Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI359

Incident date

December 3, 2016

Location

القائم, Al Qa'im, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.3957715, 40.9943684 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least nine civilians, including women and children, were reported killed and several others wounded due to an alleged Coalition strikes, according to several local sources.

Yaqein reported that the Coalition killed 21 civilians, mostly women and children and wounded ten others included 7 children. A source told Yaqein that “the bombing focused on the areas of Saada and al-Obeidi,” and destroyed four houses along with seven cars belonging to civilians.

Muntathar al Zaidi Al Harari put the number of injured at 13. News of Iraq put the death toll at 9 (all from one family), while Al Gharbia reported that 12 civilians had died and one child was identified by name.

In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, Coalition officials said the event was presently assessed as ‘Not credible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ayham Ibrahim Jassam
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 21
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A picture of Ayham Ibrahim Jassam, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Qa'im, Anbar on December 3rd, 2016 (via Alqaim Alhadath)
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 Al Qa'im, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017
  • 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

US-led Coalition

For December 2nd-3rd, the Coalition reported no strikes near Al Qaim but reported “Near Rawah, one strike destroyed a VBIED factory.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 21
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]