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

Incident Code

CI436

Incident date

January 21, 2017

Location

الرشيدية, Mosul, Al-Rashidiyah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.40801, 43.08958 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that Coalition airstrikes targeted a car-bomb and house in Al-Rashidiya neighborhood, in the northeast of Mosul. This also caused the death of 15 civilians, many of them women and children.

Ajel Al Mosul reported that “international Coalition airstrikes targeted a car-bomb in Rashidiya area, causing the martyrdom of a man and his wife and daughter, and other seven people who had previously fled to his home.” A relative, Fathil Jasim said on Facebook that the targeted house was his uncle’s, and spoke of thirteen dead.

Airwars contacted a family member inside Mosul who provided pictures of the victims as well as the following details:

“The house was targeted by Coalition airstrikes at 12.22 PM on Saturday. Four family members were killed as well as seven others who had come to the house as guests. The guests were employees of a medicine factory in the same region.”

The family member also provided pictures of US missiles that had reportedly targeted the house.

Airwars has also been in contact with a member of the second family that was killed in the reported Coalition raids, who lived in the same house. The family member reported the names of four victims.

The family member also provided pictures of the house after the strike (see below).

Rashidiya (Facebook) also named Mohammad Elias Khideral-Naimi as a victim. In a comment under the post, it was reported that “the news is true and now we start the funeral at the village of Jambour Faida Alqosh.”

The Los Angeles Times also interviewed survivors of the attack: “The Times had also spoken with Raed Mohammed Hasan, 30, at his damaged east Mosul home, where he said 11 people were killed by a coalition airstrike Jan. 21, including his 10-month-old daughter, Rania. Mohammed said he heard Islamic State fighters nearby before the strike, but they escaped. He called for an independent investigation.

“We want the United Nations to get involved in the investigation, and we want them to be neutral and fair,” Mohammed said.

Coalition colonel, Scrocca, said that airstrike wasn’t mentioned in Sunday’s report because the coalition received the allegation only last month and The Times’ report included “no specific location or contact info for us to follow up on.”

In July 2017 the Coalition admitted that it was responsible for this incident. Their monthly civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIS VBIED attacking Iraqi Security Forces, it was assessed that 15 civilians were unintentionally killed by secondary explosions from the VBIED.”

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.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Iman Khalid Mohammed
Adult male Born 1985 killed
Maryem Sinan Abdul Latif
Child female Born 2005 killed
Zahra Sinan Abdul Latif
Child female Born 2012 killed
Zaid Sinan Abdul Latif
Child male Born 2015 killed

Family members (4)

Zahra Ibrahem Ali Jumah
Adult female Born 1954 killed
Jasim Mohammed Hassan Ali
Adult male Born 1977 killed
Shamsah Jasim Hassan Ali
Adult female Born 1978 killed
Rania Raed Mohammed Hassan
Child female Born 2016 killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (4 children1 woman2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • The house in Al-Rashidiyah neighbourhood, Mosul, after the Coalition strike that killed up to 15 people (photo by family member)
  • Aftermath of the attack (photo provided by family member of the victims)
  • Another picture of the house allegedly hit in the strike (photo provided by family member of the victims)
  • Remains of US missile supposedly used in the attack (photo provided by family member of the victims)
  • Another picture of the bomb piece (photo provided by family member of the victims)
  • Another image of the bomb piece (photo provided by family member of the victims)
  • Jasim Mohammed Hassan Ali (photo provided by family member)
  • Zahra Ibrahem Ali Jumah (photo provided by family member)
  • Shamsah Jasim Hassan Ali (photo provided by family member)

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 36.4125106, 43.0977345

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
    Killed by secondary explosion(s)
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    15
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF287309
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017
  • Jan. 21, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: During a strike on an ISIS VBIED attacking Iraqi Security Forces, it was assessed that 15 civilians were unintentionally killed by secondary explosions from the VBIED.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For January 20th – 21st the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Mosul, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit; destroyed 29 watercraft, three fighting positions, two vehicles, a mortar system, a light machine gun, and an anti-air artillery system; and damaged eight supply routes.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (4 children1 woman2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI500

Incident date

March 1, 2017

Location

النبي شيث, Mosul, Nabi Sheet, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.334635, 43.135051 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local residents said 14 civilians from three families were killed in a Coalition airstrike reportedly targeting a car bomb parked near their houses in Nabi Sheet neighborhood, at the right side of Mosul.

The sources reported that “the victims’ bodies [are] still under the rubble and could not be pulled out because of the intensification of the fighting in the region.” All sources blamed the Coalition for the raids.

Locals reported to FaceIraq News that “the three families are Nazim Abdul Rahman Chet‘s family; the family of Dawood, Suleiman, and the family of Yousef Mahmoud Salhan.”

On April 30th 2017 the Coalition claimed responsibility, noting: “March 1, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: During a strike on an ISIS VBIED factory, it was assessed that the strike blast set off a secondary explosion of an ISIS VBIED parked next to a house down the street from the target location resulting in the unintentional death of 14 civilians.” A senior official later confirmed to Airwars that the incident occurred in Nabi Sheet.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood at 36.33305, 43.13709

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
    Killed by secondary explosion(s)
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    14
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF328225
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 30, 2017
  • March 1, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: During a strike on an ISIS VBIED factory, it was assessed that the strike blast set off a secondary explosion of an ISIS VBIED parked next to a house down the street from the target location resulting in the unintentional death of 14 civilians.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 1st-March 2nd the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed 19 fighting positions, four supply caches, four mortar systems, four VBIEDs, three tunnels, two recoilless rifles, two VBIED factories, an ISIS-held building, a command and control node; and a barge; damaged 10 supply routes and two tunnels; and suppressed 14 mortar teams and three ISIS tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI591

Incident date

March 30, 2017

Location

الموصل: الزنجيلي, Mosul, Al-Zinjili, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.35103, 43.11055 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Dozens of civilians were reported killed or injured after Coalition airstrikes and possibly unidentified mortars hit houses in Zanjili neighbourhood, in West Mosul.

Suhaib Al Mashhadany posted a video on Facebook showing a young girl, allegedly the only survivor of the family after shelling hit their home.

Two sources, Iraqyoon and Yaqein, blamed the Coalition for airstrikes. Yaqein published a video posted by Al Amaq [ISIL press agency], which showed extreme damage and a significant number of civilian casualties. One traumatised child says “Please uncle help my brother, his body became fragments.. please uncle inside the home…” Another witness says to camera “Airstrikes are targeting us. It’s only a residential area, nothing is here.. all the people are dead and nothing is left.”

Ninawa Media Center reported the death of a civilian when a mortar (unspecified) hit his/her home at Zanjili, in what may be a separate event.

In December 2018 the Coalition accepted responsibility for this incident, noting: “The Coalition aircraft engaged an ISIS Command and Control facility and a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) facility. These facilities were engaged with precision munitions. The Command and Control facility was destroyed with no civilian casualties. The VBIED facility was destroyed; however, the bomb making material within the facility caused a large secondary explosion. Regrettably, during the explosion 12 civilians were unintentionally killed.”

A UN report on the protection of civilians in the context of Nineveh operations and the retaking of Mosul stated: “On 30 March, airstrikes reportedly hit four ISIL sites in the ISIL-controlled Zangele neighbourhood, western Mosul, killing 12 civilians, including a child, and wounding three others, including two children. According to an eyewitness, ISIL members prevented families from recovering bodies of relatives until ISIL had filmed the bodies. It was also reported that victims were used as human shields because ISIL had installed weapons at the incident location.”

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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Survivors search for victims following a reported Coalition strike on Zanjili, Mosul March 30th [image via ISIL video]

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
    Killed by secondary explosion(s)
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    12
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF307238
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 2, 2017
  • On Mar. 30, 2017, near al-Zinjili neighborhood, Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. The Coalition aircraft engaged an ISIS Command and Control facility and a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) facility. These facilities were engaged with precision munitions. The Command and Control facility was destroyed with no civilian casualties. The VBIED facility was destroyed; however, the bomb making material within the facility caused a large secondary explosion. Regrettably, during the explosion 12 civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI417

Incident date

January 12, 2017

Location

قرب مسجد الخشاب ، العربي, Vicinity of Al Khashab Mosque, Al Arabi, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.40393, 43.11644 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said heavy artillery shelling which targeted Al Arabi neighbourhood at the left side of Mosul had left dozens of civilians dead or wounded.

In October 2020, the US-led Coalition conceded killing 12 civilians and injuring a further ten in this event.

Iraqyoon said at the time that witnesses had reported to the Iraqi news agency that “the near-Khashab mosque area in the north of the Al Arabi neighborhood of Mosul came under artillery shelling by Iraqi forces.”

Nineveh Media Center reported that a clinic in the neighbourhood had also been targeted. It spoke of heavy, unidentified shelling.

In earlier monthly civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition had indicated that the credibility of this civilian harm allegation was in the process of being assessed. On October 29th 2020, officials confirmed the incident, noting: “Jan. 12, 2017, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh facility. Regrettably, twelve civilians were unintentionally killed and ten were unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–15
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of shelling on Al-Arabi neighbourhood in Mosul, on January 12th (via Iraqyoon)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a strike within the vicinity of Al Khashab Mosque (جامع الخشاب), at the coordinates: 36.402348, 43.118259. Coalition has confirmed the location of this strike (within 100m), north of Al Khashab Mosque at the following coordinates: 36.40393, 43.11644.

  • Reports of the incident mention a strike within the vicinity of Al Khashab Mosque (جامع الخشاب). Coalition has confirmed the location of this strike (within 100m), north of Al Khashab Mosque.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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
    12
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    10
  • Stated location
    in Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF311304
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 29, 2020
  • Jan. 12, 2017, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh facility. Regrettably, twelve civilians were unintentionally killed and ten were unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–15
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI536

Incident date

March 13, 2017

Location

المحطة, Mosul, Al Mahatta, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.330365, 43.100427 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local press sources and relatives of victims reported that 21 or more people, including an elderly woman with her two sons and a displaced family, were hit by a rocket. All victims were still under the rubble in Al-Mahatta neighborhood in West Mosul. The Coalition later accepted responsibility for 11 deaths in the attack.

Mosul Eye initially reported: “Their family members called the Golden Brigade for the rescue but no one has showed up to rescue them. The family is under huge distress

The house location: 36°19’49.3″N 43°06’01.5″E (36.330361, 43.100417) – Near Monastery of Saint Catherine Of Nuns. Please, Attend this as soon as possible”

The group later said all had died.

The Los Angeles Times later visited the scene: “The Times also visited a residential compound in west Mosul’s Mahata neighborhood, where survivors said a March 13 airstrike killed at least 21 people, including four children, in three houses that were reduced to a heap of crumbling concrete. Survivors said they had not been contacted by Iraqi or coalition authorities, and the strike was not mentioned in Sunday’s report. Scrocca said the coalition is investigating. ‘My house has been destroyed by an airstrike and that is very clear,’ survivor Shahab Ahmed Aaid, 25, said on Sunday. ‘All my neighbors are witnesses. I want the coalition and U.S. to investigate and be fair about it.’

In its September 2017 casualty report the Coalition accepted responsibility: “During a strike on an ISIS VBIED, it was assessed that 11 civilians in an adjacent structure were unintentionally killed by secondary explosions from the VBIED.”

Coalition officials told Airwars that this related to an incident at Mahatta, with coordinates [36°19’49.3″N 43°06’01.5″E] which exactly matched this event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21
  • (4 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of strikes on Al-Mahatta neighbourhood (via Iraq news center)
  • Mosul Eye tweeting on the incident
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Pictures of alleged victims by Ajel Al 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
    Killed by secondary explosion(s)
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    11
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF2950322266
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 1, 2017
  • March 13, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via media report: During a strike on an ISIS VBIED, it was assessed that 11 civilians in an adjacent structure were unintentionally killed by secondary explosions from the VBIED.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 12th-13th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units, an ISIS staging area and an ISIS sniper team; destroyed 16 fighting positions, five VBIEDs, four mortar systems, two rocket-propelled grenade systems, two supply caches, two VBIED factories, and a vehicle; damaged 22 supply routes; and suppressed 14 ISIS mortar teams, two ISIS tactical units, and an ISIS sniper team.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21
  • (4 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI051

Incident date

March 13, 2015

Location

الحضر, Hatra, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.46957, 42.45308 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A US airstrike ‘likely’ killed four civilians when a pair of vehicles was hit during an attack on a reported ISIL checkpoint, a CENTCOM investigation later concluded. After a later investigation by the Washington Post found that eleven civilians actually died – including five children, four women and two civilian drivers – the Coalition raised its own estimate to eleven deaths.

According to a declassified CENTCOM report issued on November 20th 2015, the US airstrike by an A-10 Warthog took place at Hatra at 12.18pm local time, and was a target of opportunity.

But also present at the enemy checkpoint were two civilian vehicles, which aircrews and analysts failed to properly identify in the short time between the release of a GBU-38 missile and impact. In the ensuing strike, both civilian cars were also destroyed.

The tragic events of March 13th were never publicly reported at the time. Instead, the owner of one of the vehicles destroyed in the airstrike later wrote to the Coalition asking for compensation for her destroyed vehicle. In a redacted email, the owner reveals that her own KIA car was carrying a family of two children and three women along with a civilian driver. Another vehicle, a GMC with another family in it was also present.

A major investigation by the Washington Post identified the two families killed. The first was that of the driver of the Kia, along with his grandmother, aunt, sister and two children. In the GMC, the driver died along with the family of an Iraqi police commander: “A provincial government official in northern Iraq told Ekabee that the family of a lieutenant colonel with the Iraqi police had been burned alive in the GMC Suburban. ‘What happened to me, you can’t even imagine,’ the colonel said last month in interview with The Washington Post. He said his 9-year-old daughter; two sons, ages 10 and 16; his wife; and the driver were killed in the attack. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he still has family trapped in Mosul.“

The Hatra incident was initially made public with the release of another declassified CENTCOM document which identified 45 problem incidents involving Coalition aircraft.

Coalition commander Lt General John Hesterman signed off on the completed CENTCOM investigation noting: “I concur with the findings and conclusions of the IO [investigating officer], who substantiated by a preponderance of the evidence that civilian casualties had occurred.”

On April 30th 2017 the Coalition amended its estimate for the attack, noting: “March 13, 2015, near Hatra, Iraq: On the Nov. 20, 2015, U.S. Central Command press release it was reported that four civilians were killed during a strike on an ISIS checkpoint. A subsequent investigation concluded that 11 civilians were unintentionally killed.“

The incident occured at 12:18:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Wife of anonymised Lt Col in Iraq Army
Adult female Fanmily of Lt Col in Iraq Army killed
Daughter
9 years old female killed
Son
10 years old male killed
Son
16 years old male killed

The victims were named as:

Unnamed driver of vehicle
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (5 children4 women2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The partly redacted testimony of an Iraqi car owner which led Centcom to conclude it had killed civilians in Iraq on march 13th 2015
  • Coaliton commander Lt General John Hesterman signs off on the investigation

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest village at 35.432785, 44.22447.

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
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    11
  • Stated location
    near Al Hatra, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SKE689281
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 30, 2017
  • May 21, 2015
  • Coalition aircraft conducted a dynamic airstrike on a manned ISIL checkpoint near Al Hatra, Iraq. The ISIL checkpoint was successfully destroyed as a result of the airstrike. Unfortunately, the airstrike is assessed as likely resulting in the deaths of four civilians

  • March 13, 2015, near Hatra, Iraq: On the Nov. 20, 2015, U.S. Central Command press release it was reported that four civilians were killed during a strike on an ISIS checkpoint. A subsequent investigation concluded that 11 civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition reported that for March 13th-14th 2015, “Near Kirkuk, four airstrikes struck one large ISIL unit and two ISIL tactical units and destroyed four buildings, three ISIL machine guns, and three ISIL vehicles,” the closest published match to this event at the time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (5 children4 women2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI292

Incident date

October 2, 2016

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.35778, 43.09926 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported the deaths of up to 23 civilians – including 17 children and 1 woman – following an alleged Coalition airstrike on Mosul’s Najjar neighbourhood. Officials later confirmed the deaths of 10 civilians in the event.

Iraqi Spring reported at the time that The coalition air force has targeted a home in which displaced families live in Najjar neighbourhood in Mosul resulted in 19 deaths including 17 children and women.

Iraq Now featured a video from the ISIS-controlled agency Al A’maq News, which showed significant destruction and the removal of the bodies of a number of children. As Al Jazeera noted, The [Al A’Amaq] agency aired footage of havoc in a number of buildings and said a US air strike had targeted a house inhabited by displaced people in Al-Najjar neighbourhood of Mosul, which led to widespread destruction at home and the killing or injury of civilians. For its part, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense on Sunday announced Sunday evening that international coalition aircraft had destroyed an IED laboratory belonging to ISIL in Mosul.

The reported death toll was later raised to 23 according to Al Khaleej and others. Al Araby also cited a Mosul doctor as saying that 23 civilians arrived at the hospital between the ninth and the eleventh hour, as a result of the bombing of a group of houses in an upscale neighbourhood in the centre of Mosul. Local mosques used their loudspeakers to urge people to donate blood.

Given reported British actions in the area that day, Airwars flagged the incident to the UK’s MoD which said we can confirm that there was no UK involvement in the event.

On September 29th 2017 the Coalition confirmed responsibility for the event, noting that “2. Oct. 2, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report: During a strike against an ISIS headquarters structure, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.” Officials gave the coordinates of the incident as 36°21’28.0″N 43°05’57.4″E.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    19 – 23
  • (17 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A picture shows the destruction followed an alleged coalition airstrike on Mosul’s Najjar neighbourhood (via Al Rafidain)
  • Another image shows the destruction followed an alleged coalition airstrike on Mosul’s Najjar neighbourhood (via al-Araby)

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 36.3617898, 43.1118965.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected 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 Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF2945925310
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • During a strike against an ISIS headquarters structure, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 2nd-3rd 2016, the Coalition reports: “Near Mosul, four strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL headquarters buildings and a front-end loader.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    19 – 23
  • (17 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI197

Incident date

March 5, 2016

Location

شركة البناء الجاهز, Mosul, Industrial area in Arabi, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.413333, 43.106667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 21 civilians including 13 children reportedly died after an alleged night time Coalition strike on an abandoned factory in Mosul, which was being used by Daesh. The Coalition later said it had targeted an ‘ISIL weapons production facility’ in the city. This may also have been linked to the terror group’s chemical weapons programme according to a later report by the New York Times.

The US admitted seven months later that it had killed 10 civilians in the attack – at the time the highest ever publicly acknowledged civilian toll from a strike: “Near Mosul, Iraq, on strike against an ISIL weapons production facility it is assessed that 10 civilians were killed.”

According to NRN News “the Coalition targeted an old industrial plant in eastern Mosul, killing 10 Daesh militants… Our correspondent also said that the bombing killed and wounded more than 20 civilians from displaced families from western Sunni areas, who were living in the buildings.”

In a New York Times report, the family killed in the strikes had moved into the storage facility, divided it up into separate rooms, brought in a water tank, built a kitchen and a bathroom, all to avoid living in the IDP camps. On the night of the strikes, the whole family, 21 of them, were gathered at the table for dinner. A relative of the family Abdul Aziz heard the explosions, maybe a dozen in all, and later went to the site of the bombing, describing it as “The place was flattened. It was just rocks and destruction. There was fire everywhere.” They returned at dawn, with blankets to carry the dead. “We searched for our relatives picking them up piece by piece and wrapping them.”  Everyone at the dinner had been killed: Zeidan and his wife, Nofa; Araj, Ghazala and their four children; Zeidan’s adult son Hussein, Hussein’s wife and their six children; Zeidan’s adult son Hassan, Hassan’s wife and their two children; and Sawsan, their own beloved daughter.

Sawsan’s father said that “If it weren’t for her clothes, I wouldn’t have even known it was her. She was just pieces of meat. I recognized her only because she was wearing the purple dress that I bought for her a few days before. It’s indescribable. I can’t put it into words. My wife — she didn’t even know whether to go to her daughter, or the rest of the family first. It is just too hard to describe. We’re still in denial and disbelief. To this day, we cannot believe what happened. That day changed everything for us.”

According to the New York Times, the Pentagon had concluded that there was “no civilian presence within the target compound. Though the surveillance video had captured 10 children playing near the target structure, the military officials who reviewed this footage determined the children would not be harmed by a nighttime strike because they did not live there: They were classified as “transient,” merely passing through during daylight hours.” However, a United States Agency for International Development representative had disputed this finding, arguing that it was likely that the family lived in or near the compound because “parents would be unlikely to let their children stray far from home” but her concerns were dismissed.

In a Daesh propaganda video issued four months later, UK journalist John Cantile gave the death toll as 24, reporting from the site: “These were shops, houses and small markets. 24 people were killed, two entire families were wiped out and the houses of one of those families… is just a crater.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ali Fathi Zeidan Al- Manaawi
Adult male (via NRN News) killed
wife of Ali Fathi Zeidan Al- Manaawi
Adult female (via NRN News) killed
Daughter of Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child female (via NRN News) killed

Family members (8)

Hussein Ali Fathi Zeidan
Adult male (via NRN News) killed
Wife of Hussein Ali Fathi Zeidan
Adult female (via NRN News) killed
Child 1 of Hussein Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed
Child 2 of Hussein Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed
Child 3 of Hussein Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed
Child 4 of Hussein Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed
Child 5 of Hussein Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed
Child 6 of Hussein Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed

Family members (5)

Hassan Ali Fathi Zeidan
Adult male (via NRN News) killed
Wife of Hassan Ali Fathi Zeidan
Adult female (via NRN News) killed
Child 1 Hassan Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed
Child 2 Hassan Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed
Child 3 Hassan Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed

Family members (5)

Ghazala Ali Fathi Zeidan
Adult female (via NRN News) killed
Husband of Ghazala Ali Fathi Zeidan
Adult male (via NRN News) killed
Child 1 of Ghazala Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed
Child 2 Ghazala Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed
Child 3 Ghazala Ali Fathi Zeidan
Child (via NRN News) killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21 – 24
  • (13 children4 women4 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows an unnamed child, killed by an alleged Coalition strike on Mosul March 5th (via NRN News)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of the child who was killed after the alleged coalition airstrike in Mosul on March 5th (Via NRN News‎)
  • An image reveals the destruction that followed an alleged Coalition airstrike on an abandoned factory in Mosul (via NRN News‎)
  • An image shows an injured child after the alleged coalition airstrike in Mosul on March 5th (Via NRN News‎)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another image shows a dead child who was killed after an alleged coalition airstrike in Mosul on March 5th (Via NRN News‎)
  • Abdul Aziz Ahmed Araj, right, and his brother Saddam amid the ruins of the warehouse where their brother and other family members were killed. (Image by Ivor Prickett for The New York Times)
  • The site of a Coalition strike in Yabisat, West Mosul on March 5, 2016. (Image by Ivor Prickett for The New York Times)

Geolocation notes

The MGRS provided by the Coalition placed this incident at 36.3457, 43.08219

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 Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF279240
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 9, 2016
  • On a strike against an ISIL weapons production facility it is assessed that 10 civilians were killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 5th-6th 2016 the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, two strikes struck an ISIL weapons production facility and destroyed an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).“

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21 – 24
  • (13 children4 women4 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 (9) [ collapse]