Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI709

Incident date

May 13, 2017

Location

عنه, Anah, Al Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.372699, 41.986442 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Residents and local press said that up to 100 civilians were killed and dozens wounded after Coalition airstrikes and guided missiles allegedly hit multiple locations in and around Anah town, in Anbar province, on a Saturday evening.

Noor Al Mustafa Dawood reported that “the bombing continued with more than four airstrikes and four missiles directed so far” and listed the locations of the shelling as follows:

– Airstrikes on the cemetery, while a funeral of an ISIL was going on

– Bombing on the Internet Hall in Al Hadra Street

– The bombing of the house of Ibn Faiq Rashad II, “which was considered a house of money”

– On Abu Fahad House, the head of the “movement of the solution”. As well as full destruction and reports of minor civilian casualties

– Bombing on the building of Haj Badia Khairi Ghi in Al-Hadra Street – news about the the death of the resident and the serious injuries of [other] people

– Targeting Pick up wheel in Al Hadra Street for people. Unidentified civilians were killed.

– Bombing near the stadium without knowing the details.

Yaqein Agency said that the Coalition had also “deliberately targeted” a hospital and a market.

On Monday 15th May Yaqein reported that the death toll had risen to more than hundred civilians. The press source had told the media agency that “the international Coalition forces launched violent raids on the district [in the] west of Anbar province” and that “the shelling killed more than 100 civilians and wounded dozens.” It furthermore said that residents were confused whether they should stay in the house – at the risk of seeing walls fall on them – or go out and be exposed to the risks there. The source said that “the bombing of the International Alliance is the most violent of its kind as the Coalition aircraft directed 4 airstrikes and used guided missiles in the bombing.”

Local residents named various people who were killed as a result of the shelling.

In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition denied involvement in the incident: “May 13, 2017, near Anah, Iraq, via NGO report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Abu Yasser
Age unknown male Brother of Bassem Hamra killed
Bassem Hamra
Age unknown male Brother of Abu Yasser killed

The victims were named as:

Sheb Obeida Wael Hussein
Adult male had moved to his neighbour in the city of Ana that day killed
Jamil Al Ani
Child male killed
Jassim Mohammed Saleh Al-Hamra
Adult male killed
The son of Uday Attawi
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    24 – 100
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Jassim Mohammed Saleh Al-Hamra (via Rawa, Facebook)
  • Obeida Wael Hussein Jamil Al Ani (via Rawa)
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:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Anah, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SGU742070
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 22, 2018
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 12th-13th, the Coalition did not report any strikes near Anah.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    24 – 100
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]