US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

Belligerent
US-led Coalition
Country
Iraq
Libya
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

CI101a

Incident date

September 3, 2015

Location

الرمادي, Ramadi city: eastern area, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.437441, 43.286666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq noted in January 2016 that two possible civilian casualty incidents had taken place in the vicinity of Ramadi on September 3rd of the previous year. The Coalition has confirmed carrying out strikes in the area on that day.

According to UNAMI, “[an] airstrike reportedly hit a residential area in eastern Ramadi, killing 28 civilians. A single source reported this second incident and UNAMI/ OHCHR was unable to verify it.”

A second civilian harm incident (recorded as separate event CI101 by Airwars) killed a significant number of civilians at Jazeera al-Khaldiya, according to the UN.

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that the allegation provided insufficient information on the timing and location of the strike to make a determination.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    28
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ramadi (الرمادي), for which the coordinates are: 33.437441, 43.286666. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLC407010
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • Sept. 3, 2015, in Eastern Ramadi, Iraq, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to search for corroborating Coalition action. 2817/CI101 38SLC407010

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 2nd-3rd 2015, the Coalition reported that “Near Ramadi, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL buildings and an ISIL tank.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    28
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI101

Incident date

September 3, 2015

Location

بين جزيرة الخالدية, حصيبة والبوعبيد, Between Khalidiya Island, Husaybah and Albu Obaid, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.437441, 43.286666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq noted in January 2016 that two possible civilian casualty incidents had taken place in Ramadi. The Coalition has confirmed carrying out strikes in the vicinity that day.

According to UNAMI, “On 3 September an airstrike hit a bridge in Jazeera al-Khaldiya, around 20 kilometres east of Ramadi, Anbar, killing 46 civilians and wounding 20. Another source confirmed the incident but stated that the casualties were ISIS members. UNAMI/ OHCHR was not able to confirm the number of casualties or their status.

On the same day, another airstrike reportedly hit a residential area in eastern Ramadi, killing 28 civilians. A single source reported this second incident and UNAMI/ OHCHR was unable to verify it.”

At the time of the incident, local media blamed the Iraqi military, with claims on Facebook for example that “Iraqi medical sources say that 46 people have been killed, most of them women and children, with two dozen others injured, in the bombing by Iraqi warplanes of a transit area on the Euphrates River on Khalidiya island northeast of Ramadi.

In its monthly civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of the same year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event as ‘non credible’, noting: “September 3, 2015, in Jazeera al-Khaldiya, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2813/CI101 38SLB628993”.

The Coalition published a location for the assessment identifying to within 100 metres the area where it had focused its review.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    46
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a border crossing being struck in the vicinity of Husaybah (حصيبة) village that connects the areas of Khalidiya Island (جزيرة الخالدية) and Albu Obaid (البوعبيد), for which, due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for this area are: 33.4239915,  43.4280968

  • Reports of the incident mention a border crossing being struck in the vicinity of Husaybah (حصيبة) village that connects the areas of Khalidiya Island (جزيرة الخالدية) and Albu Obaid (البوعبيد).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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
    in Jazeera al-Khaldiya, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLB628993
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019
  • September 3, 2015, in Jazeera al-Khaldiya, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2813/CI101 38SLB628993

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 2nd-3rd 2015, the Coalition reported that “Near Ramadi, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL buildings and an ISIL tank.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    46
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI679

Incident date

May 1, 2017

Location

الموصل: غرب, Mosul, West, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.336843, 43.117979 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources – which referred to a statement by Al Amaq (ISIL press agency) and residents of West Mosul – up to 79 civilians were killed and 159 wounded, mostly women and children, after airstrikes of the Coalition and Iraqi forces hit many neighbourhoods in West Mosul over a four day period.

M.N.N. (Mosul News) reported on Facebook that Mohammed Abdullah Ramadan was a victim “of Coalition and Iraqi forces shelling” (photo below). And the facebook page Victims of the International Coalition in Mosul published three photographs which it said featured victims Shehab al-Hassu, his son Hudayfah, and a cousin Riad Hazem.

Al-Araby News reported that the “Iraqi Air Force on Monday renewed the shelling for the liberation of neighborhoods in West Mosul, while members of the provincial council confirmed the presence of more than 200,000 civilians in areas controlled by the Islamic State.

A local source in Mosul told Al-Araby that the Iraqi air force bombed the neighborhoods of Rifai and Zanjili and July 17, and pointed out that the shelling was indiscriminate and did not focus on the ISIL headquarters. He also pointed to the number of victims whose number was not known, as a result of the fall of a number of rockets on some inhabited houses, adding that the rest of the old neighborhoods of Mosul under the control of “Daash”, were full of civilians, who fled to these areas to escape previous battles.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Shehab al-Hassu
Adult male Father killed
Hudayfah
Adult male Son killed
Riad Hazem
Adult male Cousin killed

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Abdullah Ramadan
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    79
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    159
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    GRAPHIC: The body of Mohammed Abdullah Ramadan after airstrikes hit New Mosul neighbourhoods (via MNN)
  • Images of Shehab al-Hassu, his son Hudayfah, and a cousin Riad Hazem, all allegedly killed in the strikes
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:

  • 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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 1st-2nd 2017 the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul; two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two mortar systems, a front-end loader, an artillery system, a fighting position, a VBIED factory, and a medium machine gun.” It additionally stated that “Near Mosul, May 1st, three strikes destroyed three VBIEDs and three ISIS fuel tankers, and suppressed three mortar teams.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    79
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    159
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI753

Incident date

June 8, 2017

Location

حي الزنجيلي, Mosul, Zinjili, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.35063, 43.10881 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources referred to the United Nations Human Rights Office saying that 50 to 80 civilians were killed after airstrikes and shelling hit Zanjili neighborhood in West Mosul.

In January 2019, the Coalition accepted responsibility for the event, noting: “Coalition aircraft struck an ISIS building and unintentionally killed 10 civilians.”

Sawlf Ateka posted a video of a man from Zanjili, saying he lost twelve members of his family under the rubble, and left the house alone.

News of Iraq said in a Tweet that seven families had died under the rubble of their houses in Zanjili neighbourhood “near the mosque of the martyr Fares.” The same was reported by @OHAcaElqEGKAGH6. Both blamed the Iraqi army.

The Coalition provided Airwars with the coordinates for this event accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    50 – 80
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected attacker
    Iraq Government Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Scenes from the aftermath of the attacks

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 36.3502851, 43.1098795

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
    10
  • Stated location
    near Zanjili neighborhood, Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF303245
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 31, 2019
  • June 8, 2017, near Zanjili neighborhood, Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft struck an ISIS building and unintentionally killed 10 civilians.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 7th-8th: “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed 15 fighting positions, three heavy machine guns, two VBIEDs, and a sniper position; and damaged a fighting position and a command and control node.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    50 – 80
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected attacker
    Iraq Government Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI471

Incident date

February 20, 2017

Location

الموصل: غرب/الجانب الأيمن, Mosul, West / Right side, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.336843, 43.117979 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local and press sources said that 89 civilians, including 32 children, were killed and 134 others injured due to Coalition airstrikes and artillery shelling during the last 72 hours in the west of Mosul. We have reduced the figure to between 60-80 civilian deaths and 80-100 injuries for February 20th-21st in order to avoid double counting fatalities.

Adding these numbers to those of recent incidents in Mosul, Yaqein stated that: “The death toll and number of wounded of retaliatory aggression (government and international) on the right side of Mosul in Nineveh province, which started its operations around three days ago, rose to more than 220 civilians.

Iraq News quoted the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights, which said that “because of inaccurate bombing by the international Coalition planes, 1428 civilians were killed during one month in the city of Mosul.”

In the third of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that the allegation provided insufficient information on the timing and location of the strike to make a determination.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    60 – 80
  • (32 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    80–100
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

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:

  • 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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF310229
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 14, 2020
  • Feb. 20, 2017, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. This report contains insufficient information on time, location, or details to assess its credibility. 3083/CI471 38SLF310229

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For February 19th-20th the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and two ISIS staging areas; destroyed five mortar systems, four vehicles, three supply caches, three artillery systems, two command and control nodes, an ISIS headquarters, an IED facility, a heavy machine gun, a logistics node and a fighting position; damaged 15 supply routes; and suppressed nine mortar teams and an artillery team.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    60 – 80
  • (32 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    80–100
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI549

Incident date

March 17, 2017

Location

الميدان, Mosul, Medan, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.336461, 43.124456 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local residents and the recently formed Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights, up to 80 civilians died when heavy airstrikes and shelling destroyed multiple houses in Meydan neighbourhood in Old Mosul.

According to Iraqi Spring Media Centre, 20 houses were destroyed. It spoke of “dozens of bodies” under the rubble. Activists and aid workers in Mosul had told the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights that “more than 40 civilians were killed during Friday and Saturday when used by Daesh as human shields and American planes bombed them.”

Iraq News said on Saturday that during the past 24 hours as many as 80 civilians died in West Mosul.

In its June 2017 Civilian Casualty Report, the US-led Coalition noted: “March 17, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report: The report contained insufficient information on the time, location and details to assess its credibility.”

The incident occured around dusk.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    40 – 80
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention Meydan neighbourhood (حي الميدان) in Old Mosul. Open sources maps indicate Meydan neighbourhood (حي الميدان) is a small area in the North of the Old Mosul, at approximately: 36.336461, 43.124456

  • Maydan (المیدان) area in Old Mosul.

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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:

  • 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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Medan, Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 26, 2018
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 16th-17th the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed 11 fighting positions, seven vehicles, a recoilless rifle, a heavy machine gun, a rocket-propelled grenade system, an explosives factory, a supply cache, and an ISIS-held building; damaged 14 supply routes and a fighting position; and suppressed 13 ISIS mortar teams.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    40 – 80
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI758

Incident date

June 11, 2017

Location

المدينة القديمة, Mosul, Old City neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34075, 43.126911 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple local sources, as well as sources in the Iraqi army, reported that dozens of civilians were killed or injured in the fighting for the liberation of Shifa, Zanjili and Health neighbourhoods in Old Mosul.

Alaraby news said that Iraqi forces allegedly used heavy shelling and air strikes on the area in an attempt to defeat ISIL.

Iraqi Spring Media Center also reported that “more than 80 civilians, mostly women and children, were killed by heavy shelling targeting the old areas of Mosul.” The Center did not say who was responsible for the raids.

Al Arabi al Jadeed cited an officer in the Nineveh Command centre as saying that “the difficult reality on the ground means Iraqi forces are having to resort to continuous shelling against the attacks and defenses of ISIL, which has caused dozens of civilian casualties, and the destruction of dozens of homes.”

A UN report on the protection of civilians in context of Nineveh operations and the retaking of Mosul stated: “Early morning 11 June, in al-Borsa area next to al-Markaziya high school, in ISIL-controlled al-Shifaa neighbourhood in west Mosul, an airstrike hit a house, killing 19 civilians from two families.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    19 – 80
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

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:

  • 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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Zanjili, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 10th-11th: “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed five fighting positions, two mortar systems, two VBIEDs, a supply cache, and an explosives cache; and suppressed a mortar team.”

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    19 – 80
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI498

Incident date

March 1, 2017

Location

لجامع عمر الاسود في حي الفاروق, Mosul, Omar al-Aswad mosque, Farouk, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.338001, 43.128728 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that up to 80 civilians were killed or injured after Coalition or Iraqi airstrikes targeted the Omar mosque area in al-Faruq neighborhood in western Mosul.

The mosque was used as a shelter by displaced families, according to the Niniva Media Center.

Reuters cited three local witnesses, noting that “The Omar al-Aswad mosque, in the al-Faruq district of the old city center, was hit by an airstrike, three residents in the same area told Reuters by phone. Neighboring houses were damaged or collapsed because of the blast, they said without giving a precise estimate of the casualties as their moves are restricted by the militants.”

Urgent Mosul news reported that “this morning warplanes targeted Omar Black Mosque in al-Faruq area on the right side [with] several missiles, which led to the death of more than 50 civilians and the destruction of homes adjacent to the mosque.

Residents had also reported this to Reuters, said Mosul MNN. “They added that the neighboring houses were damaged or collapsed because of the blast, without giving precise estimates of the number of dead and injured because the regulation restricts their movements. A spokesman for the Coalition led by the United States said he did not know that an attack targeted a mosque. For his part, the Iraqi military officer told the media that the battle continues, and that forces [may be] targeting elements of Daesh wherever they may be, but [he] declined to mention targeting this particular mosque.”

One resident of al-Faruq neighbourhood (pictured below), was named as killed in the raids.

In its July 2017 casualty report the Coalition appeared to deny responsibility for the attack, noting: “March 1, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”

The coordinates supplied to Airwars – 36.344546, 43.121074 – were less than 400m from Farouk though were also less than 1000m from Sha’aren, scene of another alleged event that day.

Airwars is presently querying this incident with the Coalition.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Thanon Alaa Younis
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    50 – 80
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

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:

  • 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 Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF318236
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 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 February 28th-March 1st, the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed nine mortar systems, six fighting positions, five VBIED facilities, three supply caches, three ISIS-held buildings, three VBIEDs, and an improvised weapons factory; damaged six supply routes; and suppressed 14 mortar teams and two ISIS tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    50 – 80
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]