Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI853

Incident date

September 24, 2017

Location

بطمة, Al Butma near Huwaija, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.503101, 43.888521 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported airstrikes in Huwaija south of Kirkuk province, during an Iraqi assault to capture the city from ISIS.

Yagein alleged the US-led Coalition was responsible and cited dead and wounded following the raids. Alzab made a plea to ISF: We hope the security forces ascertain the proper coordinates of their goals in order to protect the safety of innocents after a bomb reportedly struck the family home of Hussain Ali al-Jawamir in the village of Al-Butma in the areas of al-Jabr district Hawija. Alzab did not provide additional information on civilian casualties.

Moreover, in Hawija, 48 terrorists were alleged killed according to a Shafaaq news report, with the US-led Coalition again considered responsible. The air raids reportedly destroyed a Daesh headquarter in Huwaija and warehouses.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Butma (بطمة), near Hawija (الحویجه) in the south of Kirkuk governorate. The coordinates for this village are: 35.5031010, 43.8885210.

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 al Batmah, Hawijah, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 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 September 23rd-24th the Coalition reported: “Near Huwijah, 10 strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and destroyed 18 VBIEDs, 12 vehicles, five fighting positions, six weapons caches, three heavy machine guns, three VBIED factories, two tunnel entrances, an IED storage facility, a command and control node, an ISIS trailer, and an ISIS oil storage tank, a mortar system, a tactical vehicle, a recoilless rifle; and suppressed two ISIS tactical units and two mortar teams.”

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]