Incident Code

CI376

Location

البعاج, Al Baaj, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.0426, 41.71632
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: I314)

Local media and the area’s MP reported that 20 civilians were killed and 55 injured after unknown aircraft targeted Al Baaj city west of Mosul.

According to Zahid Kotuna, the elected MP for the area, an unknown warplane carried out a fierce air strike on the densely populated civilian town of Baaj 140 km west of Mosul. The bombing caused the deaths of 20 civilians, including children, and the wounding of about 55 others.

Iraqi Spring said that More than 20 civilians were killed and dozens injured as an aerial shelling targeted Sina’a Marketplace in Ba’aj district west of Mosul.

In its February 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition stated that it was not responsible for the event: (7.) Dec. 25, 2016, near al-Ba’aj, Iraq, via media report: No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties.

 

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Civilians reported killed
20
Civilians reported injured
55

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Baaj (البعاج), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.0426, 41.71632. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Non credible / Unsubstantiated
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-Ba’aj, Iraq
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For December 24th-25th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit; destroyed four buildings, four heavy machine guns, three tactical vehicles, and three VBIEDs; and suppressed nine mortar teams and two ISIL tactical units.”
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2017-02-02
Original Source
No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties.