Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI462

Incident date

February 16, 2017

Location

الإصلاح الزراعي, Mosul, Isilah Zeraei / Agragarian Reform, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34749, 43.08249 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a previously unreported incident, the Coalition confirmed on April 1st 2017 that it had accidentally killed two civilians during an attack on an ISIL vehicle bomb factory.

The Coalition stated: “Feb. 16, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS VBIED facility, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed when they entered the target area after the munition was released.”

Coordinates provided by the Coalition to Airwars (38SLF 27931 24198) showed the incident occurred in the Isilah Zeraei / Agragarian Reform area of Mosul, near the Al Farouk mosque. There were reports of a former sewing factory in the area bombed, with Kuna noting that “According to a security source that the aircraft of the International Coalition launched several air strikes targeting a building used by the organization for some of its leaders, which killed 13 people, and also targeted a building located in the area of Isilah Zeraei in Mosul, which included leaders including Arabs and foreigners.”

More general reports spoke of civilian casualties in ‘west Mosul’ from air and artillery strikes, including by US Apache helicopters.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "Dead and wounded civilians in air force and artillery shelling targeting residential neighborhoods on the right side of the city of Mosul."
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
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF2793124198
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • During a strike on an ISIS VBIED facility, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed when they entered the target area after the munition was released.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For February 15th-16th 2017, the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, eight strikes destroyed four weapons caches, two VBIED facilities, and an IED facility and damaged three supply routes.“

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (5) [ collapse]