Incident Code

CI362

Location

Mosul, near al Salem hospital, Iraq

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: I304)

The Coalition mistakenly hit Iraqi forces during an airstrike near al Salem hospital in Mosul, according to some local sources.

Iraqi Spring Media Center reported that the Coalition mistakenly targeted” government forces near Salam Hospital in the southeast of Mosul. And Sputnik News claimed that US Air Force bombs left 90 Iraqi military members dead and more than 100 wounded.

The Coalition later issued a statement: On Dec. 6th, Iraqi Security Forces attempted to seize the Al Salem hospital complex from ISIL fighters in the heart of East Mosul. ISIL was using the hospital as a base of operations and command and control headquarters. After seizing the area, the ISF fought off several counterattacks and six VBIEDs the following day before retrograding a short distance, under heavy enemy fire, to strengthen their position. On Dec. 7th, after Iraqi forces continued to receive heavy and sustained machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire from ISIL fighters in a building on the hospital complex, they requested immediate support from the Coalition. In support of the Iraqi Security Forces, Coalition aircraft conducted a precision strike on the location to target enemy fighters firing on Iraqi forces. The Coalition complies with the Law of Armed Conflict and takes all feasible precautions during the planning and execution of airstrikes to reduce the risk of harm to non-combatants. We will continue to strike ISIL military targets in support of our partners in order to defeat ISIL in Iraq.

Awaiting clarification on whether friendly forces were engaged.

 

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Not yet assessed
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For December 5th-6th, the Coalition reported “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units; destroyed nine ISIL-held buildings, four mortar systems, two VBIEDs, a vehicle, a heavy machine gun, two repeater tower power stations, and a land bridge; damaged a bridge, a front-end loader, 47 roads; and suppressed a tactical unit.“