Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI429

Incident date

January 17, 2017

Location

الشفاء, Mosul, Al-Shafaa, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3534304, 43.1174326 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that more than 30 civilians were killed or injured by an air or drone strike on a funeral in al Shifa, and in other neighborhoods west of Mosul.

Iraqyoon quoted witnesses saying that “aircraft had bombed a funeral for the Sangaree family in Shifa neighborhood, at the right side of Mosul”. People had reportedly gathered there to mourn the death of retired Colonel Aziz Ahmad Aziz Sangaree, who passed away a few days before, according to MNN.

Iraqyoon said witnesses had reported that “the bombing killed eight civilians and wounded 22 others”. They furthermore said that “the dead included three of Sangaree family, namely: Maan Ahmed Aziz Sangaree and Mishal Aziz Ahmed Sangaree and lawyer Ammar Mohammed Sangaree and five of the mourners.” Iraqyoon said that it was unclear whether the warplanes were from the Coalition or the Iraqi Army.

According to the Iraqi Spring Media Center, eight people had died at the funeral due to a drone strike.

Sheikh Mamdouh Duwaish Al Jarba was also named as one of the deadly victims of the raids on the funeral, according to Ahmed Al Jarba (Facebook), who said American planes were responsible. Likewise, Colonel Talib Aziz Alnemr was reported killed while attending the funeral, according to Iraqyoon.

Raedlay posted a very graphic video showing dead bodies as well as a witness collecting body parts. It said these were the result of Coalition airstrikes on different Mosul districts. In another post, Raedlay spoke of “21 dead and 11 wounded, including women and children” Coalition raids on several neighborhoods in Mosul.

CJTFOIR reported on March 4th that “Jan. 17, 2017 near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report: After a review of available information and/or strike video it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in this geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.” Officials confirmed to Airwars that this was a reference to the al-Shifa allegations.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Maan Ahmed Aziz Sangaree
Age unknown male Named by Iraqyoon killed
Mishal Aziz Ahmed Sangaree
Age unknown male Named by Iraqyoon killed
Ammar Mohammed Sangaree
Adult male Named by Iraqyoon, lawyer killed

The victims were named as:

Mamdouh Duwaish Al Jarba
Adult male Sheikh killed
Talib Aziz Alnemr
Adult male Colonel attending a funeral killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 21
  • (1 child3–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–22
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • More images of the alleged victims
  • Colonel Talib Aziz Alnemr and Sheikh Nuri Duweish Jarba
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • 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 Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For January 16th-17th the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Mosul, four strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units; destroyed a command and control node, aheavy machine gun, a tactical vehicle, 14 fighting positions, two vehicles, a mortar, an ISIL-held building, a VBIED, and an ISIL weapons factory; suppressed an ISIL mortar team and artillery crew; and damaged 32 supply routes and an ISIL defensive berm.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 21
  • (1 child3–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–22
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (14) [ collapse]