Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS626

Incident date

March 27, 2017

Location

سرمدا, Sarmada, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.18553, 36.72231 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were killed on the road between Sarmada and Kafr Daryan when their nearby motorcycle was hit in what appears to have been a unilateral US strike targeting members of Ahrar al Sham. The Coalition later admitted to the strike and reported that three civilians were killed and two were injured.

According to Baladi, “two civilians and four fighters were killed on Monday in a bombardment by an international coalition aircraft [sic] targeting the town of Sarmada in the countryside of Idlib.

The correspondent of My News (Ahmed Rahal) said that Coalition aircraft targeted a missile vehicle belonging to Tahrir Al Sham near the northern city of Sirmda, Idlib, causing the deaths of civilians, and four fighters, including a commander in the army of Fatah.

Step instead reported that “a US drone targeted a vehicle carrying members of the Tahrir Al Sham Organization, killing Abu Jaber al-Shami, three members of the Commission and two civilians riding a motorcycle near the incident.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the civilian death toll at three.

On March 10, 2022, in their CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition assessed this incident as credible, stating that “Coalition aircraft conducted a strike on Al Qaida-Syria terrorists in a vehicle. Regrettably, three civilians were unintentionally killed and two others unintentionally wounded due to their proximity to
the strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male possibly a combatant killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to 36.18553, 36.72231 to the nearest town.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2–3 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    Al Qaeda

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of a strike on the road between Sarmada and Kafr Daryan in which two or three nearby civilians were alleged killed, March 27th 2017. (via Baladi)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition airstrike on Sarmada, 27th March 2017. (via Kanari313)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition airstrike on Sarmada, 27th March 2017. (via Kanari313)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian casualty in the aftermath of an alleged Coalition airstrike on Sarmada, 27th March 2017. (via Kanari313)
  • Abu Jaber Al-Hamwi, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Sarmada, 27th March 2017. It is possible he was a combatant. (via Kanari313)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Open incident
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near Sarmada, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SBA9518306931
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 10, 2022
  • Mar. 27, 2017, near Sarmada, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted a strike on Al Qaida-Syria terrorists in a vehicle. Regrettably, three civilians were unintentionally killed and two others unintentionally wounded due to their proximity to the strike. 2496/S548 37SBA9518306931

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Mar. 27, 2017, near Sarmada, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted a
strike on Al Qaida-Syria terrorists in a vehicle. Regrettably, three civilians were
unintentionally killed and two others unintentionally wounded due to their proximity to the strike. 2496/S548 37SBA9518306931

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2–3 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    Al Qaeda

Sources (17) [ collapse]