Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RUK002

Incident date

February 24, 2022

Location

Чугуїв, Chugeuv, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

49.835487, 36.680831 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 24th 2022, one civilian, a municipal worker or employee of Kharkivgaz, was killed, and 23 civilians were reportedly wounded when alleged Russian rocket fire, machine gun fire, and grenade launchers hit the city of Chugeuv. Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group reported that three employees of Kharkivgaz were injured.

Various sources reported that a large fuel depot caught fire and Segodnya news reported that “a high pressure gas pipeline in the Izyum region was damaged.” As a result, more than 500 families in the village of Oskol and a school were temporarily without gas supply.

This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR52166.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Gas facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    23
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "Unfortunately, one employee of JSC "Kharkivgaz" was killed while performing her duties this morning, and three others were injured during shelling by the Russian invading forces. We express our condolences to the family of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery!" A Facebook post stated from Kharkivmiskgaz

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a fuel depot in the city of Chugeuv (Чугуїв). The generic coordinates for Chugeuv are: 49.835487, 36.680831. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Gas facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    23
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS494

Incident date

February 15, 2017

Location

طريق بلدة الكرامة, Al Karama Road, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.1334383, 40.0465393

Airwars assessment

A single source reported the deaths of two civilian truck drivers in a Coalition airstrike.

According to Smart News “Two people were killed on Wednesday, in raids by international coalition aircraft on the eastern countryside of Raqqa… Sources said that international coalition aircraft targeted two trucks being used to transport oil, loaded with more than 340 barrels, on the road to the town of Karama, east of Raqqa coming from al Omar oil field in Deir Ezzor, which led to burning them, killing a truck driver and his assistant while the second driver survived and the operations to put the fires out are still underway.”

No additional details are presently known.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 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 February 14th-15th 2017, the Coaliton reported that “Near Dayr Az Zawr, six strikes destroyed five oil pump jacks, five oil wellheads, three oil storage tanks, two oil refinement stills and an oil tanker truck…. Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes destroyed an ISIS headquarters; and damaged two supply routes and a bridge.”

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS655

Incident date

October 27, 2023

Location

ساحة ازادي, Azadi Square, city of Al-Malikiyah (Dayrik), Qamishlo canton, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Friday, October 27, 2023, an 11-year-old child Ahmed Shaheen was injured alongside a 39-year-old woman Avin Khalil, and later died of his injuries inflicted by an drone strike declared by the Turkish military on the Azadi Square in Al-Malikiyah city, also known as Dayrik, in the Hasakah countryside, Syria, an area under the influence of the Autonomous Administration.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the strike also killed a senior commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces and the coordinator with the International Coalition Forces, Shibli Dirik (Farhad Derik), when he was leaving his home in Azadi Square. According to SOHR, Dirik had previously been targeted in a failed assassination attempt by a Turkish drone. Multiple sources on social media posted the images of the deceased militant.

SOHR reported that the injured child and woman were hospitalized in a hospital in Hasakah. Later on the same day, October 27, 2023, SOHR provided an update claiming that the child died due to the wounds.

The airstrike was also reported by multiple prominent local media outlets, which corroborated the location, number of the victims, their identities, ages, and information regarding the suspected belligerent. One source, Qamishlo now, claimed that two children were injured as a result of the attack; however, it did not provide details regarding the identity of the victim.

On the day of the incident, a local news outlet on Facebook posted a video which appeared to show the remains of a shell, allegedly as a result of the attack. Meanwhile, another media agency shared a picture showing the damage to the house with a broken window and the remains of the shell on the ground.

The Turkish government released a statement through state-run Anadolu Agency that the Turkish intelligence agency (MIT) “neutralized terrorist Muhammed Azo [his Arabic name rather than his Kurdish name], the so-called Derik brigade leader of the terrorist organization PKK/YPG, in an operation in northern Syria.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Shaheen أحمد شاهين
11 years old male killed
Avin Khalil أفين خليل
39 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Known target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Source: Derke Hamko facebook
  • Source: Qamishlo voice facebook
  • Source: Qamishlo voice facebook
  • Source: Qamishlo voice facebook
  • Source: Kobani live facebook
  • Source: Qamishlo now facebook

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Turkish Military
Official source

According to information obtained from security sources, Muhammed Azo was targeted by MİT last year, but he survived the operation injured.

Action was taken after it was determined that terrorist Azo, who was sent abroad by the terrorist organization PKK/YPG for treatment, returned to Derik in northern Syria.

MİT neutralized terrorist Azo, the so-called Derik brigade leader of the terrorist organization PKK/YPG, in an operation in northern Syria.

Terrorist Muhammed Azo was wanted on the grounds that he was the perpetrator of the attack on the Yakacık Police Station of the 1st Border Battalion Command on the Şırnak/Cizre-Silopi road on February 2, 2022, in which private Tarık Tarcan was martyred and 3 soldiers were injured, 20 days before his discharge. .

While Muhammed Azo was serving as the so-called brigade officer in the terrorist organization, he served as the coordination officer of the joint exercise in which 250 PYD/YPG terrorists participated with the United States in Derik in northern Syria on September 7, 2022, and posed candidly with US soldiers. was also determined.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Known target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1550

Incident date

November 9, 2016

Location

الجانودية, Al Janoudia, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.8839, 36.291466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one to three civilians were killed and at least three others were injured in airstrikes launched against the town of Al Janoudia in western Jisr Al Shoughour.

According to local sources, including Step News Agency and @SMARTNewsAgency, Russian warplanes were responsible for the series of airstrikes on the town.

An image of the alleged victim Ahmed Hab Al-Rumman was posted on a Facebook page for marytrs and missing of Jisr al-Shughur.

Other than reports which described the raid as “heavy shelling”, there are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Hab Al-Rumman
Adult male named by @jesrNEWS killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ahmed Hab Al-Rumman, killed in an alleged Russian raid on Al Janoudia, 9th November 2016. (via Martyrs and Missing of jisr alShugur)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Janoudia(الجانودية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.8839, 36.291466. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016.

On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones”.16.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS518

Incident date

February 21, 2017

Location

فتاتيش, Al Fatatish, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.083889, 39.8225 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and nine civilians died and dozens more were injured in an airstrike/artillery bombardment on Fatatish village in the eastern Raqqa coountryside, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether the deaths were caused by Coalition jets or shelling in the ares by the SDF and Kurdish militias.

The media activist Abdel-Karim Al-Yousef’s told ARA News “This evening, in the village of Fattatish in the eastern countryside, there was a Coalition aerial bombardment – three raids – that killed eight people and injured others.”

Euphrates Post also blamed the Coalition putting the death toll at nine with dozens more wounded.

However, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported “a massacre leaving eight civilian martyrs in raids by Kurdish militias and the international Coalition”.

Asharqiya Voice said that “SDF militias targeted Fatatish with artillery”.

Smart news agency, however, reported that “likely” Coalition warplanes killed two non-combatants – and injured 11 more – while six others were killed in SDF shelling.

A report by Raqqa Post blamed Saleh Muslim [kurdish] militias.

 

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–24
  • 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 (16) [ 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 Fatatish (Raqqah), Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 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 February 20th-21st, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, seven strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed three fighting positions, a VBIED, a garage, an IED and a weapons facility; and damaged a bridge.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–24
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM414

Incident date

January 21, 2024

Location

35 km northeast of Kismayo, Lower Juba, Somalia

Airwars assessment

On January 21st, 2024, US Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducted a drone strike against the Al-Shabaab militant group 35 kilometers northeast of the city of Kismayo in the Lower Juba region of Somalia, reportedly killing three militants. To date, there have been no reports of civilian casualties in connection to the strike.

Two days later, on the 23rd of January, AFRICOM released a statement on the strike: “at the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted a collective self-defense airstrike with two engagements against the Al-Shabaab terrorist group on Jan. 21”. The statement added that after an initial assessment, it was judged that “no civilians were injured or killed” by the airstrike and that three Al-Shabaab militants had been killed.

The Long War Journal published an online article, written by Bill Rodrigo and Caleb Weiss, dated January 23rd, which stated that the attack had specifically been a drone strike and observed that the attack was the first declared US drone strike in Somalia in 2024. The Long War Journal noted that “neither AFRICOM, the U.S. military command responsible for such strikes, nor Somalia itself have confirmed the exact coordinates” of the strike.

Additionally, a report from Associated Press (AP) written by Omar Faruk on January 23rd, reported that there had been “no immediate response” from Al-Shabaab concerning the strike. Furthermore, Garowe Online on January 24th, stated that the militants killed were “not notorious” but that the strike had been carried out “for defense purposes” in coordination with the Somali National Army (SNA).

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @hornafricanguy

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @jseldinit should be @jseldin

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @5hekina

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

Federal Government of Somalia, AFRICOM target al Shabaab

At the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted a collective self-defense airstrike with two engagements against the al Shabaab terrorist group on Jan. 21.

At the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted a collective self-defense airstrike with two engagements against the al Shabaab terrorist group on Jan. 21.

The collective self-defense strike occurred in a remote area of Somalia, approximately 35 kilometers northeast of Kismayo.

The initial assessment is that the U.S. airstrike killed three al Shabaab terrorists and that no civilians were injured or killed.

U.S. Africa Command will continue to assess the results of this airstrike and will provide additional information as appropriate. Specific details about the units involved and assets used will not be released in order to ensure operational security.

Al Shabaab is the largest and most active al-Qaeda network in the world and has proved both its will and capability to attack U.S. forces and threaten U.S. security interests. U.S. Africa Command, alongside its partners, continues to take action to prevent this malicious terrorist group from planning and conducting attacks on civilians.

Somalia remains key to the security environment in East Africa. U.S. Africa Command's forces will continue training, advising, and equipping partner forces to give them the tools that they need to degrade al Shabaab.

U.S. Africa Command, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, with partners, counters malign actors and transnational threats, responds to crises, and strengthens security forces in order to advance U.S. national interests and promote regional security, stability and prosperity.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK041

Incident date

March 8, 2022

Location

Донець, Donets, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

49.508333, 36.571111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians, a seven year old girl and her grandmother, were killed and a man was injured by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Donets on March 8, 2022.

The Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group reported that at 7:05pm, at least three unguided aerial bombs were dropped on a residential building in the village of Donets, which resulted in the death of two people, including a seven year old child. Kharkov Comments specified that the other person killed was the grandmother of the young girl.

@Liveuamap added that one person was rescued from the rubble by civil defense teams, and the DSNS stated that the person rescued from the rubble was injured, while three others managed to get out of the rubble on her own. Kharkiv Today also reported that one person was found alive in the rubble, and that “there are wounded” but did not specify how many. Serhii Bolvinov, Head of the Investigative Department of the National Security Service in the Kharkiv region identified the civilian injured as being a man.

Head of Slobozhansk OTG Dmytro Dikhtyar told Suspilne Kharkiv that a two story private house was completely destroyed, collapsing instantly, as well as damage to a store and another house.

The DSNS attributed the airstrikes to the “aggressor”, referencing Russia and Kharkov Comments explicitly attributed the destruction and death of two civilians to Russian forces.

This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR53012 and Bellingcat code CIV0291.

The incident occured at 19:05:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Donets on March 8, 2022. (Image posted by @Liveuamap)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Donets on March 8, 2022. (Image posted by @Liveuamap)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Donets on March 8, 2022. (Image posted by @Liveuamap)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Donets on March 8, 2022. (Image posted by @Liveuamap)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Donets on March 8, 2022. (Image posted by Kharkiv Today)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Donets on March 8, 2022. (Image posted by DSNS)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Donets on March 8, 2022. (Image posted by DSNS)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Donets on March 8, 2022. (Image posted by DSNS)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Donets on March 8, 2022. (Image posted by DSNS)
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by DSNS
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Donets on March 8, 2022. (The main department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Donets on March 8, 2022. (The main department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of a woman killed by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Donets on March 8, 2022. (Kharkov.comments)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of a child killed by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Donets on March 8, 2022. (Kharkov.comments)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of a woman killed by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Donets on March 8, 2022. (Kharkov.comments)
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Serhii Bolvinov, Head of the Investigative Department of the National Security Service in the Kharkiv region
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on the village of Donets on March 8, 2022. (Serhii Bolvinov, Head of the Investigative Department of the National Security Service in the Kharkiv region)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Donets (Донець), for which the generic coordinates are: 49.508333, 36.571111. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI488

Incident date

February 26, 2017

Location

Al Kour and other neighbourhoods on the right side of Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3468977, 43.129921 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that 33 civilians, including women and children, were killed and 35 injured due to Coalition airstrikes and artillery bombing on several neighborhoods at the right side of Mosul.

Journalists had reported to Yaqein that “aerial bombardment and artillery [shelling] targeted violently, today, the homes of civilians in areas at the right side of the city of Mosul, killing 33 civilians, including women and children, and injuring more than 35 others” and added that “retaliatory shelling also caused the destruction of a number of civilian houses and damaged other.”

Sonawa1 reported a large number of victims in Al-Kour neighbourhood at the right side of Mosul, due to artillery and airstrikes. According to Ajel al Mosul, the intended target may have been the Ekadat oil and gas station.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    33
  • Civilians reported injured
    35
  • 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, ISIS

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
    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
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3218024085
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 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 February 25th-26th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Mosul, seven strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed 15 fighting positions, 11 mortar systems, three vehicles, three weapons caches, two ISIS-held buildings, two VBIEDs, a sniper position, an ISIS headquarters, two heavy machine guns, an artillery system, a UAV staging area, and a supply cache; and suppressed 14 mortar teams, two ISIS tactical units, an artillery team and a rocket-propelled grenade team.”

ISIS Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    33
  • Civilians reported injured
    35
  • 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, ISIS

Sources (5) [ collapse]