Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI782

Incident date

June 23, 2017

Location

الساعة, Mosul, Al Saaha, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3419, 43.12685 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources and residents reported that five civilians from one Kurdish family were killed after Coalition airstrikes hit their house in Al Saaha neighbourhood near the al Nouri Mosque in Old Mosul.  The event was later admitted by both the Coalition and US forces.

The five died when a missile or bomb reportedly destroyed the house. The victims included: the father, the mother, and the son, his wife and daugther.

A source said to Yaqein Agency that “the bodies are still stuck under the ruins of the house, which is only 150 meters from the al Nouri mosque in the Old Mosul area” and that “the families of the victims set up a condolence register in Duhok.”

A senior Coalition official informed Airwars on July 5th 2017 that “It is primarily Coalition aircraft conducting AIR strikes in Mosul. It has been a number of weeks since the Iraqis flew there.”

In June 2019 the Coalition accepted responsibility for this event. Its monthly civilian casualty report noted: “Coalition artillery conducted a strike against Daesh terrorists. Regrettably, five civilians were unintentionally killed due to their proximity to the strike.” The Coalition additionally provided Airwars with coordinates for this event to within a 100 metre box.

In May 2020 in its annual civilian harm report to Congress, the Pentagon conceded this as a US incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 36.34075, 43.126911. In June 2019 the Coalition released the MGRS as 38SLF319235.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 women)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Table from May 2020 Pentagon report to Congress, conceding additional US civilian harm events in Iraq and Syria during 2017.

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
    Other
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    5
  • Stated location
    near Al Saaha, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF319235
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2019
  • Jun. 23, 2017, near Al Saaha, Iraq, via Airwars report. Coalition artillery conducted a strike against Daesh terrorists. Regrettably, five civilians were unintentionally killed due to their proximity to the strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 22nd-23rd, the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and a sniper; destroyed 16 fighting positions, eight medium machine guns, three mortar systems, an artillery system, an ISIS-held building, and a rocket-propelled grenade system; damaged a fighting position; and suppressed two mortar teams and an ISIS tactical unit.” It additionally reported that “On June 22, near Mosul, Iraq, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven vehicles, two medium machine guns, two rocket-propelled grenade systems, an ISIS staging area, a fighting positon, and a VBIED; and suppressed two mortar teams.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 women)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (6) [ collapse]