US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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Incident Code

CI432

Incident date

January 18, 2017

Location

حي النجار, Mosul, Al-Najjar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3592367, 43.0998802 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that up to 14 people, mostly from one family, were killed when a Coalition airstrike targeted the house of Khalil Ekrb at 3pm in Al-Najjar neighborhood, near Hawi, in the northwest of Mosul.

Iraqyoon said the raids had targeted ISIL members in front of the house, but that the bombing “did not hurt any elements of the [terrorist] organization”. It reported that a woman was killed, and a man and others wounded.

Mosul Ateka said that the whole family of the house was killed. In a comment under the post, it was claimed that the Coalition had carried out the strike.

In a later report, Iraqyoon said that as many as 14 civilians died in the bombing of the house, “including four men, four women and six children, most of them from one family.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • (6 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Sources (5) [ 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 17th-18th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units, destroyed three tunnel entrances, twovehicles, three VBIEDs, three barges, a watercraft, three fighting positions, three tactical vehicles, two mortars, and an artillery piece; suppressed two ISIL tactical units; and damaged a tunnel, a fighting position, and 29 supply routes.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • (6 children4 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI446

Incident date

January 31, 2017

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously known to Airwars researchers, the Coalition reported on March 4th that it was assessing an event at Mosul.

According to the release “Currently, 19 reports of civilian casualties are still being assessed… Jan. 31, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via social media report.”

No additional details are presently known.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 30th-31st the Coalition stated: “Near Mosul, seven strikes engaged six ISIL tactical units and an ISIL mortar team; destroyed two VBIED facilities, two ISIL-held buildings, a weapons facility, a fighting position, a VBIED, an ISIL headquarters, a tunnel, a tactical vehicle, a mortar system and a weapons cache; damaged three supply routes and suppressed a mortar team.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI458

Incident date

February 14, 2017

Location

قصر المطران, Mosul, Qasr al-Mataraan, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3385928, 43.1256402 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A local source said that three sisters were killed and their mother seriously injured after airstrikes destroyed their house neighbouring an ISIL position in Qasr al-Mataraan (Bishop Palace) area at the right side of Mosul.

Urgent Mosul news reported that the raids had targeted and killed ISIL members, yet had also killed the three sisters. The mother suffered a serious head injury and the house was damaged.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ 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:21:"insufficient_evidence";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Qasar al-Mataran, Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF285231
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 27, 2018

  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 13th-14th the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed four watercraft, three front-end loaders, and a mortar system; damaged nine supply routes; and suppressed eight ISIS mortar teams.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS513

Incident date

February 20, 2017

Location

الجلاء, desert of al Jalaa town, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.6185172, 40.7867432

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike in a car in the desert of al Jalaa, according to local sources. The alliance denies the claim.

According to Euphrates Post and the Shaam News Network, the two deaths occurred when Coalition jets struck a “Hyundai car carrying petrol in the desert of al Jalaa”.

LCCSY reported that the “international coalition carried out several raids on oil fields in the east of the province.” Al Amawi and Fresh Syria also attributed the event to the Coalition.

On April 30th 2017 the Coalition flagged the event as ‘not credible’, noting: “Feb. 20, 2017, near Dayr Az Zayr, Syria, via social media report: No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: eastern deir ezzor - al Boukamal - international coalition raid target a Hayundai car carrying petrol in al Jalaa desert
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 Jalaa (Dayr Az Zawr), Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU6380632191
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017

  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 19th-20th, the Coalition reported: ” Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes destroyed seven oil wellheads.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

[France reports that in the last week it carried out 36 sorties and three strike destroying three ISIL targets. On February 20th, in support of the Mosul offensive, it conducted two strikes southwest Mosul against ISIL artillery pieces installed in the key area of the airport. A strike was also carried out in Syria in the area of Deir Ezzor, which destroyed a weapons cache.]

‘En Syrie, la situation évolue peu, que ce soit dans la région d’Al Bab où de Raqqah ou les forces démocratiques syriennes progresse méthodiquement en poursuivant leur manœuvre d’encerclement de la ville de Raqqah. En Irak, l’organisation poursuit sa campagne d’attentats terroristes, visant toujours essentiellement la capitale Bagdad, en continuant à faire de nombreux morts parmi la population civile. L’activité des opérations sur le théâtre du Levant a été marquée en début de semaine par le lancement de l’offensive visant à libérer la partie Ouest de la ville de Mossoul. Dans une manœuvre cordonnée et planifiée, appuyée par la coalition, les unités irakiennes ont commencé leur progression. Faisant face à la défense de Daech, les forces irakiennes ont progressé sur le flanc sud-ouest de Mossoul. Ils sont parvenus à proximité d’Abu Saïf sur la rive occidentale du Tigre, au sud de l’aéroport de Mossoul, point clef avant d’atteindre les quartiers plus résidentiels de la ville. Face à la reprise de l’offensive, Daech semble chercher à se réfugier dans la zone urbaine que ses combattants ont fortement fortifiée les semaines passées. Dans le même temps, l’organisation terroriste tente de fragiliser la sécurisation de l’Est de la ville par les FSI en y menant des actions de harcèlement et en en faisant la cible de tirs indirects. Plus à l’ouest, Daech essaie de maintenir un axe logistique vers Tal Afar, porte de sortie vers la Syrie. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE CHAMMAL Cette semaine, les missions aériennes des avions français engagés contre Daech ont ainsi représenté 36 sorties dont 28 de reconnaissance armée ou d’appui au sol, et 8 de recueil de renseignements. Les 3 frappes réalisées ont permis de détruire 3 objectifs. Dès le lancement de l’offensive pour la libération de Mossoul Ouest, les Rafale de l’armée de l’air sont entrés en action au-dessus de la ville. Le 20 février ils ont réalisé, en appui de l’offensive de Mossoul, deux frappes au Sud-Ouest de la ville, contre des pièces d’artillerie de Daech installées dans le secteur clef de l’aéroport. Une frappe a par ailleurs été conduite en Syrie dans la région de Der Ez Zawr pour détruire une 1 cache d’armes. Appui feu – TF Wagram La reprise de l’offensive dans l’ouest de Mossoul et les opérations de sécurisation dans l’Est a également largement mobilisé la TF Wagram cette semaine. Ce sont en tout 45 missions de tirs en appui des forces irakiennes qui ont été réalisées. Le nombre de missions en augmentation sensible et la proportion croissante de missions de destruction (34) soulignent l’évolution des effets recherchés sur le terrain. Une grande partie des appuis fournis a visé l’arrière des défenses de Daech, afin de désorganiser ses unités, sa logistique et ses communications, et faciliter ainsi la progression des FSI.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI504

Incident date

March 2, 2017

Location

New Mosul neighbourhood, Nineveh, Iraq

Airwars assessment

An eyewitness, Ghania Hassan – resident of the al-Jadida (New Mosul) neighborhood – told Foreign Policy that more than 56 civilians were killed after a Coalition missile hit a house where they were gathered, reportedly forced to by ISIL combattants. The eyewitness account as written down by Sam Kimball, Foreign Policy:

“If they stopped the airstrikes, that would be better,” said Ghania Hassan, a resident of the al-Jadida neighborhood. “The coalition has destroyed us.” Hassan has good reason to hate the coalition airstrikes. On March 2, Islamic State militants barged into her home at 5 a.m. and took her and others to another home, where she was packed in with what she believes were well over 100 others in the basement. This may have been an attempt to use the civilians as human shields.

In the basement, Hassan and the group listened to Islamic State fighters firing machine guns nearby. She said that the owner of the house, a man named Abu Imad Ayad, knew his home might be struck by airplanes because of the Islamic State fighters firing all around it, and that he and his son climbed to the roof and tried to signal to the air force not to fire on them.

But at 11 a.m., a missile screeched in and the house crumbled on top of her. She said God is the only reason she survived. “They went up to the roof and were saying, ‘Don’t shoot.’ Then the house fell, and both died,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Hassan said neighbors pulled her out — and would eventually excavate 56 bodies from the rubble. She maintains that it wasn’t just one missile, but several, that fell on the homes of al-Jadida. “House upon house fell,” she said.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    56
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ 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
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

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
    56
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI523

Incident date

March 9, 2017

Location

العامل, Mosul, Amil, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.323476, 43.093421 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local residents and press sources said that dozens of civilians were killed or injured and many were still under rubble, after reported Coalition airstrikes and shelling by Iraqi forces targeted Amil neighborhood, west of Mosul.

Iraqi Spring reported that “the government forces shelled their homes in Amil neighborhood at the right side of Mosul after demanding them to stay at home to commit the massacre.”

However, most other sources jointly blamed both the Coalition and Iraqi forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 24
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (7) [ 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 evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF291215
    Military Grid Reference System

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 civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 8th-9th the Coalition noted: “Mosul, fives strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed six vehicles, five tanker trucks, four mortar systems, 4 VBIEDs, two supply caches, a fighting position, an artillery system, an ISIS-held building, a tactical vehicle, an ISIS headquarters, and a weapons storage facility; damaged 32 supply routes; and suppressed nine mortar teams, a sniper team, a medium machine gun team, and an ISIS tactical unit.”

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
    2 – 24
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI542

Incident date

March 14, 2017

Location

الرسالة, Mosul, Dur al Resala, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.326071, 43.089424 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local residents and press sources said that a family of seven was killed after an airstrike hit their house in Dur-al Resala neighbourhood, West Mosul.

Hani Abu Obeida was named by @n_iraq67 as one of the victims. It was reported that his son Musab was the only survivor. The rest of the family reportedly died.

Only one source said it was the work of the Coalition. Other sources did not specify who carried out the raids.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hani Abu Obeida
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • 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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Hani Abu Ubeida was allegedly killed in Coalition raids on Dor-al Resala, on March 14th. Only one of the seven family members survived (via n_iraq67)
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 Dur al-Resala neighborhood, Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF284222
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 29, 2018

  • After a review of available information and the strike video it, was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For March 13th-14th: “Near Mosul, five strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed 27 fighting positions, three rocket-propelled grenade systems, two VBIEDs, an artillery system, a mortar system, a heavy machine gun, a road block, a vehicle and a VBIED factory; damaged 12 supply routes; and suppressed five ISIS mortar teams and two ISIS tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • 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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI560

Incident date

March 19, 2017

Location

حي التنك, Mosul, Tanak, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3364235, 43.0626297 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Amnesty International field researchers reported that 11 civilians died in a likely airstrike on al Tanak.

The following account was published: “Amnesty International interviewed witnesses about an explosion in al-Tenak neighbourhood on 20 March which they attributed to an air strike. The explosion caused two houses to collapse just off Street 20, killing 11 civilians. Witnesses told Amnesty International that the target was an IS flatbed truck with a mounted machine-gun, which had been parked outside the houses that were struck. It had driven off and moved to another area at least 40 minutes before the attack. One of the witnesses, a local resident called “Imad”, went to the scene of the explosion.

He told Amnesty International: “I know the people killed in those houses. They were simple people. They were working in construction. A painter decorator was killed in one house with his three children and his grandmother. In the other house a carpenter was killed along with his 30-year-old wife and their four children. All the children killed were between three and eight years old.”

This was not the only strike in the area targeting the IS vehicle, according to people displaced from the area. The vehicle had been moving around the neighbourhood for around 20 days during the period between 5 and 30 March 2017. Pro-government forces kept trying to hit it as it moved around, carrying out at least seven strikes on the neighbourhood and killing many more civilians – men, women and children. They told Amnesty International that pro-government forces did not succeed in hitting the truck.

Amnesty International was not able to verify whether the delivery system used in this series of attacks was a warplane or whether the same type of weapon was used in each attack. Whatever the weapons used in this case, it appears to be part of a pattern of attacks by pro-government forces using explosive weapons with wide area effects to try to strike highly mobile targets in densely populated areas of west Mosul. Such reckless tactics repeatedly claimed civilian lives and destroyed homes and civilian infrastructure. Based upon the information available, this attack appears to have been indiscriminate.”

A further unpublished Amnesty field report shared with Airwars states the following: “On 19 or 20 March, two houses were targeted in Hai Tenek / Nahwaran, 150 meters west of the Othman Bin Afan Mosque. It was around 4pm, and I was outside the house, just checking around the area. I didn’t hear the sound of the airplane, but both buildings were destroyed, so it must have been an airstrike [because of the extent of the damage]. 11 civilians were killed from the families staying in the two houses – one of the families was ‘Riyan‘. Mostly those killed were children. I saw the bodies in the rubble myself, and I tried to help dig them out.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (7 children)
  • 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 (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 March 18th-19th the Coalition noted: ” Near Mosul, five strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed 14 fighting positions, four vehicles, two rocket-propelled grenade systems, a medium machine gun, and an artillery system; damaged 14 supply routes; and suppressed five mortar teams and three ISIS tactical units.”

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
    11
  • (7 children)
  • 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