Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI591

Incident date

March 30, 2017

Location

الموصل: الزنجيلي, Mosul, Al-Zinjili, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.35103, 43.11055 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Dozens of civilians were reported killed or injured after Coalition airstrikes and possibly unidentified mortars hit houses in Zanjili neighbourhood, in West Mosul.

Suhaib Al Mashhadany posted a video on Facebook showing a young girl, allegedly the only survivor of the family after shelling hit their home.

Two sources, Iraqyoon and Yaqein, blamed the Coalition for airstrikes. Yaqein published a video posted by Al Amaq [ISIL press agency], which showed extreme damage and a significant number of civilian casualties. One traumatised child says “Please uncle help my brother, his body became fragments.. please uncle inside the home…” Another witness says to camera “Airstrikes are targeting us. It’s only a residential area, nothing is here.. all the people are dead and nothing is left.”

Ninawa Media Center reported the death of a civilian when a mortar (unspecified) hit his/her home at Zanjili, in what may be a separate event.

In December 2018 the Coalition accepted responsibility for this incident, noting: “The Coalition aircraft engaged an ISIS Command and Control facility and a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) facility. These facilities were engaged with precision munitions. The Command and Control facility was destroyed with no civilian casualties. The VBIED facility was destroyed; however, the bomb making material within the facility caused a large secondary explosion. Regrettably, during the explosion 12 civilians were unintentionally killed.”

A UN report on the protection of civilians in the context of Nineveh operations and the retaking of Mosul stated: “On 30 March, airstrikes reportedly hit four ISIL sites in the ISIL-controlled Zangele neighbourhood, western Mosul, killing 12 civilians, including a child, and wounding three others, including two children. According to an eyewitness, ISIL members prevented families from recovering bodies of relatives until ISIL had filmed the bodies. It was also reported that victims were used as human shields because ISIL had installed weapons at the incident location.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Survivors search for victims following a reported Coalition strike on Zanjili, Mosul March 30th [image via ISIL video]

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
    Killed by secondary explosion(s)
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    12
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF307238
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 2, 2017
  • On Mar. 30, 2017, near al-Zinjili neighborhood, Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. The Coalition aircraft engaged an ISIS Command and Control facility and a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) facility. These facilities were engaged with precision munitions. The Command and Control facility was destroyed with no civilian casualties. The VBIED facility was destroyed; however, the bomb making material within the facility caused a large secondary explosion. Regrettably, during the explosion 12 civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 29th-30th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, seven strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and an ISIS staging area; destroyed two command and control nodes, two mortar systems, a fighting position, and a UAV facility; damaged 19 supply routes; and suppressed 10 ISIS mortar teams and seven ISIS tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]