Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS931

Incident date

June 7, 2017

Location

محكان, Mahkan, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.9817, 40.46918 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An adult male, also an agricultural worker, was named as a victim of an alleged Coalition airstrike on Mahkan town by local media. Sources said that he died from wounds sustained in the strike.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in a report on June 11th, “an agriculture engineer died from injuries he had suffered in shelling by warplanes believed to belong to the international coalition on a bus carrying him in al-Koriyah town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor days ago.”

In February 2019, the Coalition accepted responsibility for this event, noting: “Coalition aircraft engaged an ISIS person of interest in a moving vehicle. At the moment of impact, a separate civilian vehicle passed the target vehicle. Regrettably, it appears that a civilian in the passing vehicle was unintentionally killed.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the coordinates for this event accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed al-Khamis
Adult male an agricultural worker killed

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest town at 34.974444, 40.485556

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

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
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Mahkan, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU341720
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 28, 2019
  • June 7, 2017, near Mahkan, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft engaged an ISIS person of interest in a moving vehicle. At the moment of impact, a separate civilian vehicle passed the target vehicle. Regrettably, it appears that a civilian in the passing vehicle was unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 7th-8th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed a vehicle.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Wednesday 7 June – a Reaper killed two terrorists planting booby-traps in Raqqa, while a Tornado and a Typhoon attacked two Daesh-held buildings south-west of the city… The RAF is continuing to support Iraqi forces in their effort to liberate western Mosul. While the operating environment in the city is very challenging, particularly given the closely-packed buildings, very narrow streets, and the density of the urban population, our aircrew have continued to deliver precision strikes in close support of Iraqi troops on the ground. Daesh’s current tactics, including the illegal use of civilians as human shields, and fighting from sites such as schools, hospitals, religious sites and civilian neighbourhoods, increases the risk to innocent life. While no military operations come without risk, particularly in dense urban environments and against such inhuman Daesh tactics, the RAF continues to take all steps necessary to minimise civilian casualties. Royal Air Force aircraft have provided close air support to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) who are now fighting Daesh on the outskirts of Raqqa. In Mosul, our aircraft are continuing to assist Iraqi troops in clearing remaining Daesh positions in and around the city. A Reaper remotely piloted aircraft flew an armed reconnaissance patrol over northern Raqqa on Wednesday 7 June. It observed two extremists burying booby-traps along routes into the city. Hellfire missiles were deployed, killing both. Some 45 miles south-west of Raqqa, a mixed pair of Tornado and Typhoon fast jets used a Brimstone missile to hit one Daesh-held building. A Paveway IV guided bomb left a second target on fire.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]