Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1216 RS2346

Incident date

July 17, 2017

Location

الكشكية, Al Kashkiya, school building, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.8225805, 40.6799993 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians were killed – including five civilians believed to be from one family – and a number of others were injured in airstrikes on the village of Al Kashkiya in eastern Deir Ezzor.  However it was contested as to who was responsible.

Four sources – Radio al Kul, Micro News, Smart News Agency and Syrian Network for Human Rights – alleged that the Coalition was responsible meanwhile @Syria7ra blamed Russia and Al Jazeera alleged that the Syrian government was responsible. Five sources did not make any claims as to who was to blame.

A number of sources reported that the strikes took place near the village’s middle school and a number of images were shared which showed the level of destruction.

Other sources reported that the family home was deliberately “targeted”  by warplanes.

With regards to civilian casualties, some sources were able to identify some of the victims however they conflicted in their accounts.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (9)

Khalaf al Kalashat
Adult male named by Euphrates Post killed
Wife of Khalaf al Kalashat
Adult female named by Euphrates Post killed
Child of Khalaf al Kalashat 1
Child named by Euphrates Post killed
Child of Khalaf al Kalashat 2
named by Euphrates Post killed
Child of Khalaf al Kalashat 3
Child named by Euphrates Post killed
Khalaf al Shihada
Adult female named by @Syria7ra, mother of Khalaf killed
Sister in law of Khalaf al Kalashat
Adult female named by @Syria7ra killed
Shihade Mekhlef al-Kalshat
Adult male named by VDC killed
A male relative
Adult male named by VDC killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (1–3 children1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike which targeted a school, Al Kashkiya: school building, killing an entire family, 17th July 2017. (via Deir Ezzor is being exterminated)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike which targeted a school, Al Kashkiya: school building, killing an entire family, 17th July 2017. (via Deir Ezzor is being exterminated)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike which targeted a school, Al Kashkiya: school building, killing an entire family, 17th July 2017. (via Deir Ezzor is being exterminated)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike which targeted a school, Al Kashkiya: school building, killing an entire family, 17th July 2017. (via Deir Ezzor is being exterminated)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike which targeted a school, Al Kashkiya: school building, killing an entire family, 17th July 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike which targeted a school, Al Kashkiya: school building, killing an entire family, 17th July 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike which targeted a school, Al Kashkiya: school building, killing an entire family, 17th July 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike which targeted a school, Al Kashkiya: school building, killing an entire family, 17th July 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike which targeted a school, Al Kashkiya: school building, killing an entire family, 17th July 2017. (via @syria7ra)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike which targeted a school, Al Kashkiya: school building, killing an entire family, 17th July 2017. (via @syria7ra)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike which targeted a school, Al Kashkiya: school building, killing an entire family, 17th July 2017. (via @syria7ra)
  • The aftermath of an alleged airstrike which targeted a school, Al Kashkiya: school building, killing an entire family, 17th July 2017. (via @syria7ra)
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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near al Kashkiya, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU364465
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 17th-18th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, six strikes destroyed 12 ISIS oil refinement stills, four well-heads, and two oil storage tanks.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For July 12th-18th, France report 11 strikes: 7 in Syria (6 in Raqqa) and 4 in Iraq. There were 26 artillery strikes in Mosul. Since September 19th 2014 France has carried out 1322 strikes, with 2090 targets destroyed and 6812 air sorties. Additionally, they’ve carried out 1310 artillery missions.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, Dans la ville de Raqqah désormais encerclée, Daech défend fermement les quartiers sous son contrôle en s’appuyant sur un usage intensif de pièges dont le terrain est littéralement saturé pour ralentir la progression des forces démocratiques syriennes (FDS). Cette stratégie impose aux FDS de déminer, pas à pas, chaque rue et chaque maison, sous la menace permanente de tireurs isolés entre autres tactiques adverses. Leur progression reste donc très lente. En Irak, Alors que les opérations de sécurisation de Mossoul se poursuivent, la principale zone de combat se situe désormais à l’Ouest de la ville dans le secteur de Tall Afar. Depuis cette localité, Daech mène des actions de harcèlement par des tirs directs et indirects contre les positions des Forces de Sécurité Irakiennes (FSI) à proximité. L’effort aérien de la coalition s’y porte donc tout en s’accompagnant d’un engagement plus large sur l’ensemble des autres territoires encore sous le contrôle de l’organisation terroriste. Daech poursuit notamment ses actions de harcèlement depuis la poche de Hawijah et dans l’Anbar, région dans laquelle elle dispose de nombreux camps et caches d’armes. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 37 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 04 missions de recueil de renseignement et 02 de ravitaillement en vol après le déploiement récent d’un C135. La moitié des frappes françaises (6 sur les 11 frappes) a été réalisée dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah, les missions de reconnaissance française ou alliée permettant d’en réaliser autant sur le reste du théâtre afin de préparer les manœuvres futures ou de peser sur les réseaux terroristes. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 26 missions de tir dont 17 de harcèlement et 09 d’éclairement. Le bilan global de CHAMMAL depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève 1322 frappes, 2090 objectifs détruits et 6812 sorties aériennes réalisées. 1310 missions d’artillerie complètent cet engagement cinétique de la France au Levant.’

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (1–3 children1–2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Unknown

Sources (23) [ collapse]