Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI454

Incident date

February 10, 2017

Location

الحضر, Hatra, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.5729, 42.73395 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that three children and a woman were killed and and five other people were injured after Coalition airstrikes targeted the Hatra region, south of Mosul.

Yaqein said its sources added that “the bombing also caused significant damage to a number of civilian houses in the affected areas.”

While all sources blamed the Coalition, Yaqein said government aircraft had also participated in the attack.

In September 2019 the Coalition announced that it had classed this allegation of civilian harm as non-credible. Their monthly civilian casualty report noted, “After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hatra (الحضر), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.5729, 42.73395. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (5) [ 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
    Other
  • Stated location
    in Hatra, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SKE947389
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 26, 2019
  • February 10, 2017, in Hatra, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Near Mosul, it reported for Febuary 9th-10th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, four strikes, engaged an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL mortar team; destroyed a vehicle and a VBIED; damaged eight supply routes; and suppressed 15 mortar teams.”

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
    4
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]