US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Civilians in the ruins of Mosul city. (Maranie R. Staab)

Belligerent
US-led Coalition
Country
Iraq
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
873 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

CI253

Incident date

June 15, 2016

Location

الكسك, Kisik, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.47571, 42.50869 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Aiwars, CENTCOM later confirmed the deaths of six civilians in a US strike near Kisik, Iraq.

Their November 2016 civilian casualty report noted: “during a strike against an ISIL weapons storage facility, it is assessed that six civilians were killed.”

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest village at 36.4733405, 42.6698685

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
    6
  • Stated location
    near Kisik, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SKF768396
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 9, 2016

  • June 15, 2016, near Kisik, Iraq, during a strike against an ISIL weapons storage facility, it is assessed that six civilians were killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 15th-16th 2016, the Coalition reported at the time that “Near Kisik, one strike struck an ISIL foreign fighter weapons storage facility.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI275

Incident date

August 12, 2016

Location

القيارة, Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.80256, 43.28899 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A number of sources reported that six non-combatants including two children died, in an alleged Coalition airstrike on a vehicle-borne IED factory in Qayyarah. The Coalition conceded the event two years later.

According to Qayyarah News at the time, the airstrike destroyed an ISIS facility which contained two vehicles already packed with explosives. The resulting detonations “led to the demolition of Ali Al Wardi’s house and the death of one of his children, as well as the death of a citizen brother of Brigadier Abdul Aziz, may God have mercy on him.”

The town’s local youth council placed the death toll at five and published the names of victims.

Between April 2016 and June 2017, reporters Azmat Khan and Anand Gopal visited the sites of nearly 150 airstrikes across northern Iraq for the New York Times.

Regarding this specific incident, they note that, “According to our reporting, the following occurred: ISIS moved in next door to the house of civilian family Ali Khallaf Abdullah Wardi. But as the Iraqi Army advanced towards Qayyarah, ISIS fled the town, burning oil wells to block visibility from the air and leaving car bombs around the town. ISIS left a car bomb at the house to the left of the Wardi residence. The family learned of the car bomb and immediately began packing up their things in order to move away from the bomb, when approximately a half an hour later, an airstrike struck the house next door, and also brought down much of the Wardi family home, killing six civilians inside and out on the street.”

Another New York Times also provided the names of the victims: Ali Khalaf al-Wardi; his 5-year-old son, Qutada; his 14-year-old daughter, Enaas; and his 18-year-old daughter, Ghofran.

In September 2018, the Coalition conceded civilian harm in this incident. Their monthly civilian casualty reported noted: “During a strike on ISIS headquarters and
fighting positions six civilians were unintentionally killed.” Whilst this incident was listed in the report as coming from a media report, Coalition officials have indicated to Airwars that it is a match to this event.

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.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Ali Khalaf Al Wardi
50 years old male Via New York Times investigation killed
Qatada Ali Khalaf Al Wardi
5 years old male Via Al - Qayyara Youth Council killed
Gofran Ali Khalaf Al Wardi
18 years old female Via Al - Qayyara Youth Council killed
Enaas of Ali Al Wardi
14 years old female Via New York Times investigation killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Ali Hussein Albagoz
Adult male Retired Lt Col in Iraq Army killed
Abdul-Qader Mohammed Mehdi Saleh
50 years old male Relative of the al Wardis killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children1 woman3 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 35.7977836, 43.2935143

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
    6
  • Stated location
    near Qayyarah, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLE454634
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 27, 2018

  • August 13, 2016, near Qayyarah, Iraq, via media report. During a strike on ISIS headquarters and fighting positions six civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 12th-13th 2016, the Coaliton reported that “Near Qayyarah, two strikes destroyed two ISIL command and control nodes and an ISIL VBIED factory.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children1 woman3 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI222

Incident date

April 9, 2016

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.35311, 43.15221 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Coalition conducted several night raids on telephone exchanges and reportedly the Babylon Bank in Mosul, which resulted in the deaths of at least six and as many as 67 civilians.

In November 2016 the US initially admitted to killing one civilian in the attack, noting that “during a strike against an ISIL tactical unit, it is assessed that one civilian was killed after entering the target area after the aircraft released its weapon”.

The Coalition appear to have reassessed this incident and in May 2019 additionally confirmed the deaths of five civilians and the injuriing of nine others in an attack on a Daesh communications centre.

Their monthly civilian casualty report noted “Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike on a Daesh communication center in Mosul, Iraq. Regrettably, five civilians were unintentionally killed and nine others unintentionally wounded due to their proximity to the strike. (Not previously reported)”

Other casualty counts varied wildly. According to NINA “children, women and the elderly” were among many civilian fatalities after five telephone exchanges were hit: “The bombing also caused the martyrdom of 67 civilians, mostly women and children and wounded 38 other civilians, as well as causing significant damage to homes near the PBX exchange sites and shops. Our sources said that ambulances were operating from last night until today, transporting bombing victims.”

Yaqen put the death toll at six and said phone exchanges on both sides of the city were hit in what appeared to be a coordinated effort to cut internal Dash communications.

NRN News reported no civilian deaths from the telephone exchange strikes, saying Daesh had instructed locals to leave a week earlier because of the risk of possible strikes.

However NRN said two non-combatants did die when a branch of the bank of Babylon was bombed in eastern Mosul: “Our correspondent said that the bombing killed three gunmen organizing from Daash and two civilians guards of the Bank, as well as serious material damage to the building, which also includes the Office of the Chamber of Commerce.”

In May 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.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 67
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–38
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A photo reveals a destroyed telephone exchange building that was hit in coordinated strikes on Mosul on April 9th (via NRN News)

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 36.34585235, 43.09857692

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
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released, Other
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    6
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    9
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF342247
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2019
  • Nov 9, 2016

  • April 9, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, during a strike against an ISIL tactical unit, it is assessed that one civilian was killed after entering the target area after the aircraft released its weapon.

  • Apr. 9, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike on a Daesh communication center in Mosul, Iraq. Regrettably, five civilians were unintentionally killed and nine others unintentionally wounded due to their proximity to the strike. (Not previously reported)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reports that for April 9th-10th 2016 “Near Mosul, eight strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and five ISIL communication facilities and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and an ISIL boat.“

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 67
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–38
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI730

Incident date

May 23, 2017

Location

حي الزنجيلي, Mosul, Zanjili, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.347845, 43.110264 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of six civilians in an event near Mosul.

Their July 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIS VBIED, it was assessed that six civilians were unintentionally killed when they entered the target area after the munition was released.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a one metre box. The given location placed the event in the Zanjili neighbourhood.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ 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
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    6
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3042424188
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • May 23, 2017, near Mosul, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS VBIED, it was assessed that six civilians were unintentionally killed when they entered the target area after the munition was released.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For May 22nd-23rd, the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and a sniper; destroyed 20 fighting positions, seven VBIEDs, six medium machine guns, five rocket-propelled grenade systems, three rocket systems, a weapons cache, a command and control node, a vehicle, a mortar system, a house-borne IED; damaged 21 ISIS supply routes, a tunnel, a fighting position; and suppressed four ISIS tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI778

Incident date

June 21, 2017

Location

المدينة القديمة, Mosul, Old City, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.339981, 43.124292 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of seven civilians in an event in Mosul.

Their September 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on ISIS fighters engaging partner forces from a fighting position, it was assessed that seven civilians, not observed near the target before the engagement, were unintentionally killed.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location for this incident, accurate to within a one metre box. The location given placed the event just off Mosul’s Nineveh street.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    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
    Unseen at time of engagement
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    7
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3166623291
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 1, 2017

  • During a strike on ISIS fighters engaging partner forces from a fighting position, it was assessed that seven civilians, not observed near the target before the engagement, were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 20th-21st: “Near Mosul, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed 24 fighting positions, three vehicles, two rocket-propelled grenade systems, two medium machine guns, a recoilless rifle, a supply cache, and a heavy machine gun; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI114

Incident date

September 27, 2015

Location

داقوق, Duquq, Kirkuk, Iraq

Geolocation

35.1352647, 44.2513895 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A strike by what at the time was an unknown aircraft killed eight civilians in Yurgon (or Alarkon) village near Duquq, according to local reports. The US led Coalition admitted responsibility for seven deaths in March 2020.

Waradana at the time cited one anonymous source: “The bombing led to the destruction of a number houses… The village is still under the control of Daesh terrorists, who take civilians as human shields, and prevent them from dispersing to areas controlled by the Iraqi government.”

Citing an anonymuos security source, NINA said that the village was located on a Daesh supply route: “International coalition aircraft bombed a residential house at the entrance to Alarkon village south of Kirkuk, which led to the martyrdom of an entire family of seven including men, women and children.”

In March 2020, the US-led Coalition conceded the event, noting that “Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against Daesh fighters. Regrettably, seven civilians were unintentionally killed as a result of the strike.”

The Coalition provided assessment coordinates accurate to within 100m

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the town level at 35.140191, 44.446261.

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
    7
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Duquq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SMD318883
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • Sept. 27, 2015 near Duquq, Iraq, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against Daesh fighters. Regrettably, seven civilians were unintentionally killed as a result of the strike. 2835/CI114 38SMD318883

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

One strike was reported neat Kirkuk for September 26th-27th 2015: “Near Kirkuk, one airstrike destroyed an ISIL excavator.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI594

Incident date

March 30, 2017

Location

حي التنك, Mosul, Tanak, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.336937, 43.073451 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of seven civilians in an event on the western outskirts of Mosul. The action was later revealed to be a US strike.

Their September 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike against an ISIS formation, it was assessed that seven civilians were unintentionally killed.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location for this incident, accurate to within a one-metre box. The location given placed the event in a house in the Al Tanak neighbourhood. The house is located near the Yarmouk Secondary School for Boys.

None of the six strikes reported by Airwars that day in Mosul were located in the Al Tanak neighbourhood or in its vicinity.

The Australian Defence Force published information about the event on September 30, 2017: “On 30 March 2017, Coalition forces conducted airstrikes in support of Iraqi ground forces against suspected Daesh military forces in Mosul. No Australian aircraft were involved in the incident. ADF personnel were involved in the Coalition approval process. Based on the information available, an airstrike was authorised and tragically seven civilians were unintentially killed or injured. ADF personnel self -reported the incident in accordance with ADF policy. The personnel involved, using the information available to them, acted in compliance with the laws of armed conflict and Australian rules of engagement.”

In its May 2019 report to Congress of US-only civilian harm events for 2017, the Pentagon included this incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Location of the Coalition airstrike that unintentionally killed seven civilians on March 30, 2017 in the Al Tanak neighbourhood of Mosul.

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
    7
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF2709623043
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017

  • March 30, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike against an ISIS formation, it was assessed that seven civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 29th-30th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, seven strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and an ISIS staging area; destroyed two command and control nodes, two mortar systems, a fighting position, and a UAV facility; damaged 19 supply routes; and suppressed 10 ISIS mortar teams and seven ISIS tactical units.”

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI418

Incident date

January 13, 2017

Location

الفيصلية, Mosul, Al-Faisiliyah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.348018, 43.154196 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said Coalition airstrikes bombed a school inhabited by displaced people in Faisaliyah neighborhood in East Mosul, leaving up to 12 civilians dead or wounded. The Coalition subsequently confirmed responsibility.

News of Iraq reported that the raids on Friday evening had killed and wounded “12 people, mostly women and children.” All sources said the Coalition was responsible for the air strikes.

On March 4th the Coalition admitted responsibility for the event: “Jan. 13, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on ISIS fighters in a house it was assessed that eight civilians were unintentionally killed. During post-strike video analysis civilians were identified near the house who were not evident prior to the strike.” It also noted that it was assessing at least one other Mosul event for that day: “Jan. 13, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report.”

A Coalition official subsequently confirmed to Airwars that this refered to the al Faisaliyah event, providing the grid reference 38SLF3436724131.

On March 18th Airwars spoke with a reported survivor of the incident, who provided photographs and biographical details for five victims – including two of his own children. According to the source the US strike hit the Al Marafa private school at 9am where IDPs were staying.

The incident occured at approximately 9:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Abdulrahman Qusay Saad Abdul Razaq
Child male killed
Aesha Qusay Saad Abdul Razaq
Child female killed
Sara Haitham Hussein Mahmood
Age unknown male killed
Musab Haitham Hussein Mahmood
Age unknown male killed
Affan Haitham Hussein Mahmood
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 12
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photos provided by Qusay Saad Abdul Razaq to Airwars researchers, showing the bodies of two of his children.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another photo provided by Qusay Saad Abdul Razaq.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More images provided by Qusay Saad Abdul Razaq.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More images provided by Qusay Saad Abdul Razaq.
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:

  • 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
    Unseen at time of engagement
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    8
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3436724131
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 4, 2017

  • Jan. 13, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on ISIS fighters in a house it was assessed that eight civilians were unintentionally killed. During post-strike video analysis civilians were identified near the house who were not evident prior to the strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 12th-13th the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Mosul, nine strikes engaged five ISIL tactical units; destroyed five vehicles, three mortar systems, two UAV launch sites, three fighting positions, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, a VBIED manufacturing and armoring facility, a heavy machine gun, a supply cache, and an anti-air artillery system; damaged 18 supply routes; and two bridges.”

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 12
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]