Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI636

Incident date

April 13, 2017

Location

حي التنك, Mosul, Tanak, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.33772, 43.072261 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 six civilians in an incident near Mosul.

Their June 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIS VBIED engaging Iraqi Security Forces, it was assessed that six civilians were unintentionally killed when a group of fleeing civilians entered the target area after the munition was released.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a one metre box – also stating that the event took place at 1pm local time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Precise given location of an April 13th Coalition strike which killed six civilians
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
    6
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF2699123132
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 2, 2017
  • April 13, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS VBIED engaging Iraqi Security Forces, it was assessed that six civilians were unintentionally killed when a group of fleeing civilians entered the target area after the munition was released.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 12th-13th the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and destroyed 11 fighting positions, five vehicles, two VBIEDs, two VBIED factories, a medium machine gun, a rocket-propelled grenade system, a mortar system; and damaged 15 ISIS supply routes, and a fighting position; in addition, suppressed 10 mortar systems, six fighting positions, two artillery systems and a rocket system.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]