Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI696

Incident date

May 8, 2017

Location

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

Geolocation

36.370859, 43.085399 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In its July 2017 monthly casualty report, the Coalition said it had killed a civilian in the Tammuz 17 area of Mosul. The man’s family reported his name as Laith Azhar Saadallah al-Obeidi.

According to the report, “during a strike on an ISIS command and control node, it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed after entering 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. The location given places the event in the July 17th neighbourhood.

Relatives had posted the following message at the time: “My cousin was martyred on Monday [May 8th. Laith Azhar Saadallah al-Obeidi, after he was hit on his house on July 17, killing him and neighbors buried him in the garden of the house. God is patient with his children.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Laith Azhar Saadallah al-Obeidi
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ 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
    1
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF2824326785
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017
  • May 8, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS command and control node, it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed after entering the target area after the munition was released.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 7th-8th: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and a sniper team; destroyed six fighting positions, four rocket-propelled grenade systems, four VBIEDs, three medium machine guns, two tactical vehicles, two supply caches, two heavy machine guns, two anti-air artillery systems, two vehicles, a mortar system, a recoilless rifle, a ISIS staging area; damaged 10 ISIS supply routes, seven fighting positions; and suppressed two mortar teams.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]