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

CI003

Incident date

September 3, 2014

Location

الوحدة, Mosul, Al Wahda, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3290942, 43.1870842 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A reported aerial bombardment (at 2200hrs local time) near an ISIL HQ east of Mosul, allegedly left up to seven members of the same family dead and injured in the al-Wadha Street area. At least three women were reported killed and a man and child injured.

While Baghdad TV attributed the strike to US aircraft, other media referred only to unspecified aircraft, or said that Iraqi forces were responsible.

According to local media, residents had earlier been warned of imminent airstrikes: “Iraqi planes dropped leaflets two days ago, in which civilians were warned against mixing with members of IS to avoid harm from any Iraqi security strikes targeting the organisation.” In response, ISIL reportedly evacuated part of its HQ in the city.

In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition denied responsibility for the event: “Sep. 3, 2014, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”

The incident occured at approximately 10:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (3 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood Al Wahda (الوحدة) in the east of the city of Mosul. The generic coordinates for this neighbourhood are: 36.3290942, 43.1870842. 

  • The neighbourhood of Al Wahda (الوحدة) in the east of the city of Mosul

    Imagery:
    © 2019 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

CENTCOM reported three strikes in the vicinity of Mosul Dam for September 3rd-4th 2014: “U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Iraq, using fighter aircraft to conduct three airstrikes Wednesday and Thursday, in support of Mosul Dam operations. The strikes destroyed two ISIL armed vehicles and an ISIL observation post. “

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (3 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI002

Incident date

August 24, 2014

Location

القيارة, Qayyarah, Al Shuhadaa, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.7977836, 43.2935143 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local news service Al Sumaria claimed that “11 civilians from one family” died after coalition airstrikes hit the village of al Qayyarah south of Mosul on the morning of August 24th.

Other sources, placing the death count slightly lower at 8-9 killed, reported that the attack had been carried out by a helicopter, possibly a Chinook, suggesting that the Iraq Army may have been responsible. Local MP Abdul Rahman Allowaizi later complained that “there is no difference between detonating car bombs in the regions and governorates of Iraq and the dumping of barrels explosive on the role of residential neighborhoods in Nineveh.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Local reports mentioned Al Shuhadaa neighbourhood ( حي الشهداء ) in the town of ( القيارة ) Qayyarah, southern Nineveh. The coordinates for ( القيارة ) Qayyarah are: 35.7977836, 43.2935143 We were unable to locate Al Shuhadaa neighbourhood ( حي الشهداء ) on maps. However we suspect the neighbourhood is located in North Qayyarah ( القيارة ) as the news outlet rudaw.net, reported that people from this neighbourhood complained about oil fires between August to September 2016. The oil fires are clearly visible in available satellite imagery from time period, potentially identifying the neighbourhood.

  • Fires in 2016 potentially mark the location of Al Shuhadaa neighbourhood ( حي الشهداء ), which is not marked on any maps.

    Date taken:
    September 2, 2016

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 Qayyarah, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 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

The coalition has reported two strikes in the vicinity of Mosul for August 23rd-24th 2014, both of which it says targeted vehicles: “U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in support of Iraqi security force operations, using fighter aircraft to conduct an airstrike in the vicinity of Mosul Dam. The strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle and all aircraft exited the strike area safely.“

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
    8 – 11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI001

Incident date

August 16, 2014

Location

سنجار, Sinjar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3206914, 41.8641115 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the German news agency DPA, the first known civilian victims of US bombing in the campaign occurred on August 16th, eight days into the air war. According to DPA, witnesses informed the agency’s reporter that “11 civilian were killed by a US airstrike when they chased [ISIL] fighters in Sinjar but its rockets missed them, targeting civilian houses and killing 11 persons west of Mosul.”

Al Jazeera also reported that 11 non-combatants had died, adding that additional civilians may also have been killed on US strikes after August 8th: “Medical sources from the city’s hospital in Mosul said that the bodies of more than two dozen people from IS killed by US raids on northern Iraq were received.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • 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]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Local reports of the incident only mention residental buildings in Sinjar ( سنجار ) district, Nineveh province. The coordinates for Sinjar town are: 36.3206914, 41.8641115  

  • Sinjar ( سنجار ) district outlined in red

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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 Sinjar, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 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

A single US airstrike was confirmed in Sinjar August 15th, with six in the vicinity of Mosul Dam the following day. For August 15th-16th 2014: “U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Iraq yesterday, with remotely piloted aircraft successfully conducting airstrikes on two armed vehicles south of the village of Sinjar. After receiving reports from Kurdish forces that ISIL terrorists were attacking civilians in Kawju, a village located south of Sinjar, U.S. aircraft identified and followed an ISIL armed vehicle to a roadside area. At approximately 10:10 a.m. EDT [1910 local], U.S. aircraft struck and destroyed two vehicles in the area.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • 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]