Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI566

Incident date

March 21, 2017

Location

17 تموز, Mosul, July 17th, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.367081, 43.086505 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that seven civilians were killed and ten injured by a Coalition drone allegedly targeting a market in 17 July neighborhood, in West Mosul.

The Coalition later conceded responsibility for the attack, noting: “March 21, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on ISIS fighters, it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed and three injured when they entered the target area after the munition was released.”

Coordinates provided to Airwars by the Coalition placed the event immediately next to the Barak Rahman mosque.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Specific location of a strike which killed 3 civilians according to the Coalition - and 7 according to locals
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    3
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF2833426364
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 2, 2017
  • March 21, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on ISIS fighters, it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed and three injured when they entered the target area after the munition was released.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 20th-21st the Coalition stated: “Near Mosul, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and three ISIS sniper teams; destroyed 14 fighting positions, five rocket-propelled grenade systems, three VBIEDs, a supply cache, an anti-air artillery system, and a heavy machine gun; damaged six supply routes and two fighting positions; and suppressed four ISIS mortar teams and three ISIS tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]