Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI500

Incident date

March 1, 2017

Location

النبي شيث, Mosul, Nabi Sheet, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.334635, 43.135051 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local residents said 14 civilians from three families were killed in a Coalition airstrike reportedly targeting a car bomb parked near their houses in Nabi Sheet neighborhood, at the right side of Mosul.

The sources reported that “the victims’ bodies [are] still under the rubble and could not be pulled out because of the intensification of the fighting in the region.” All sources blamed the Coalition for the raids.

Locals reported to FaceIraq News that “the three families are Nazim Abdul Rahman Chet‘s family; the family of Dawood, Suleiman, and the family of Yousef Mahmoud Salhan.”

On April 30th 2017 the Coalition claimed responsibility, noting: “March 1, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: During a strike on an ISIS VBIED factory, it was assessed that the strike blast set off a secondary explosion of an ISIS VBIED parked next to a house down the street from the target location resulting in the unintentional death of 14 civilians.” A senior official later confirmed to Airwars that the incident occurred in Nabi Sheet.

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood at 36.33305, 43.13709

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known 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
    Killed by secondary explosion(s)
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    14
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF328225
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 30, 2017
  • March 1, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: During a strike on an ISIS VBIED factory, it was assessed that the strike blast set off a secondary explosion of an ISIS VBIED parked next to a house down the street from the target location resulting in the unintentional death of 14 civilians.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 1st-March 2nd the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed 19 fighting positions, four supply caches, four mortar systems, four VBIEDs, three tunnels, two recoilless rifles, two VBIED factories, an ISIS-held building, a command and control node; and a barge; damaged 10 supply routes and two tunnels; and suppressed 14 mortar teams and three ISIS tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]