Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

IRI001

Incident date

September 8, 2018

Location

كوية, Koya, Erbil, Iraq

Geolocation

36.079082, 44.630527 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources reported the death of up to 14 individuals and as many as 42 wounded, allegedly as a result of Iranian bombardment on the Koya area. Most reports did not specify whether or not the victims were civilian.

Shafaq however quoted the First Deputy Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) who stressed that women and children were among the victims: “Iran, unfortunately, today bombed the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Democratic Party with missiles that caused the death of dozens of their cadres with a number of civilians, children and women”. Mustafa Al Maady also noted that there were civilians among the wounded individuals.

Mahmoud Shiekh Ibrahim issued a statement in which we noted that the “air missile” came from an “unmanned airplane [that] was spotted flying over Koya city in Kurdistan Iraq near the headquarters of the party.” He confirmed to an Airwars researcher that a woman and child were killed in the attack.

Local sources noted that the target of the strikes was the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan in an area between Erbil and Suliamaina. Soon after the attack, the party issued a statement noting that “at 10:48 am on Saturday, September 8, 2018, the headquarters of the Democratic People’s Democratic Party (DPC) office was subjected to missile and aerial bombardment by the Islamic Republic of Iran during a high-level meeting of the Committee Central.”

Media outlet Alittihad quoted a party official, who reported a tally of 14 dead and 42 wounded, including leaders of the party. The same report quoted Mohammed Salah Qaderi, one of the leaders of the party, who stated that the “aircraft has been launched from Kirkuk towards the sky of the region, and that the bombing and the operation of aircraft was in coordination with the forces of popular mobilization in Kirkuk.” Other local sources, reported a tally of 10 perished and 30 wounded.

The incident occured at 10:48:00 local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 14
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–42
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Iranian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Reported victim of a September 8th Iranian strike at Koya (via Ameer Mohammed facebook page)
  • Reported victim of a September 8th Iranian strike at Koya (via Ameer Mohammed facebook page)
  • Reported victim of a September 8th Iranian strike at Koya (via Ameer Mohammed facebook page)
  • Reported victim of a September 8th Iranian strike at Koya (via Ameer Mohammed facebook page)
  • Reported victim of a September 8th Iranian strike at Koya (via Ameer Mohammed facebook page)
  • Reported victim of a September 8th Iranian strike at Koya (via Ameer Mohammed facebook page)
  • Crowds in Koya following a September 8th Iranian strike (via Ameer Mohammed facebook page)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Koya (كوية), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.079082, 44.630527. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Iranian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iranian Military
  • Iranian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 14
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–42
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Iranian Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]