Incident Code

CI236

Location

Tall Afar, Nineveh, Iraq
تل عفر

Geolocation

36.375659, 42.451536
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: 11 August 2026

Many local sources claimed that Coalition aircraft struck civilian homes in a nighttime attack on Tal Afar city west of Mosul, resulting in 17 deaths including 12 children and 3 women.

The Coalition has confirmed airstrikes in the city.

Later local source named one of the child victims.

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, 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.

Named Casualties

Mohand
Child, Male, (via @Afar.tribes.Champions), Killed

Key Information

Incident Status
Assessed
Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Civilians reported killed
17
12 Children, 3 Women, 2 Men
Civilians reported injured
2

Geolocation

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tall Afar (تل عفر), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.375659, 42.451536. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Non credible / Unsubstantiated
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
MGRS coordinate
38SKF713286
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
The Coalition reports for May 4th-5th 2016 that “Near Tal Afar, one strike struck an ISIL weapons facility.“
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
May 5, 2016 in Tall Afar, 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. 2948/CI236 38SKF713286

Sources (8)

Media from Sources (7)

Declassified Assessments & Press Releases