2017 Mosul airstrike explained

2017 Mosul airstrike
Partof:the Battle of Mosul
Type:Airstrike
Location:Mosul, Iraq
Fatalities:200-300[1] [2]
Injuries:Unknown

The 2017 Mosul airstrike, was an American bombing in the al-Aghawat al-Jadidah neighborhood in western Mosul on 17 March 2017 that killed between 200 and 300 civilians.[1] [2] [3] The incident was the largest single death toll inflicted by a coalition air strike since the 2003 invasion of Iraq by U.S. forces.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

Some residents of the al-Jadida neighborhood say the airstrike hit an explosive-filled truck, detonating a blast that collapsed buildings packed with families. A Pentagon investigation concluded that a US aircraft delivered a single precision-guided bomb (GBU-38 JDAM) with the intention of targeting two ISIL snipers on the second storey of a structure in al-Jadida neighborhood. But the bomb also caused a large cache of ISIL explosives to detonate, leading to the catastrophic collapse of the building that had civilians sheltering downstairs, officials said.

Background

Beginning on 16 October 2016, American-led forces began taking back control of the city of Mosul after it fell under occupation of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in 2014.[11] On 24 January 2017, the Eastern half of the city had been liberated from ISIL control, and the coalition forces began advancing into western Mosul soon after.[12]

In February, the Trump administration stated that the U.S. would sharply escalate its support for the offensive in Mosul.[13] The Pentagon reported that around 1,400 separate munitions were unleashed over the last two weeks of March. The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights corroborated an increase in the rate of drone strikes and reported 3,846 civilian deaths and the destruction of 10,000 homes since the offensive into western Mosul began. Bassma Bassim, the head of the Mosul District Council, stated that air raids from 10 March to 17 March alone had killed "more than 500" civilians.

Attack

On 18 March, the U.S. Department of Defense stated that the American-led coalition had conducted "eight strikes consisting of 73 engagements in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq’s government" and four of these strikes targeted ISIL in Mosul. They noted the strikes "engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed 56 ISIS vehicles, 25 fighting positions, five rocket-propelled grenade systems, two medium machine guns, two mortar systems, and an ISIS car bomb; and suppressed 20 ISIS mortar teams and four ISIS tactical units."[14] The following day, they noted five more strikes in Mosul which "engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed 14 fighting positions, four vehicles, two rocket-propelled grenade systems, a medium machine gun, and an artillery system; damaged 14 supply routes; and suppressed five mortar teams and three ISIS tactical units."[15] Some residents of the al-Jadida neighborhood say the airstrike hit an explosive-filled truck, detonating a blast that collapsed buildings packed with families.

Investigation

The United States Central Command confirmed that the American-led coalition conducted an airstrike targeting ISIL fighters and equipment on 17 March in the al-Jadidah neighborhood, where the civilian casualties were reported; however, they could not confirm which member of the coalition conducted the airstrike.[16]

The Iraqi military blamed ISIL for the attack despite reports suggesting that its artillery may also have hit the neighborhood, saying that 61 bodies had been recovered at the site of a booby-trapped house which it described as “completely destroyed.” The statement added that “there is no hole or indication that was subjected to an air strike.” That account strongly contradicted much field reporting and the accounts of other officials. A provincial health official, for instance, told Reuters that wide swaths of the neighborhood were destroyed in fighting, “civil defense has extracted and buried 160 bodies up to this moment.” The Iraqi Civil Defense Department reported at least 137 bodies were recovered, but by 27 March, that number had risen to 531.[17]

On 25 May 2017, the Pentagon concluded that at least 105 civilians died in the airstrike when a US aircraft delivered a single precision-guided bomb (GBU-38 JDAM) with the intention of targeting two ISIL snipers on the second storey of a structure in al-Jadida neighborhood. But the bomb also caused a large cache of ISIL explosives to detonate, leading to the catastrophic collapse of the building that had civilians sheltering downstairs, officials said.[18] [19] [20] [21]

Aftermath

The Iraqi Army temporarily stopped its advance into western Mosul following the airstrike.[22]

Reactions

Supranational and non-governmental organizations

Countries

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lizzie Dearden. US-led coalition Mosul air strike killed up to 240 Iraqi civilians 'because Isis snipers used roof. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/us-coalition-mosul-air-strike-killed-240-civilians-iraq-isis-snipers-roof-daesh-jadida-islamic-state-a7653591.html . 2022-05-01 . subscription . live. The Independent. 28 March 2017.
  2. Web site: Hennessy-Fiske. Molly. Nearly 300 died in Mosul airstrike, making it one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in recent memory. Los Angeles Times. 10 April 2017. 5 April 2017.
  3. Web site: Hennigan. W.J.. Hennessy-Fiske. Molly. More than 200 civilians killed in suspected U.S. airstrike in Iraq. Los Angeles Times. 8 April 2017. 24 March 2017.
  4. News: Gibbons-Neff. Thomas. The airstrike in Mosul was potentially one of the worst U.S.-led civilian bombings in 25 years. The Washington Post. 4 April 2017. 28 March 2017.
  5. News: Arango . Tim. Cooper. Helene. March 24, 2017. U.S. Investigating Mosul Strikes Said to Have Killed Up to 200 Civilians. . July 28, 2017.
  6. Web site: Mosul massacre. en.thegreatmiddleeast.com. The Great Middle East. 4 April 2017. 27 March 2017. 25 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180825075806/http://en.thegreatmiddleeast.com/2017/03/mosul-massacre/. dead.
  7. Web site: Amid the Mosul Massacres, There is Also Mercy. Neuhof. Florian. 26 March 2017. The Daily Beast. 4 April 2017.
  8. Web site: The human shields of Mosul. Gordan. Neve. Perugini. Nicola. 2 April 2017. www.aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera English. 2 April 2017.
  9. Web site: US-led coalition starts probe into Mosul Jadida massacre. Adel. Loaa. 25 March 2017. www.iraqinews.com. Iraqi News.
  10. News: Cogan. James. March 27, 2017. The massacre in Mosul. World Socialist Web Site. July 28, 2017.
  11. News: Haddad. Tareq. 'US military has started shelling Mosul' says Peshmerga commander. 17 October 2016. International Business Times. 16 October 2016.
  12. Web site: Iraqi forces secure eastern Mosul from Islamic State. USA Today. 24 January 2017.
  13. News: Ryan. Missy. Morris. Loveday. U.S. military acknowledges strike on Mosul site where more than 100 were allegedly killed. The Washington Post. 8 April 2017. 25 March 2017.
  14. Web site: Counter-ISIS Strikes Continue in Syria, Iraq. United States Department of Defense. 7 April 2017. 18 March 2017.
  15. Web site: Officials Provide Details of Latest Counter-ISIS Strikes in Syria, Iraq. United States Department of Defense. 7 April 2017. 19 March 2017.
  16. Web site: Smith. Saphora. Kube. Courtney. CENTCOM Investigates Whether U.S. Airstrikes Killed 200 Civilians In Mosul. NBC News. 8 April 2017. 25 March 2017.
  17. Web site: Oakford. Samuel. Coalition and Iraqi forces not adequately protecting Mosul civilians, says Amnesty. Airwars. 8 April 2017. 28 March 2017.
  18. News: US air strike on IS killed 105 civilians in Iraq's Mosul. BBC News. 25 May 2017. 26 May 2017.
  19. Web site: US probe finds more than 100 civilians killed in Mosul air strike. Yahoo News. 26 May 2017. 28 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210828190310/https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-probe-finds-more-100-civilians-killed-mosul-161542761.html. dead.
  20. News: A DoD investigation found more than 100 civilians were killed during a U.S. airstrike in Mosul. 26 May 2017. NBC News. en.
  21. Web site: Mosul air attack killed at least 105, say US commanders. Middle East Eye. 26 May 2017.
  22. Web site: Chulov. Martin. Graham-Harrison. Emma. Iraq suspends Mosul offensive after coalition airstrike atrocity. The Guardian. 8 April 2017. 25 March 2017.
  23. Web site: Iraq: Civilians killed by airstrikes in their homes after they were told not to flee Mosul. Amnesty International USA. 8 April 2017. 27 March 2017.
  24. Web site: Coalition says it hit Mosul site where civilians died. www.aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera English. 4 April 2017. 26 March 2017.
  25. "Iraq: Airstrike Vetting Changes Raise Concerns". Human Rights Watch. 28 March 2017.
  26. Web site: Markey. Patrick. U.S. confirms coalition strike in Mosul district where dozens reported killed. Reuters. 8 April 2017. Mosul, Iraq. 25 March 2017.
  27. "Russia condemns Pentagon's response about Mosul civilian deaths". Yahoo News. 3 April 2017.
  28. Web site: Clarke. Kevin. Pope Francis urges protection for civilians as U.S. reviews airstrike deaths in Mosul. www.americamagazine.org. America. 30 March 2017. 29 March 2017.
  29. "Belgium probes Mosul air strikes that killed civilians". Al Jazeera. 2 April 2017.
  30. News: Australian combat planes 'not involved' in Mosul strike being probed for civilian death claims, Defence Minister Marise Payne says. Wroe. David. 2017-03-27. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2017-04-10. en-US.

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