Geolocation
Airwars assessment
More than a dozen civilians – and possibly more than 40 – were reported killed in eastern Mosul.
Yaqein reported that 15 civilians were killed by a missile on the east side of Mosul, all from the same family – though a source it cited put the death toll lower, at 12. It did not say who was responsible but noted that the deaths came amid fighting in the area.
A separate account posted on Naynawaalghad.tv indicated that a higher number – over 40 civilians, including women and children – were killed as a result of air and artillery bombardments. That account and others referenced victims still being trapped under rubble and isolated from rescuers due to continued fighting.
In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, Coalition officials requested additional information concerning the alleged event.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (5) [ collapse]
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.
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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The report contained insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.
Original strike reports
For December 14th-15th, the Coalition reported “Near Mosul, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit; destroyed a fighting position; suppressed 11 ISIL tactical units and 13 mortar teams.”