Incident Code
Incident Code
Incident Date
Location
Geolocation
Geolocation
Airwars Assessment
(Previous Incident Code: I306)
At least 60 civilians were killed and as many as 100 injured in a series of airstrikes in al Qaim, according to reports. However, the alleged Coalition later denied responsibility.
Iraqi Spring Media Center said that 60 civilians were killed and 100 injured in an Iraqi government bombing that targeted al Qaim. A report posted on Rawh2015 and at least one other Facebook page indicated that three strikes took place – including on in front of the Grand Mosque and another targeted civilians during the receipt of pensions.
Rafidian Information Center reported that 6 air raids took place. A report in Shafaaq said the head of Iraq’s Parliament blamed the strikes on incorrect coordinates. Other outlets, including Euphrates Post, blamed the Coalition.
However, in a statement posted to Twitter, the Coalition’s spokesperson said that CJTF-OIR is aware of reports of civilian casualties near Al Qaim. We did not conduct strikes in the area around the time of the incident. This was later reiterated in the Coalition’s February 2017 civilian casualty report.
Later reports from Iraqi Spring Media Center put the death toll at 120 civilians. News of Iraq posted extremely graphic photographs of dead children.
Key Information
Geolocation Notes
Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Qa’im (القائم), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.3957715, 40.9943684. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
Military Statements
Media From Sources (8)
CJTF-OIR is aware of reports of civilian casualties near Al Qaim. We did not conduct strikes in the area around the time of the incident.
— OIR Spokesperson (@OIRSpox) December 7, 2016