Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

CS163

Incident date

January 7, 2016

Location

الهزيمة, Al Hazimah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.1320519, 38.9661026 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight children and three women were widely reported killed, in what most sources claimed to be a Coalition airstrike.

While Raqqah is Being Slaughtered and Radio Alkul did not attribute the attack, the Syrian Observatory blamed the Coalition: “Eight children and three citizen women were killed in a bombing by the international coalition’s warplanes on Khuzaymah village at the northern countryside of Al-Raqqah city, which is witnessing clashes between Syrian Democratic Forces against the “Islamic State.” The eight bodies of the children were brought to hospitals in Al-Raqqah city, while the bodies of the women were buried.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 12
  • (8 children3 women)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition declared a strike in the vicinity of Ayn Isa, Al Raqqah governorate for January 7th-8th 2016: “Near Ayn Isa, two strikes destroyed three ISIL fighting positions and suppressed a separate ISIL fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 12
  • (8 children3 women)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1713

Incident date

November 28, 2016

Location

الشعار , Al Shi’ar neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.2085139, 37.1855771 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between seven and 12 civilians including children and women died and dozens more were wounded in air or artillery strikes on Aleppo’s Al Shi’ar neighbourhood, according to sources on the ground. Reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime caused the civilian harm, though multiple reports mentioned the use of cluster bombs and missiles. Additionally, there were claims that explosive barrels had been dropped from helicopters.

The lowest death count was given as seven by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, who blamed “government warplanes and its allies”.

@Mamoun_sy R said that both Russia and Assad were to blame, while Al Jazeera said that the area was subjected to “heavy artillery shelling” but didn’t identify the culprit.

However, the majority of other sources attributed the event to Russia.

According to Qasioun, “10 civilians were killed and more than 20 were wounded, some of them seriously wounded in air strikes by Russian air force fighter jets on residential buildings in the Al-Sha’ar district of Aleppo. Civil defense teams are still removing survivors from the rubble”.

Ara, also pointing to Moscow, said that “Russian warplanes targeted the neighbourhood with a number of concussion rockets which hit civilian houses…several buildings collapsed over the heads of their inhabitants.”

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

a male corpse in his 5th decade, unidentified
Adult male killed
a female corpse in her 5th decade, unidentified
Adult female killed
a male corpse in his 4th decade, unidentified
Adult male killed
a male corpse in his 4th decade, unidentified
Adult male killed
a male corpse in his 7th decade, unidentified
Adult female killed
a child corpse in his 2nd decade, unidentified
Child killed
a young man in his 3rd decade, unidentified
Adult male killed
a child corpse in his 1st decade, unidentified
Child killed
a child corpse in his 1st decade, unidentified
Child killed
a child
Child killed
a child corpse in his 1st decade, unidentified
Child killed
a male corpse in his 4th decade, unidentified
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 12
  • (5 children2 women5 men)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A man carries a child to safety following a strike on Aleppo's Al Shi’ar neighbourhood, Nov 28th 2016.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded man following a strike on Aleppo's Al Shi’ar neighbourhood, Nov 28th 2016.
  • A member of the civil defense searches for bodies following a strike on Aleppo's Al Shi’ar neighbourhood, Nov 28th 2016.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”

Additionally, Russia reported that its air forces have carried out strikes in Aleppo during November and December 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 12
  • (5 children2 women5 men)
  • 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
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS864

Incident date

May 26, 2017

Location

ميادين, Al Mayadin, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.016667, 40.444167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 12 civilians died in a fresh round of Coalition airstrikes on Al Mayadeen, according to local sources.

Euphrates Post reported that “the warplanes launched five air strikes at approximately 2 am today [May 26th], a time difference of nearly three hours from the first raids that left three martyrs and a number of wounded on the city of Mayadeen.” It said that the raids were distributed “on the vicinity of the roundabout near the party building and Street Forty, the vicinity of the Saraya and the vicinity of the Nuri Said hospital – the same site targeted by the first raids”. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the airstrikes

Other locations of the strikes were named by Euphrates Post as:

Al-Arbaeen Street from the Agricultural Bank

The park near the party square

The vicinity of the water tunnel

Syria News Desk put the death toll at five civilians three of them children, with 22 more injured, adding that strikes were on residential sites.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights “warplanes of the International Coalition renewed their bombing on Al-Mayadin city around 1:30 am Friday”. It put the number killed at 12, including five children and five women.

@YAlsarout2 put the death toll at 14, however – also pointing to the Coalition – said that as many as 14 non-combatants were killed.

@affairsyrian said that 35 died, though it was unclear whether this was on the 26th or across the 25th too.

Aletihadpress reported that in two days of air strikes on Al Mayadeen, 50 civilians died – but according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, this latest round of strikes brought the number killed to 106, of which 42 were children.

 

The incident occured at 01:30:00 local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 12
  • (1–5 children1–4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (19) [ 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 Al Maydin, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU324762
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 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
Official source

For May 25th-26th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed seven ISIS oil trucks, four ISIS barges, an ISIS well head, a command and control node, and an ISIS headquarters.“
For May 26th-27th, the Coalition reported: "Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes destroyed four ISIS well heads and destroyed an ISIS boat." For May 26th it added that "Near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, one strike destroyed 10 ISIS oil separators and an ISIS well head."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 12
  • (1–5 children1–4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS062

Incident date

October 20, 2015

Location

كفر تخاريم, Kafr Takharim, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.1168, 36.51522 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A reported Russian airstrike on an empty school complex allegedly killed up to a dozen people, according to reports.

Reporting from Sarmin, Orient News reporter Abu Mahmoud described the event: “Russian occupation forces targeted the town of Sarmeen with steric missiles. The target was a children’s school.. they are two schools next to each other, a primary school and a secondary school. Luckily the children had gone home half an hour earlier.”

There are elements of this description which match the previous event at Sarmin, and it appears this incident may have been confused with the former.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A photo taken of twitter account @AEJkhalil. translation: School bombed by #Russia airstrikes today in #Kafr_Takharim, 12 martyrs & dozens were wounded.. #Idlib #Syria Oct 20

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

The Kremlin has confirmed carrying out strikes in Idlib governorate for October 20th-21st 2015: “In the course of the last 24 hours, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 46 combat sorties engaging 83 terrorist facilities in the Hama, Idlib, Damascus, Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor provinces.“

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3703

Incident date

May 21–22, 2019

Location

معرة النعمان , Ma'arat al Nu'man, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

In a major civilian casualty incident, between nine and 12 civilians including a child died and up to 50 more were wounded in alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrikes on a popular market in Maarat al Numan, according to sources on the ground. Eight of those killed were identified, and the ninth one was identified as a ‘young man from Hama.’

Orient News said the raids targeted Al Korniche street in Ma’arat Al Nu’man.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights was among a number of sources blaming Russia. It put the death toll at 12 with 18 more wounded, adding that the death count was likely to rise due to the severity of injuries.

The lowest death count was given at seven civilians with 40 more wounded by Orient News, who joined multiple other reports in attributing blame to the regime.  Later, @Halid_Kutayni65 Tweeted that 50 people were wounded.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, ” at least nine civilians, including a child, were killed as Syrian regime fixed- wing warplanes fired two missiles on local market in the main square known as al Masqed al Kabir square in the middle of Ma’aret al Numan city in Idlib governorate southern suburbs, on May 22, 2019.” SN4HR added that two civilians were also killed “near al Kabir Mosque in the middle of Ma’aret al Numan.

Geiroon quoted Ghayath al-Daher, a media activist in Ma’arat al-Nu’man: “The L39 warplanes targeted the densely populated Corniche Street in the city of Ma’arat al-Nu’man with several air strikes with high-explosive rockets, killing 11 Civilians in an initial toll. Most bodies were turned to pieces – and 20 other were wounded, many extremely seriously. There was extensive destruction to residential buildings and shops.”

Ariha Today said that vacuum rockets were used in the attack.

Shahba Press noted that the raids happened “after midnight.”

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Hassan Haddad حسن حداد
Age unknown male killed
Ahmed Hassan Haddad احمد حسن حداد
Age unknown male killed
Samer Ahmed Haddad سامر احمد حداد
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Mohammad al Shawwaf محمد الشواف
Child male killed
Hasan Khaled Al-Marie حسن خالد المارعي
Age unknown male killed
Adham Jamal Izmerly أدهم جمال ازمرلي
Age unknown male killed
Rami Hafsergawi رامي حفسرجاوي
Age unknown male killed
Qutaiba Al-Saraqabi قتيبة السراقبي
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 12
  • (1 child8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–50
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (46) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (37) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, May 21st-22nd.
  • The aftermath of alleged regime airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, May 21st-22nd.
  • Footage of the aftermath of alleged regime airstrikes on Maarat al Numan, May 21st-22nd.
  • Translation: "#Russian air raids on #Marat_Numan city in the southern countryside of #Idlib There are 11 dead"
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of strikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man, May 21-22nd (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of strikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man, May 21-22nd (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of strikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man, May 21-22nd (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene of strikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man, May 21-22nd (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene following strikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man, May 21-22 (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene following strikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man, May 21-22 (via White Helmets)
  • The White Helmets attend the scene following strikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man, May 21-22 (via White Helmets)
  • Destruction following the strikes on a popular market in Ma'arat Al Nu'man, May 21-22 2019.
  • The aftermath of an alleged regime strike on the market in Ma'arat Al Nu'man, May 21st (via SN4HR)
  • Aftermath of alleged Syrian regime airstrikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man on May 21st, 2019. (via IdlibPlus).
  • Aftermath of alleged Syrian regime airstrikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man on May 21st, 2019. (via IdlibPlus).
  • Aftermath of alleged Syrian regime airstrikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man on May 21st, 2019. (via IdlibPlus).
  • Aftermath of alleged Syrian regime airstrikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man on May 21st, 2019. (via IdlibPlus).
  • Aftermath of alleged Syrian regime airstrikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man on May 21st, 2019. (via IdlibPlus).
  • Aftermath of alleged Syrian regime airstrikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man on May 21st, 2019. (via IdlibPlus).
  • Aftermath of alleged Syrian regime airstrikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man on May 21st, 2019. (via IdlibPlus).
  • Aftermath of alleged Syrian regime airstrikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man on May 21st, 2019. (via IdlibPlus).
  • Destruction caused by airstrikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man on May 21st, 2019. (Mohammed Ghorab via MMC)
  • Destruction caused by airstrikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man on May 21st, 2019. (Mohammed Ghorab via MMC)
  • Destruction caused by airstrikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man on May 21st, 2019. (Mohammed Ghorab via MMC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A body of a civilian killed in alleged airstrikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man can be seen on the ground on May 21st, 2019. (SNHR via MMC)
  • Airstrikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man popular market on May 21st 2019 killed and injured civilians and led to huge destruction. (via Shaba press).
  • Airstrikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man popular market on May 21st 2019 killed and injured civilians and led to huge destruction. (via Shaba press).
  • Airstrikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man popular market on May 21st 2019 killed and injured civilians and led to huge destruction. (via Shaba press).
  • Airstrikes on Ma'arat Al Nu'man popular market on May 21st 2019 killed and injured civilians and led to huge destruction. (via Shaba press).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic content on the alleged Russian airstrikes n Ma'arat Al Nu'man

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • Alleged Russian airstrikes killed civilians and led to severe damage in Ma'arat Al Nu'amn on May 21st, 2019. (Almaaralover via MMC).

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 12
  • (1 child8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–50
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (46) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3231

Incident date

March 11, 2018

Location

زملكا, Zamalka, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.5261, 36.35385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight civilians were killed, and dozens more were injured, in airstrikes on Zamalka, local media reported. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for the raids.

Three missiles were fired onto the residential neighbourhood which allegedly killed “six people from one family and two others”.

Eight of the victims – six from the same family – were named by the Violations Documentation Centre, who blamed the “Syrian government and affiliated militias”.

Amer Alref Alshamee reported “a brutal massacre committed by the military aircraft of the Assad forces in the town of Zamlka, who targeted residential neighborhoods in an air strike with three missiles. This killed six people from one family and two others, all  sons of the neighbourhood”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that the deceased family were displaced from Jobar neighbourhood, east of Damascus city – and blamed Syria and Russia for their death.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Ahmad Saleh
Adult male killed
Iman al-Aewaj, wife of Ahmad Saleh
Adult female killed
Ibtisam Ahmad Saleh
15 years old female killed
Noura Ahmad Saleh
14 years old female killed
Reem Ahmad Saleh
12 years old female killed
Hosni Ahmad Saleh
7 years old male killed

The victims were named as:

Mahrous Qashqo
Adult male killed
Omer al-Masri
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (4 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (4 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI401

Incident date

January 7, 2017

Location

ابن الهيثم, Mosul, ibn El Haithem new area, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.337359, 43.193734 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local and medical sources said that 12 civilians were killed and many others injured, mostly displaced women and children, in the locality of Ibn al-Haytham – new area of Mosul (the valley of the eye) due to Coalition airstrikes southeast of Mosul.

Al Jazeera said that the Coalition strikes hit the area “where displaced families are existing”, killing 12 people including women and children, and damaging a number of houses and civilian cars.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 6th-7th the Coalition publicly stated that: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged five ISIL tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, two VBIEDs, two ISIL-held buildings, two heavy machine guns, two weapons caches, an IED, a mortar system, a homemade explosives facility, an ISIL headquarters building, a supply cache, and a mobile artillery system; damaged 21 supply routes; and suppressed five tactical units.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI420

Incident date

January 14, 2017

Location

العربي, Mosul, Arabi, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.411958, 43.1138706 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An Iraqi military source said that Coalition airstrikes bombed three civilian houses, killing 12 civilians and injuring 18 others in Al Arabi neighborhood, northeast of Mosul.

Alghad.tv cited a statement published by Turkish state news agency Anatolia, speaking of “about five airstrikes on three houses in the Arabi neighborhood” carried out by the international Coalition. A police source furthermore reported that “the raid killed 12 civilians, including four children, and wounded 18 others, destroyed homes and damaged about 8 cars”. Several sources called the incident “a mistake of the international Coalition”.

In a March 4th report which may report to this event or to a new incident, the Coalition noted: “Jan. 14, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a counter-fire strike on an ISIS mortar team it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed when he entered the target area after weapon was fired.”

Officials later informed Airwars that the incident took place at grid coordinates 38SLF2982730681. Our geolocators have placed this at the Rashadiyah neighbourhood, northern Mosul, which is one kilometer from Al-Arabi.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    18
  • 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 (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
    a:1:{i:0;s:20:"no_coalition_strikes";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017

  • 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
Official source

For January 13th-14th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, four strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit; destroyed four fighting positions, two heavy machine guns, two watercraft, an ISIL headquarters building, a VBIED; and damaged eight supply routes.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    18
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]