Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS074

Incident date

June 7, 2015

Location

دالي حسن, Dali Hasan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.56301, 38.369558 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Syrian Network for Human Rights posted a video which it said showed “the destruction caused by an international Coalition air strike on a house in Dali Hasan killing seven civilians from one family, including 5 children and a woman.”

In February 2019, the Coalition accepted responsibility for the event, noting: “Coalition aircraft engaged ISIS fighters firing on friendly forces from a moving vehicle. Coalition aircraft executed a strike on the vehicle in self-defense of the friendly forces. Regrettably, it is more likely than not that seven civilians were unintentionally killed due to the proximity to the blast.”

The Syrian Observatory also attributed the event to the Coalition, with the event occuring at 4am. Villagers were afraid to approach the house for four hours for fear of more strikes, it was later reoprted by eyewitnesses.

Those killed were a man and his wife along with their six children, named by Halab News as Tahani (aged 12), Fatima (11), Aboud (9), Mohammad (aged 5), Ziad aged two and an unnamed infant.

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The incident occured at approximately 4:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (8)

Adult male killed
Adult female Eisa's wife killed
Tahani
12 years old female killed
Fatima
11 years old female killed
Aboud
9 years old male killed
Mohammad
5 years old male killed
Ziad
2 years old male killed
Infant
Age unknown child of Eisa and Lamia killed

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the village of Dali Hasan (دالي حسن) near Sareen (صرين), Aleppo Governorate. Airwars was unable to locate Dali Hasan (دالي حسن), but geolocated images of the incident to the exact location of the destroyed building: 36.56301, 38.369558, in the village of Ra’s al Ayn al Qibli (رأس العين القبلي)

  • Village of Ra's al Ayn al Qibli (رأس العين القبلي) with the building marked in red

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

  • Composite of stills taken from video, allegedly of the incident

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Syrian Network for Human Rights

  • Satellite imagery showing structural damage (left: 4 February, 2014; right: 17 May 2016)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (6 children1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Footage showing the aftermath of the alleged coalition strike on Dali Hasan in Aleppo, June 7th 2015. [Via: SN4HR]
  • The image of the house targeted in Dali Hasan village. [Via: IS-affiliated Al'A'amaq news agency]

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
    Other
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    7
  • Stated location
    near Dali Hasan, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA436466
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 28, 2019
  • June 7, 2015, near Dali Hasan, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft engaged ISIS fighters firing on friendly forces from a moving vehicle. Coalition aircraft executed a strike on the vehicle in self-defense of the friendly forces. Regrettably, it is more likely than not that seven civilians were unintentionally killed due to the proximity to the blast.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The coalition reported a single strike in the vicinity of Aleppo for June 6th-7th 2015: “Near Aleppo, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroying an ISIL ant-aircraft artillery piece and an ISIL fighting position.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (6 children1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (16) [ collapse]