Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI506

Incident date

March 3, 2017

Location

المنصور, Mosul, Al Mansour, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.31736, 43.10975 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Surviving family members told Buzzfeed investigators that five members of a family died in a suspected Coalition strike. The alliance later accepted responsibility.

Buzzfeed casenotes for the incident were later shared with Airwars:

“GPS Coordinates: 36°19’02.5″N, 43°06’35.1″E

Date and approximate time: March 3, at around 11am

Casualties: The nephew and four nieces of Zayd Younes Mohamed, all deceased. Four surviving children and brother, some with injuries.

Comments: This strike was not concurrent with the ISF assault into the neighborhood. ISIS had that day moved an anti-aircraft gun on the other side of a thin wall beside the home. The strike target the gun. It destroyed the home in the process; witnesses were not sure if the gun was also hit. Zayd and his brother buried the dead children. When they approached the Iraqi government for compensation, they were told that since the bodies were no longer at the site of the blast, the government could not prove that the dead were victims of the blast, and their case was rejected.”

In its August monthly casualty report the Coalition accepted responsibility for the event, noting that “March 3, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: During a strike on an ISIS machine gun position engaging ISF, it was assessed that five civilians, not previously observed during the engagement, were unintentionally killed.”

Officials confirmed to Airwars that this was the al Mansour neighbourhood, and provided matching co-ordinates.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ 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
    Unseen at time of engagement
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    5
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3031220807
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017
  • March 3, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: During a strike on an ISIS machine gun position engaging ISF, it was assessed that five civilians, not previously observed during the engagement, were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 2nd-March 3rd the Coalition stated: “Near Mosul, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed six fighting positions, four heavy machine guns, three medium machine guns, two tunnels, a rocket-propelled grenade system, a VBIED, and a VBIED facility; damaged seven supply routes; and suppressed 22 mortar teams.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]