Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS004

Incident date

September 27, 2014

Location

الفدغمي, Fadghami, Al Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9117847, 40.8869932 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six male civilians, all cousins were killed in the village of Al Fadghami, Al Hassakah “as a result of Coalition strikes” it was reported.

Local activist Siraj al Hasskawi published details of the event on the day: “At 10:30 on Friday morning the Western/Arab alliance jets committed a massacre against six unarmed civilians and wounded two in the village of Al Fadghami 70 km South of Hasaka city on the old Hassaka/Deir Ezzor road near Shaddadi city…. The six martyrs had met, along with a number of relatives, in front of the home of Mr. Suleiman to eat breakfast and had their cars parked in front of the house. Unmanned surveillance planes were circling the skies of the village and surrounding villages. Then without warning a coalition aircraft fired a missile on one of their cars, burning it completely and killing the six cousins, and injuring two others. The first car was completely destroyed and the second one was damaged. The house where women and children live was partially damaged.

Civilians reported killed: Coalition position: Sources: Quality of reporting:

… Both Mahmoud and Hussein had returned from Iraq two months ago with their parents after the border between Syria and Iraq was removed, and they both decided to live in the village of their parents. Mahmoud lived in the house of Mr. Suleiman Hussein al Salim, in front of which the massacre took place. The other four martyrs (Satem, Abdullah, Ghassan .and Ali ) were all civilians working in agriculture and other freelance work and did not belong to any armed military faction. All were married and each had children between the ages of 9 and 15. They have now been buried in al Fadaghma Cemetery.”

The men, all residents of al Fadghami, have been identified by the VDC.

Also reported injured in the event were Bashar Hamidi al Salim and Ashraf Mukhlef Al Ali.

In July 2017, the Coalition said there was ‘insufficient evidence’ to determine civilian casualties: “Sep. 27, 2014, near Al Fadghami, Syria, 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.”

Given how well reported the event was, Airwars is seeking additional clarification from the Coalition. We continue to assess this event as Fair.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

35 years old male Listed by VDC, Iraqi farmer killed
38 years old male Listed by VDC, farmer killed
43 years old male Listed by VDC, former employee of the municipality of Al Mayadeen killed
41 years old male Listed by VDC, farmer killed
35 years old male Listed by VDC, farmer killed
31 years old male Listed by VDC, from Iraq killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (6 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 belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Hasaka AlFadagmi shows alleged effects of the bombing of Coalition planes and remains of civilians
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:21:"insufficient_evidence";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Al Fadghami, Syria
    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

Sources: Quality of reporting:

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (6 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 belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]