Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI433

Incident date

January 18, 2017

Location

الزاب, Al Zab, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.2697714, 43.458867 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources said that dozens of civilians were killed or injured when a Coalition airstrike hit a health center, a power station and a market in Zab town, southwest of Kirkuk.

Raedlay posted a video showing the aftermath of the strikes and the destruction of the health center. Correspondences Team said that four strikes had been carried out, blaming the Coalition.

Journalists had told Iraqyoon that the raids had killed and wounded dozens of civilian doctors, and had “destroyed the headquarters of the old ID office and medical clinic”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 12
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

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 Al Zab, 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 17th-18th the Coalition did not report any strikes in Al Zab. However it said: “Near Huwayjah, one strike destroyed a weapons cache.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 12
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]