Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI864a

Incident date

October 5, 2017

Location

القائم‎, Al Qaim, Al Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.38762, 40.97318 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously reported, the Coalition later confirmed the death of one civilian in an event near Al Qaim.

Their December 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a Coalition strike against an ISIS weapon’s facility it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed.”

On the same day in Al Qaim, Airwars monitored a locally reported civilian casualty event (CI864), in which it was claimed that a man named, Talib Jabbar Ziedan Hathool, died from a US airstrike on his uncle’s house. The Coalition suggested to Airwars in February 2019 that these were unlikely to be referring to the same the event based on the descriptions.

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 34.3957715, 40.9943684

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Al Qaim
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU814069
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 2017
  • Oct. 5, 2017 near Al Qaim, Iraq via self-report. During a Coalition strike against an ISIS weapon’s facility it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

On Oct.5, Coalition military forces conducted 44 strikes consisting of 65 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

In Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 10 strikes consisting of 22 engagements against ISIS targets.

Near Al Bashir, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle and a weapons cache.
Near Huwijah, eight strikes [1 or more Aus] engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed nine VBIEDs, four vehicles, three weapons caches, and an ISIS-held building.
Near Ramadi, one strike destroyed an ISIS bunker.

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Thursday 5 October – Typhoons attacked a terrorist base in eastern Syria…Intelligence had confirmed that a group of three buildings in eastern Syria, some forty miles south-east of Hasakah and close to a border crossing into Iraq, was being used as a base by Daesh. Two Typhoons conducted a carefully planned attack on Thursday 5 October, each of the three buildings being struck with a Paveway IV.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]