Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI762

Incident date

June 14, 2017

Location

دكة بركة, Dakat Barak, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34075, 43.126911 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians from the same family were reported killed by an unknown rocket and “random bombing”, according to local sources.

Sawlf Ateka reported the dead civilians as Mishan Mohammad Qasim al-Hiyawi and his grandson Hashim Firas. Other sources identified the two as victims but did not clarify who was responsible.

In February 2019, the Coalition assessed this event to be non-credible. Their report noted: “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.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mishan Mohammad Qasim al-Hiyawi
Adult male Grandfather killed
Hashim Firas
Child male Grandson killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

All local reports mention the central neighbourhood of (دكة بركة) Dakat Baraka, which appears to be inside the larger neighbourhood of (الفاروق) Farouk. The generic coordinates for (دكة بركة) Dakat Baraka are: 36.344722 43.121111

  • Airwars' coordinates for the Dakat Baraka دكة بركة area within the Old City.

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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, Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Stated location
    near Dakat Barka, Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF318244
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 28, 2019
  • Feb 22, 2018
  • June 14, 2017, near Dakat Barak, Syria via Airwars report. The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

  • June 14, 2017, near Dakat Barka, Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report (previously closed, but the CIVCAS cell reopened it due to new information). 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 June 13th-14th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit, destroyed a fighting position and a command and control node, and suppressed and ISIS tactical unit.”

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]