Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI591a

Incident date

March 30, 2017

Location

الموصل: الزنجيلي, Al Zanjili, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34439, 43.11342 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of two civilians in an event near Mosul.

Their June 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIS command and control node and VBIED staging position, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed when they entered the target area after the munition was released.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location for this incident, accurate to within a one metre box. The location given placed the event near Al Zanjili.

Airwars had previously thought that this entry in the June 2017 report was referring to CI591, however, in July 2019 the opportunity arose to clarify this with the Coalition and they confirmed that they were, in fact, separate incidents.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    2
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3045724541
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 2, 2017
  • March 30, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS command and control node and VBIED staging position, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally killed when they entered the target area after the munition was released.

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
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]