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

CI248

Incident date

June 7, 2016

Location

سومر و العربي والزهور ودنه دان, Mosul, East neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.2981099, 43.2000446 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A local source said 20 civilians were killed or injured along with three Daesh fighters after Coalition jets allegedly targeted four neighbourhoods in central Mosul.

A single source, Yaqein, said the strikes took place in the evening. Among those targeted was a Daesh ’emir’ from Morocco, whose white Hyundai was destroyed. But civilian casualties were also said to be high. According to local sources, “corpses littered the streets and remained for more than an hour for fear of further bombing until an ambulance finally came.“

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in these strikes as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 20
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention multiple neighbourhoods in the east of Mosul: Sumer (سومر), for which the coordinates are: 36.2981099, 43.2000446; Arabi (العربي), for which the coordinates are: 36.411958, 43.1138706; and Zuhour (الزهور), for which the coordinates are: 36.3789337, 43.1850243. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. 

  • The neighbourhoods of Sumer (سومر), Arabi (العربي) and Zuhour (الزهور) in 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
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF383185/38SLF308312/38SLF371275
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • Mar 25, 2020

  • June 7, 2016, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2958/CI248 38SLF383185

  • June 7, 2016, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2963/CI248 38SLF308312

  • June 7, 2016, in Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2964/CI248 38SLF371275

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 7th-8th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL command and control node.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 20
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1709

Incident date

January 10, 2018

Location

غرانيج, Granij, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.776667, 40.73 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Twenty civilians were said to have died in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Granij, according to some local media. The high end claim appeared to have originated with ISIS.

According to Euphrates Post, “a number of civilians were killed as a result of air strikes likely belonging to the International Alliance aimed at the town of Granij this afternoon.”

Smart News reported that “Syrian Democratic Forces are trying to complete their control of the city of Granij (90 km east of the town of Deir al-Zour), north-east of Syria. Activists reported heavy clashes with IS.”

According to the Step News Agency, “on the 10th of this month, at least 20 people were killed by Coalition bombing of the town of Granji” – though the source provided no further details.

Montaked, who appears to be an activist, also put the claimed death toll at 20 with 30 others wounded, blaming Coalition warplanes. However, a reply to Montaked’s tweet by an account called ‘The Pride of Shaetat’ [an area in Deir Ezzor] denied the news, saying that no civilians were killed. Damascus News Network also denied reports of civilian casualties, saying that “no air operations had been seen”.

Baladi, however, also reported a death toll of 20 with 30 more injured in Coalition strikes – saying the claim had originated with ISIS. Qasioun said there had been fatalities “likely” caused by the alliance in Granij.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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 (8) [ 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

"On Jan. 10 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 19 strikes consisting of 34 engagements against ISIS targets.
• Near Abu Kamal, 19 strikes [3 British] engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed an ISIS supply route, four ISIS vehicles, three control and command centers, a recoilless rifle, two logistics centers, an indirect fire weapon and a VBIED."

Unknown
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

"‘Wednesday 10 January – a Reaper hit three terrorist targets in eastern Syria, whilst Tornados destroyed an armed truck…The following day [January 10th], another Reaper worked closely with coalition surveillance aircraft and fast jets in a series of strikes in support of the SDF advance. Our aircraft supported coalition air attacks on a Daesh-held building and a mortar position, and conducted three attacks with its own Hellfire missiles, destroying an armed truck parked under cover of a vehicle shelter, and hitting two groups of terrorists on foot. A flight of Tornado GR4s also took part in this operation, and targeted an armed truck positioned within a compound; the use of a Brimstone missile allowed the vehicle to be destroyed without posing a risk to nearby buildings."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI657

Incident date

April 21, 2017

Location

الحضر, Hatra, Kayrawan and Balij, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.469167, 42.453611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that about twenty civilians died when Iraqi forces, “backed by the Popular Populist militia and the US-led Coalition” launched an attack on Hatra, Qayrawan and Balij, South of Mosul, in Nineveh province.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reported of the incident mention Hatra ( الحضر ), Qayrawan ( القیروان ) and Balij ( بلیج ), South of Mosul in Nineveh province. The generic coordinates for Hatra Subdistrict are  35.469167, 42.453611. The generic coordinates Qayrawan area are 36.1567681, 42.0361151. Possible coordinates for Balij village are 36.9249886, 41.4392281.

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For April 20th-21st: “Near Mosul, six strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units, destroyed 11 rocket-propelled grenade systems, seven fighting positions, six VBIEDs, five mortar systems, three VBIED facilities, a weapons cache, a medium machine gun and an ISIS staging area; damaged 11 ISIS supply routes, four fighting positions; and suppressed two mortar teams and 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
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI010

Incident date

October 17, 2014

Location

عوينات, Awinat, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.68037, 42.39686 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to news agency NINA, a “US air strike on the village of Aouinat northwest of Mosul killed five civilians, according to a source in forensic medicine in Mosul.” The Al Rafidain website (in a report dated ten days after the event) placed the death toll higher at between 10 and 20, saying two houses had been destroyed by the coalition.

The quarterly UN Report for Iraq also noted that “Air strikes carried out on 17 October north of Mosul allegedly killed at least 26 civilians.” These were only generally attributed to Iraqi security forces and their allies – which might include “US-led coalition airstrikes.” However, the Guardian later reported that following an agreement with the international coalition, Iraqi aircraft were not carrying out airstrikes north of Mosul.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 20
  • 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]

Reports of the incident mention Aouinat / Tal Awinat (تل عوينات) village, north west of Mosul. The coordinates of the village: 36.68037, 42.39686  

  • Aouinat ( تل عوينات )

    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 Awinat, Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SKF671625
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The coalition has confirmed five airstrikes to the west of Mosul Dam (itself north west of the city) on October 17th-18th 2014: “Five airstrikes occurred west of the Mosul Dam and damaged an ISIL building and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL HMMWV and struck three small ISIL ground units.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 20
  • 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]

Incident Code

CS873

Incident date

May 27, 2017

Location

رطلة, Ratlah, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.882222, 39.048611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 17 civilians – reportedly displaced persons – were killed when buses transporting them were hit by Coalition airstrikes according to local reports.

The Syrian Observatory reported that 18 people were killed in Coalition airstrikes in the vicinity of al-Kasrat, of whom at least 10 members of ISIS. The Observatory said that some attacks hit buses on the road between al Kasrat and Ratla village.

Smart News put the death toll at 17 and said the Coalition strikes hit public buses transporting civilians south of Raqqa city. Many other outlets cited the figure of 17 or 18, and gave similar accounts.

Baladi News had a higher death toll of 20, and said that others were injured when the buses were attacked. Masaida said there were women and children among the dead, and added that 20 were injured.

Unusually no victims were named.

In its December 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition confirmed that “During a Coalition strike which destroyed an ISIS headquarters building it was assessed the three civilians were unintentionally killed.” However officials have refused to provide co-ordinates for the event, meaning that we cannot presently determine whether this was incident S763; S765; S766; S767; S768 or perhaps a new event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 20
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (28) [ 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 Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV0433771223
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 1, 2017

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For May 26th-27th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven vehicles, five fighting positions, three tunnels, an ISIS headquarters and an ISIS staging area.“
For May 27th-28th, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, 15 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, three ISIS headquarters, an ISIS staging area and a VBIED."
For May 27th it added "Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed a six fighting positions, an ISIS-held building and a weapons cache."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 20
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI795

Incident date

July 1, 2017

Location

النبي جرجيس, Mosul, Nabi Jarjis, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.342256, 43.126231 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple local sources quoted witnesses as saying that an entire family – consisting of nine people – died after airstrikes hit their houses in the Nabi Jarjis area of Old Mosul.

Iraq News and others said that there were women and children among the dead. The sources did not say who had carried out the raids. However, a senior Coalition official informed Airwars on July 5th that “It is primarily Coalition aircraft conducting AIR strikes in Mosul. It has been a number of weeks since the Iraqis flew there.”

On July 5th, citing a local source, Yaqein reported: “Civil defense teams today recovered more than 20 bodies of civilians from the rubble of houses in the Nabi Jarjis area of ​​Mosul, where they were killed by the continuous shelling of the area.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 20
  • (2 children2 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 (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
    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
    38SLF318241
    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 that civilians were harmed in this strike

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For June 30th-July 1st the Coalition reported: “Near Mosul, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed 38 fighting positions, 12 medium machine guns, two rocket-propelled grenade systems, and a mortar system; and damaged a fighting position.” It additionally reported that “On June 30, near Mosul, Iraq, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed 23 vehicles, 10 fighting positions, two medium machine guns, two front-end loaders, two VBIEDs, an oil tanker truck, a rocket-propelled grenade system, a heavy machine gun and a supply cache.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 20
  • (2 children2 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS410 TS019

Incident date

December 9, 2016

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least thirteen civilians were reported killed and eight injured in either a Turkish or Coalition airstrike on al Bab. The Coalition later denied responsibility.

Al Jazeera – citing ISIS – said two families were among 13 dead civilians after multiple “Turkish airstrikes” on the city. The Syrian Observatory said that “no less than 12 civilians from three families were killed while others were wounded by Turkish airstrikes and bombardment by Turkish forces and al-Furat Shield forces targeted al-Bab city which is taken over by IS, including a man with his wife and 3 of their children in addition to another man from the same family, with his wife and 2 of their children, in addition to 2 children with their mother, the number of the dead is likely to rise.”

Shaam News placed the death toll at 20.

Almost all sources blamed Turkey. However LCCSY (which had claimed Turkey was not killing civilians in its actions in northern Syria) said the US-led Coalition was instead responsible. The Syrian Network also blamed the Coalition.

Halaab News (which blamed the Coalition) named the civilian victims.

In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, Coalition officials said the event was presently assessed as ‘Not Credible.’

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (9)

Abd al Rahman Na’ssani
Adult male killed
Abd al Rahman Na’ssani's wife
Adult female killed
Sidra Abd al Rahman Na’ssani
Child female killed
Anas Abd al Rahman Na’ssani
Child female killed
Sidal Abd al Rahman Na’ssani
Child female
Malek Na’ssani
Adult male killed
Malek Na’ssani's wife
Adult female killed
Shahida Malik Na’ssani
Child female killed
Al Zafla Nour Malik Na’ssani
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Hamad
Child male killed
Fouad Ahmad
Child male killed
Fatima al Nako
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 20
  • (7 children4 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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, Turkish Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Jisr TV reports in tense 'Turkish air and artillery' shelling on the city of al Bab in preparation for a rebel attack. 9th December 2016

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al-Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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 Bab, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 8th-9th 2016, the Coalition publicly reported no strikes in Aleppo governorate.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 20
  • (7 children4 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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, Turkish Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI502

Incident date

March 2, 2017

Location

الشفاء, Mosul, Al-Shafaa, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3534304, 43.1174326 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that 20 civilians were killed and 18 injured, mostly children and women, after Coalition airstrikes allegedly targeted a residential building in Al-Shafaa (Shifa) neighborhood in western Mosul.

Some sources quoted ISIL media reporting this incident. Others said local press sources provided the information. Most reports blamed the US specifically for the raids.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20
  • 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 (10) [ 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
    38SLF310247
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 28, 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 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
    20
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]