Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CI545

Location

Mosul, Hermat, Iraq

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: I430d)

Local eyewitnesses reported the deaths of 25 civilians following an air or artillery strike on the hermit area of West Mosul.

An unpublished Amnesty International field investigation was shared with Airwars: ““On the street we were staying, in my uncle’s house, three houses were levelled by one attack, around 12pm on 15 March. I don’t know if it was mortars, or artillery, or an airstrike. I think it was artillery, because I heard the “ssssss” sound before it hit. After the attack, 5 families were dead under the rubble – at least 25 people. One of the families was headed by “Abu Amar.” No IS fighters were killed. Our neighbours said that IS fighters ate lunch in one of the house, and they prayed there. Of course the strike came 20 minutes later, when the fighters were already gone. I saw the destroyed houses the next morning, when we ran out of the house. The houses were on our same street, just one house away from ours.”

Victims

Individuals

Abu Amar
Adult male Head of family killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
25
2 Children, 2 Women

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Not yet assessed
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For March 14th-15th: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and an ISIS sniper team; destroyed 11 fighting positions, five mortar systems, three watercraft, two supply caches, two VBIEDs, a medium machine gun, a heavy machine gun, a rocket-propelled grenade system, an anti-air artillery system, and an ISIS headquarters; damaged 18 supply routes; and suppressed 11 ISIS mortar teams and six ISIS tactical units.” For March 15th – 16th: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed 11 fighting positions, four mortar systems, two ISIS-held buildings, two vehicles, a medium machine gun, an artillery system, and a rocket-propelled grenade system; damaged 17 supply routes and three ISIS-held buildings; and suppressed six ISIS mortar teams and three ISIS tactical units.”
Iraq Government Forces Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Iraq Government Forces
Iraq Government Forces position on incident
Not yet assessed