CI546 – March 16, 2017

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: I432)

Local sources said that at least 21 civilians were killed and 17 were injured, including women and children, because of airstrikes and artillery shelling in neighbourhoods of West Mosul.

Iraq News Center placed the death toll even higher: “Many surviving civilians [and] witnesses from the right side [of Mosul] confirmed that Coalition airstrikes targeted civilian houses and there were 20 civilians killed in one house and 11 in another and 3 in a fourth house. Large numbers of innocent civilians are the direct victims of Coalition airstrikes and mortar and artillery shelling by Iraqi forces ”

Al Jazeera – citing Islamic State – said 21 people had reportedly died: “For its part, Daesh said that 21 civilians – mostly children and women – were killed in when bombing targeted the western neighborhoods of Mosul.“

Key Information

Country

Iraq

Military Actor

U.S.-led Coalition

Civilian Harm Reported

Yes

Civilian Harm Status

Contested

Civilians reported killed

21–34

2 Children, 2 Women

Civilians reported injured

17–34

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident only refer to “West Mosul”. The generic coordinate for West Mosul are: 36.336843, 43.117979

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment

Suspected belligerent

U.S.-led Coalition

U.S.-led Coalition position on incident

Non credible / Unsubstantiated

Reason for non-credible assessment

Insufficient evidence of civilian harm

Civilian deaths conceded

None

Civilian injuries conceded

None

Stated location

near Mosul, Iraq

U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report

Original Source ↗

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.”

U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement

2017-11-30

Original Source ↗

After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Iraq Government Forces Assessment

Suspected belligerent

Iraq Government Forces

Iraq Government Forces position on incident

Not yet assessed

Incident Code

Incident Code

Incident Date

Location

Geolocation

Geolocation

Airwars Assessment

Key Information

Geolocation Notes

Military Statements

Sources (6)

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