Airwars assessment
According to several sources, at least 16 civilians killed following the alleged Coalition airstrike targeted the children’s hospital in Mosul. CENTCOM confirmed the incident the same day and announced an investigation.
A number of ISIL fighters were reported killed along with between five and 16 civilians when the Coalition targeted a vehicle at Ibn al-Athir hospital. An ISIL propaganda video showed significant damage to the hospital. One of the victims has since been named as a medic.
In a statement issued that day, CENTCOM noted: During operations to liberate Mosul on Dec. 29, a Coalition airstrike struck a van carrying ISIL fighters observed firing an SPG9/RPG recoilless rifle before loading the weapon in the van and driving off. The van was struck in what was later determined to be a hospital compound parking lot resulting in possible civilian casualties.
In its February 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition noted two events for December 29th – one of which had been dismissed, the other still under investigation. A senior official later confirmed to Airwars that this event remained under assessment.
A UN report on the protection of civilians in the context of Nineveh operations and the retaking of Mosul stated: On 29 December 2016, an airstrike hit the parking area of the Ibn al-Atheer hospital in the Majmoua al- Thaqafiya neighbourhood of northeastern Mosul, reportedly killing seven civilians and wounding 14 others. The airstrike allegedly targeted a vehicle transporting ISIL militants. Reports were received that when ISIL took over al-Salam hospital of southeastern Mosul on 5 December, it evacuated the civilian patients from Ibn al-Atheer hospital and reserved the hospital only for the treatment of its militants. ISIL reportedly posted a video showing the effects of the airstrike online. UNAMI/OHCHR could not verify the authenticity of the video.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
- Anwar Mohammed Daoud. Adult male via Haithem Yousif killed
Summary
Sources (12) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]
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Attached to this civilian harm incident is the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, 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 29th-30th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul four strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit; destroyed 11 ISIL-held buildings, five supply caches, three tactical vehicles, two mortar systems, two fighting positions, two VBIEDs, a tunnel, an observation post, a research lab, a command and control node, an up-armored VBIED, two barges, and two artillery pieces; suppressed five mortar teams; and damaged 20 supply routes and two repeater towers.”