Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI763

Incident date

June 14, 2017

Location

تلعفر, Tal Afar, Al-Taqwa Mosque, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3840191, 42.4723452 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight Iraqi police were accidentally injured and one or two killed following an airstrike, according to multiple sources.

According to Yaqein, “a government source said in a statement that ‘the fourth regiment of the Ninewa Emergency Police headed to support the federal police in the area of ​​Wadi Akab in west Mosul, adding that as a result of a close clash with ISIL gunmen the area was bombed airstrikes.’ The source added that ‘the bombing resulted in the death of a policeman (Karim Pazo or Karim Bawz Sinjari) from Sinjar and the wounding of eight others, including Colonel Ahmed Juma who suffered a serious injury and was transferred to a hospital in the province of Erbil.” Another site reported that police commissioner Abbas Mustafa was severely injured.

NRT TV reported that two police offiicers died, adding that it was unclear whether Iraqi or Coalition aircraft were responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Karim Pazo
Adult male also known as Karim Bawz Sinjari killed
Abbas Mustafa
Adult male Police Commissioner killed
Ahmed Juma
Adult male Police Colonel killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    19
  • (12–19 children1 man)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Karim Bawz Sinjari, an Iraqi policeman killed in an accidental Coalition or Iraqi airstrike June 14th 2017
  • Images of Abbas Mustafa, reportedly injured in the strike
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 information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Tal Afar, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SKF7108029035
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017
  • The report contained insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

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.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    19
  • (12–19 children1 man)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]