Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI733

Incident date

May 26, 2017

Location

البعاج, Baaj, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.0426, 41.71632 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A military source told Yaqein agency that 46 civilians were killed and dozens were wounded – with varying injuries – after airstrikes of the Joint Forces targeted Baaj and Qayrawan towns in western Nineveh. It was also reported that dozens of houses of civilians were destroyed.

The area was the scene of heavy fighting between Iraqi government-aligned PMU militias and ISIL.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Baaj (البعاج), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.0426, 41.71632. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    46
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces, ISIS

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Baaj, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SGV447920
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 25th-26th the Coalition publicly reported: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed 42 vehicles, nine VBIEDs, three fighting positions, two mortar systems, two mortar systems, a rocket-propelled grenade system, a tactical vehicle, an anti-air artillery system, a VBIED facility; damaged 10 ISIS supply routes, a tunnel; and suppressed three ISIS tactical units and a mortar unit.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

ISIS Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    ISIS
  • ISIS position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    46
  • Civilians reported injured
    24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces, ISIS

Sources (1) [ collapse]