Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI535

Incident date

March 13, 2017

Location

الموصل: غرب/الجانب الأيمن, Mosul, West / Right side, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.336843, 43.117979 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local residents and press source said that up to 25 civilians were killed, mostly children and women, and 117 wounded due to an ongoing battle in downtown (Central) and Western Mosul. Both shelling and Coalition airstrikes were reported.

Local residents and press sources said that airstrikes had heavily targeted the July 17, Rifai, Shifa, Bab Sinjar, New Mosul (near Yaqatha mosque), Hermat, Farouk and al-Jawsaq neighbourhoods in the West of Mosul. Many civilians were reportedly killed (30) or injured (58–117) and many were still under the rubble.

While Iraqyoon blamed the Coalition, most sources mention both airstrikes and artillery shelling, without specifying who carried out the raids. It was reported that the number of civilian casualties resulting from the strikes on homes near Yaqatha Mosque in New Mosul was still unknown yet.

Ninawa media centre launched an appeal, stating: “Appeal to the leadership of the Liberation of Nineveh operations. Indiscriminate shelling intensifies [in] the neighbourhoods under ISIL control at the right side (the old city and western neighbourhoods), the level of victims rises to a scary level. Indiscriminate shelling does not affect the Daesh gangs but kills children, women, young people and destroys houses of the residents. We urge you on behalf of the people of Mosul”

Witnesses also reported a strike in al-Jawsaq neighbourhood. Reportedly, the Coalition bombed an ISIL car, thereby also wounding Thamer Abu Reem – who lost his legs in the bombing – and killing three of his daughters (of 2 years and 14 years and unknown age). Mr. Abu Reem had said while crying: “I know that the pilot did not know that my daughters were there”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Thamer Abu Reem
Adult male injured

Geolocation notes

Airwars assessment uses the coordinates for West Mosul (الموصل: غرب/الجانب الأيمن), for which the midpoint is: 36.336843 43.117979

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    25 – 30
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    58–117
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A local source reported that Thamer Abu Reem was severely injured and lost three daughters in a strike on Al Jawsaq neighbourhood (via Mosul Ateka)

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 Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 30, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 12th-13th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units, an ISIS staging area and an ISIS sniper team; destroyed 16 fighting positions, five VBIEDs, four mortar systems, two rocket-propelled grenade systems, two supply caches, two VBIED factories, and a vehicle; damaged 22 supply routes; and suppressed 14 ISIS mortar teams, two ISIS tactical units, and an ISIS sniper team.”

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
    25 – 30
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    58–117
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (25) [ collapse]