Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI481

Incident date

February 24, 2017

Location

مزير, Mazir, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.4889697, 43.9799585 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single local media source reported that ten civilians were killed and many others were wounded in Coalition raids on Mazirr village, near Dibis region, north of Kirkuk City.

No additional details are presently known.

In December 2018, the Coalition announced that it had classed the event as non credible due to a lack of available evidence of civilian harm: “Feb. 24, 2017, near Mazir, Kirkuk, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ 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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mazir, Kirkuk, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SME074277
    Military Grid Reference System

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For February 23rd-24th the Coalition reported no strikes nearby.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]