq Army actions.

Iraqi Spring Media Center reported that 70 civilians were killed or wounded by “either” the Coalition or Iraqi government artillery.

Other reports put the toll lower, including one released by Al Taghier Channel, which put the toll at 36 killed and wounded. Additional outlets reported that ISIL had committed massacres in areas of Mosul recaptured by government forces.

In a January 2nd 2017 statement which may refer to this or the following event, the Coalition noted: Nov. 24, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in this strike. A senior official later informed Airwars that the alleged incident had come to light as a result of internal reporting.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Civilians reported injured
    35–65
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • An image shows a victim killed after the bombing of the city of Mosul (via Zakaria al-Kudri)
  • an image shows Iraqi forces standing next to a dead body following a shelling on Mosul (Via naynawa alghad.tv)
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
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF4000224228
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 2, 2017
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 23rd-24th, the Coalition reported “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged four ISIL tactical units and a sniper position; destroyed six mortar systems, three vehicles, two heavy machine guns, two VBIEDs, and two command and control nodes; damaged four supply routes and two bridges; and suppressed a tactical unit and a mortar system.” For November 24th-25th, the Coalition reported “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units; destroyed three ISIL-held buildings, two mortar systems, two vehicles, a VBIED, an artillery system, and a weapons cache; damaged a supply route; and suppressed a mortar system.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Civilians reported injured
    35–65
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (6) [ collapse]