Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

CI464

Incident date

February 18, 2017

Location

باب البيض, Mosul, Bab al Beith, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.334444, 43.123889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

“Dozens” of civilians were reported killed and injured following alleged US Apache helicopter and Iraqi artillery strikes on West Mosul.

Yaqein reported both Apache helicopter and Iraqi artillery strikes on the ISIL-occupied West of the city. Ajel al Mousul reported only artillery strikes, which it said: “caused the martyrdom and wounding of dozens of civilians.” Iraqi Spring Media Centre reported “Dead and wounded among #civilians in the bombing of Air and artillery targeted residential neighborhoods in the right side of the # Mosul city.”

Raedlay (Facebook) said 12 people had died and 28 were injured in the raids.

The incident occured between 12:00 am and 8:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • Civilians reported injured
    28
  • 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]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention Bab al Beith (باب البيض) area in West Mosul. The coordinates for Bab al Beith Health Centre (مركز صحة باب البيض) are: 36.334444, 43.123889.

  • Bab al Beith Health Centre (مركز صحة باب البيض)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 17th-18th the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed eight front-end loaders, four excavators, three watercraft, an ISIS-held building and a barge; damaged 11 supply routes; and suppressed five mortar teams and an ISIS tactical unit.’

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • Civilians reported injured
    28
  • 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

RS1908

Incident date

February 18, 2017

Location

اليادودة , al Yadouda, central countryside of Daraa, Daraa, Syria

Geolocation

32.674634, 36.055718 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five named women – and possibly a girl – died in an alleged Russia or Assad regime air or artillery strike on al Yadouda in the central countryside of Daraa, according to local media.

According to Orient News, “Russian aircraft targeted the town of Al-yadouda in the countryside of Daraa Gharbi with several air strikes, killing five martyrs, including women and children, in addition to wounding dozens more, some of whom were left in a serious condition”.

Omar Balki5 tweeted that  “a woman and a girl died and a large number of people were wounded, mostly children, from the targeting of the town [al Yadouda] by the Russian warplanes”.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights pointed to the regime, reporting that “a girl and a woman died in when Syrian regime warplanes (allies) missiles fired on al Yadoda town in Daraa governorate western suburbs, February 18, 2017.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that both Russia and the regime had carried out strikes with “warplanes and helicopters” – in addition to “shelling by regime forces”.

Some other sources, including AlJazeera, put the death toll at six.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Ghaida Mohammed Al-Talaji
Age unknown female killed
Duaa Mohammed Al-Talaji
Age unknown female killed
Elham Mohammed Al-Talaji
Age unknown female killed
Bisan Mohammed al-Talaji
Age unknown female killed

The victims were named as:

Hossam al-Soudi
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 child5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: '30 air raids targeted the areas of "Daraa Balad, Bosra al-Sham, Ayadoudeh, Maarba" inDaraa, resulting in 11 civilian martyrs and wounded others.'

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 child5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI465

Incident date

February 18, 2017

Location

المستشفى العام, Mosul, Ibn Senna Hospital, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.35764, 43.11291 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of four civilians and the injuries of six in an event near Mosul.

Their July 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIS headquarters building, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that four civilians, who were not observed near the target during the engagement, were unintentionally killed and six were injured.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a one metre box. The location given placed the event near the Ibn Senna hospital.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    Unseen at time of engagement
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    4
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    6
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3068325271
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • Feb. 18, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS headquarters building, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that four civilians, who were not observed near the target during the engagement, were unintentionally killed and six were injured.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 17th-18th the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed eight front-end loaders, four excavators, three watercraft, an ISIS-held building and a barge; damaged 11 supply routes; and suppressed five mortar teams and an ISIS tactical unit.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI466

Incident date

February 18, 2017

Location

جامع يحيى الطالب, Mosul, Omar al Taleb mosque, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.35438, 43.10159 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the injuries of two civilians in an event near Mosul.

Their July 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIS headquarters building, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally injured.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location for this incident, accurate to within a one metre box. The location given placed the event near the Omar al Taleb mosque.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

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 injuries conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF2966024929
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • Feb. 18, 2017, near Mosul, Iraq, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS headquarters building, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that two civilians were unintentionally injured.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 17th-18th the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Mosul, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed eight front-end loaders, four excavators, three watercraft, an ISIS-held building and a barge; damaged 11 supply routes; and suppressed five mortar teams and an ISIS tactical unit.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS503

Incident date

February 18, 2017

Location

حي الدرعية, Dir'iya, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.947222, 38.991389 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, Smart, reported the deaths of three civilians including one woman and the injury of six others in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the Dir’iyta neighbourhood of Raqqa.

According to Smart, “a local source in the town of Raqqa said that two men and a woman were killed and six others seriously injured after night-long raids on the Dir’iya neighborhood”. No further details are currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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 17th-18th, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, seven strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed 70 oil barrels, three oil storage tanks, three fighting positions, two oil refinement stills and a weapons storage area; and damaged a bridge.” For February 18th-19th, they reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, 10 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed four oil storage tanks, three fighting positions, two ISIS-held buildings, two vehicles, a weapons cache, an oil refinement still and a communications station.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1903

Incident date

February 17, 2017

Location

المستريحة, Al-Mstareha, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.352575, 37.89279 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One family – two male children and their parents – were reportedly killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on ISIS-controlled Al-Mstareha, according to local media.

Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the family died in “suspected Russian warplane missiles fired on Al Mstareha village”. 

The only other known source to report on the event also attributed responsibility to Russian warplanes and named the family.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Daifallah al-Omar
Adult male killed
Wife of Daifallah al-Omar
Adult female killed
Son of Daifallah al-Omar
Child male killed
Son of Daifallah al-Omar
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS082

Incident date

February 17, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between four and nine civilians including one woman died in alleged Turkish strikes on Al Bab, according to local media.

The victims were also named by Syrian Human Rights Committee, who blamed Turkey as well.

In a MTV Lebanon video on February 17th – at 0’15, the voice over states that  “the Turkish army announced that it is near to completing the operation of taking control of the city of al Bab From Daesh.  Nine civilians were killed. Ankara reported the deaths of 13 members of Daesh”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Abd al Basset al Bakri
Age unknown male named by Al Bab and its outskirts coordination group on Facebook killed
Zaher Mohammad Juma’a Sheikh Wees
Adult male named by Al Bab and its outskirts coordination group on Facebook killed
Amina al Kalzi
Adult female Zaher’s wife, named by Al Bab and its outskirts coordination group on Facebook killed
Saleh Hussein al Jabli
Age unknown male named by Al Bab and its outskirts coordination group on Facebook killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 9
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • News bulletin of the incident on Al Bab with alleged Turlish airstrike on 17th Feb 2017. (via MTV Lebanon)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab city (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.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 9
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS1904

Incident date

February 17, 2017

Location

الجفرة, Al-Jafra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.300937, 40.206603 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A number of civilians were reportedly killed in an airstrike on the ISIS-controlled village, al Jafra, Aleppo, according to local media sources.

The only source for this incident, Local Coordination Committee of Syria, reported: “13 martyrs in Aleppo most of them killed in the Turkish raids on al bab and Russian raids on al Jafra“.

It was therefore unknown how many of the 13 civilians were killed in the al Jafra incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 13
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 13
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]