Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI360

Incident date

December 3, 2016

Location

حي النور, Mosul, Noor, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.35634, 43.18668 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident previously unknown to Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the death of one civilian near Mosul.

Their February 2017 civilian casualty report noted “During a strike on ISIL fighters firing a mortar on partnered forces it is assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed.”

The incident appears to refer to an event at al Noor neighbourhood, which was captured by Iraqi security forces shortly afterwards. According to a local eyewitness who spoke with Airwars, Coalition strikes damaged nine civilian houses during the attack near the Aesha Mosque. One man who was killed had been identified by name.

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with coordinates for the event, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Huthiefa Talal
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 36.3638331, 43.1857967

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
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF373250
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2017
  • Dec. 3, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on ISIL fighters firing a mortar on partnered forces it is assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

At the time, the Coalition publicly noted for December 3rd-4th that “Near Mosul, three strikes [1 British] engaged two ISIL tactical units; destroyed a mortar, a weapons cache, four ISIL-held buildings, a command and control node, an explosives factory, and a heavy machine gun; damaged a land bridge, an ISIL-held building, and 16 supply routes; and suppressed an ISIL tactical unit.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]