US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

Belligerent
US-led Coalition
Country
Iraq
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

CI203

Incident date

March 19, 2016

Location

الثقافية, Mosul, cultural group area, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.375, 43.141667

Airwars assessment

At least 15 civilians were claimed killed alongside 40 or more Daesh fighters, in an alleged Coalition air raid on Mosul.

NRN News first flashed at around noon local time “the fall of dozens of civilians by bombings on both sides of the city. More soon.”

In a later bulletin, the news agency said the Coalition had struck three sites in the city. The first was a cafe near Mosul’s Office of Marriage Contracts, which according to NRN “is a favourite meeting place for foreign elements in Daesh.”

Following an initial attack “people gathered around the place to help the wounded. But a second missile led to a fall of more than fifty civilians among the dead and injured.” NRN later placed the civilian death toll here at 25. Up to 40 fighters also reportedly died.

The second series of airstrikes was said to have targeted the University of Mosul’s campus. According to NRN “our correspondent says that the second bombing targeted the presidency of the University of Mosul building, killing Daesh’s Minister of Higher Education in addition to the killing and wounding of more than 50 others, including foreigners. Planes also bombed another building on campus, a Faculty of Engineering building where mechanics worked on improvised explosive devices and explosives.” A later single source report claimed that as many as 90 students were killed in this attack, with 155 seriously injured.

A third site in the east of the city at Camp Ghazlani was also reportedly bombed.

Governor of Nineveh Province Nofal Sultan later blamed the Coalition for “dozens of civilian deaths.” He also called for the Coalition to improve the accuracy of its strikes, noting that 2 million ordinary Iraqis were still trapped in Mosul.

The Coalition later confirmed it had carried out the strikes, with spokesman Colonel Steve Warren noting that alleged civilian casualties were under investigation.

In a Daesh propaganda video issued four months later, UK reporter John Cantile gave what appears to be ISIL’s own civilian casualty estimate for the event – noting that 15 civilians died with 103 injured.

Multiple sources names three victims who were killed and one man badly.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Ashraf
Adult male killed
Raed Abu Ahmed
Adult male killed
Mahmood Abu Shaker
Adult male (via @mosul.kadema) injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 25
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–103
  • 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 (38) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Reported Coalition strike on Mosul March 19th 2016 (via Al Ghad FM)
  • Coalition airstrikes target central Mosul on March 19th 2016 (via Daesh propaganda)
  • An image shows the victim who was killed in an alleged Coalition air raid on Mosul (via NRN News)
  • An image reveals the smokes that followed shelling that targeted the cultural group area, the police district and the College of Engineering and the door of the presidency of the University of Mosul (via Nineveh)
  • A picture of Mahmood Abu Shaker who was injured following an alleged Coalition air raid on Mosul (via @mosul.kadema)
  • Another image shows smoke followed shelling that reportedly targeted the presidency of the University of Mosul, March 19th (via Alghad FM)
  • A picture of the victim (Raed Abu Ahmed) who was killed in a strike on Mosul, March 19th (via MNN)
  • An image of the victim Haitham Abu Maryam who was killed during the shelling on March 19, 2016, in Mosul (via MNN)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 19th-20th 2016., the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, six strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL assembly area, an ISIL supply cache, and three ISIL vehicles and damaged an ISIL-used bridge section and suppressed an ISIL fighting position.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 25
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–103
  • 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 (38) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI204

Incident date

March 22, 2016

Location

Mosul, University of Mosul residencies, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3810326, 43.1546992 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a fresh day of reported Coalition airstrikes on Mosul University, local sources said three university professors and some of their families were killed and many other civilians wounded, after jets hit academic residences. Up to 15 Daesh fighters also reportedly died.

Heavy Coalition activity above the city was reported from dawn onwards. Yagen was among the news outlets reporting that strikes on “professors’ residences” killed eight civilians. Radio Zuhor claimed that “One university professor recognized his wife from her hand only, specifically a wedding ring, after her body was torn to shreds.”

ARA News reported an eyewitness within Mosul as saying that “dozens of Daesh elements have been killed in an intense aerial bombardment by Coalition aircraft targeting the University of Mosul – where the organization responded by using anti-aircraft from inside residential neighbourhoods, while indifferent to the consequences.”

Multiple sources published five victim names, included their families members. Most of the victims were professors that are working at the University or staff members.

In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition deemed the incident non-credible due to insufficient evidence of civilian harm: “Mar. 22, 2016, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report: 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.”

Based on available evidence, Airwars continues to assess this event as Fair – and has requested additional clarification from the Coalition.

This strike was the subject of a 2023 investigation by NOS, Nieuwsuur and NRC, in collaboration with Airwars, which revised its location to the following coordinates: 36.382227, 43.137122.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Adult male (via Radio Zuhor) killed
Adult female (via Radio Zuhor) killed
Child (via Radio Zuhor) killed
Child (via Radio Zuhor) killed
Child (via Radio Zuhor) killed

Family members (3)

Adult male (via Radio Zuhor) killed
Adult female (via Radio Zuhor) killed
female (via Radio Zuhor) killed

The victims were named as:

Adult female killed
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 11
  • (2–4 children3–6 women3–4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Professor Dhafer Ramadan Al Badrani, reported killed in alleged Coalition strike on Mosul March 22nd (via Bashar al Talib)
  • An image of the victim Qusay Muthafar Jalaleddin, jurisdiction and professor of the Arabic language and Arabic literature, killed in an alleged coalition airstrike on Mosul (via Ein al Mosul news)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a residential building struck in the vicinity of the University of Mosul (جامعة الموصل). In 2016, Airwars listed the location of the strike at the following coordinates: 36.3810326, 43.1546992. A 2023 report by NOS, Nieuwsuur and NRC, in collaboration with Airwars, revised the location of the strike to the following exact coordinates: 36.382227, 43.137122.

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 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

For March 22nd-23rd 2016, the Coalition reports that “Near Mosul, three strikes [1 French] struck an ISIL headquarters, an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL assembly area and an ISIL vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 11
  • (2–4 children3–6 women3–4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI205

Incident date

March 23, 2016

Location

Hajj Ali, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.734251, 43.3181477 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Coalition announced on April 30th 2017 that it had concluded an assessment on an NGO’s claims of civilian harm “near Hajj Ali, Iraq”. It is unknown to Airwars which NGO it is referred to. According to the Coalition report, “1. March 23, 2016, near Hajj Ali, Iraq, via NGO report: No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties. The closest strike to the report of possible civilian casualties was almost 4 km away.”

This might be related to local tribe and Iraq war media sources reporting that Iraqi airstrikes targeted Haj Ali village and several locations in Qayyarra at the beginning of its liberation operation, which reportedly caused many civilian victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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

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

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 30, 2017
  • No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties. The closest strike to the report of possible civilian casualties was almost 4 km away.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 22nd-23rd 2016, the Coalition reports that “Near Mosul, three strikes [1 French] struck an ISIL headquarters, an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL assembly area and an ISIL vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS193

Incident date

March 24, 2016

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed in the Al Dar’iya area of central Raqaa, in an alleged Coalition strike.

According to Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered, “International coalition planes yesterday targeted a weapons depot belonging to Daesh near Hod al Furat garage in Al Dar’iya area in the city centre of Raqqa which led to its total destruction and the martyrdom of one person from Ain Issa, along with the injury of Mohammad Al Shalash by shrapnel in his waist.

However in a tweet the next day showing destruction at the site, the group simply reported “an airstrike.” No Coalition strikes have publicly been reported in the vicinity in this period, suggesting that either Russia or the Assad regime may instead have been responsible.

In their February 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike 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
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Translation: coalition aggression carries out three raids targeting the outskirts of Raqqa until now. (via Zeynisajda)
  • Translation: American planes today openly worked with Russian and regime planes in bombing Palmyra and Al Raqqa. (via Zeynisajda)

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
    37SEV008784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020
  • March 24, 2016, in Raqqah, Syria, 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. 2927/CS193 37SEV008784

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

No Coalition strikes have publicly been reported for Raqqa governorate between March 23rd-25th 2016.

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Update from UK MoD for Thursday 24 March: ‘Thursday 24 March – Tornados destroyed a mortar team that was firing on Kurdish forces in northern Iraq, while a Reaper destroyed a vehicle in eastern Syria…The following day [Thursday 24 March], Tornados were again active over Qayyarah; working in close cooperation with a coalition surveillance aircraft, they were able to successfully engage with a Paveway a Daesh mortar team that had opened fire on Kurdish forces. Across the border in eastern Syria, a Reaper used a Hellfire missile in a successful attack on a Daesh vehicle.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI206

Incident date

March 24, 2016

Location

القيارة, Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.68953, 43.39529 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, CENTCOM later confirmed the death of a civilian in an airstrike near Qayyarah.

Their November 2016 report noted: “near Qayyarah, Iraq, during a strike against an ISIL target, it is assessed that one civilian was killed.”

The event occurred near the beginning of operations to liberate Qayyarah from |SIS.

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.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 35.7977836, 43.2935143

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
    1
  • Stated location
    near Qayyarah, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLE548507
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 9, 2016
  • March 24, 2016, near Qayyarah, Iraq, during a strike against an ISIL target, it is assessed that one civilian was killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 24th-25th 2016, the Coalition reported at the time that “Near Qayyarah, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL mortar positions, an ISIL supply cache, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL fighting position, and denied ISIL access to terrain.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI207

Incident date

March 25, 2016

Location

Mosul, Tanak neighbourhood, Nineveh, Iraq

Airwars assessment

Local residents told Airwars researchers that two entire families – 21 people in total – died as a result of alleged Coalition air strikes on their house in Tanak neighbourhood in East Mosul, on March 25th 2016. This was reported in an interview with two witnesses, Jassim Khalaf and Mohammed Sabri, on June 11th 2017. The witnesses told Airwars that eight people belonged to the family of Ahmad Al Ehemed. Thirteen other victims were relatives of Mohamed Fathi Mosa.

In their February 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike 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
    21
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

    • English
    • English
    • English
    • English
    • English
    • English

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
    38SLF260229
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020
  • March 25, 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. 2915/CI207 38SLF260229

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 26th-27th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun position, an ISIL anti-air artillery piece and two ISIL fighting positions and suppressed an ISIL mortar position and two ISIL tactical units”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

    • English
    • English
    • English
    • English
    • English
    • English

Incident Code

CI208

Incident date

March 26, 2016

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

Eight civilians were reported killed after missiles of unknown origin struck the Al Noor quarter and Aisha mosque in western Mosul.

NRN News published a detailed report: “Our Nineveh correspondent reports that four men, two women and two children were killed after the fall of a number of missiles on the neighbourhood of Al Noor to the west side of the city of Mosul.

One rocket landed on the Aisha mosque, injuring a number of civilians; while another landed on a house killing one person and injuring several others.

Our correspondent also said that one rocket landed on a vegetable stand, killing the shop owner and a woman who was shopping for vegetables. One of the rockets hit a house near the Tahir Zanawh mosque, killing a woman and her two young children, while another missile hit the adjacent neighbourhood killing one person and wounding several others.

Our correspondent said that the rockets which landed were about 30 to 40 centimetres long with a diameter of 10 centimetres, noting that according to witnesses they were believed to have come from the eastern side of the city.

Yaqen said airstrikes by both Iraq and the Coalition had targeted the city, along with heavy artillery shelling by the Peshmerga.

Later the victim names of the family members have been published.

In their February 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike 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.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Adult female killed
Age unknown male killed
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Damaged vehicles following a rocket strike on west Mosul, March 26th (via NRN News)
  • An image of the victim (Ahmed) who was killed after the rocket strike on west Mosul, March 26th (via Mohammed Al . Majouli FB page).
  • An image of the victim (Suod Nemat) who was killed by a rocket strike on west Mosul, March 26th (via NRN News).
  • An image reveals the destruction that followed a rocket strike on a civilian house in west Mosul, March 26th (via NRN News).
  • An image shows the two children who were killed by a rocket strike on west Mosul, March 26th (via NRN News).
  • An image reveals the damage of a vehicle that followed a rocket strike on west Mosulm March 26th (via NRN News).
  • A Picture reveals the destruction that followed a rocket strike targeting a civilian house in west Mosul, March 26th (via NRN News).

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
    38SLF293239
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 2, 2020
  • March 26, 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. 2916/CI208 38SLF293239

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 26th-27th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun position, an ISIL anti-air artillery piece and two ISIL fighting positions and suppressed an ISIL mortar position and two ISIL 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
    8
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI209

Incident date

March 27, 2016

Location

وادي حجر, Wadi Hajar (Mosul), Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.32061, 43.12801 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four children were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike at Wadi Hajar to the south of Mosul, as a major military offensive to clear Nineveh of Daesh continued.

According to NRN News, jets from the US-led alliance targeted the Daesh-held village which also led to civilian casualties.

Responding to a request for clarification about possible involvement given declared UK strikes near Qayyarah that day, the MoD told Airwars that “after extensive research, we can confirm that there was no UK involvement” in the alleged event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Smoke rising from scene of a reported Coalition strike at Wadi Hajar, March 27th (via NRN News)
  • Another picture shows smoke rising from the scene of a reported Coalition strike at Wadi Hajar, March 27th (via NRN News)
  • An image shows an injured child followed an alleged Coalition strike at Wadi Hajar, March 27th (via NRN News)
  • An image shows an injured child followed an alleged Coalition strike at Wadi Hajar, March 27th (via NRN News)
  • An image shows an injured child followed an alleged Coalition strike at Wadi Hajar, March 27th (via NRN News)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 26th-27th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Mosul, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun position, an ISIL anti-air artillery piece and two ISIL fighting positions and suppressed an ISIL mortar position and two ISIL tactical units”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]