Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1279

Incident date

July 26, 2017

Location

البوكمال, Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.45343, 40.91704 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between nine and 11 civilians – many from the same family- died and dozens more were injured in airstrikes on Abu Kamal, local media reported. While most reports pointed towards the US-led Coalition, a number did not identify the warplanes responsible, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that it was unclear whether the culprit had been the Coalition, Russia or even the Assad regime. The Observatory added that two members of IS were killed.

Sharqiya Voice put the death toll at three, though most sources – blaming the Coalition – reported that 10 non-combatants died in strikes which hit the following locations:

Share’ Al-A’am

The house of Maolood Karkaz

The Post office

Al Thawra School

The area near the Al-Hana hospital

Seventy Street

Micro Syria, SPM, Jisrtv and Euphrates Post all pointed towards the Coalition, adding that the death toll was likely to grow as a large number of people were still missing, trapped under the rubble as local mosques put out calls for the donation of blood. Euhprates Post added that “planes are still in the air”.

Fasial al-Sayyid, a resident of the city of Abu Kamal, told 7al that international Coalition aircraft targeted more than seven different locations inside the city, including the post office, al-Thawra school and al-Arbaeen street, killing 10 civilians, including women and children. Others were left in critical condition, meaning the death toll is likely to rise.”

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, at least nine civilians died from the same family, including three children and one woman.

The Syrian Observatory also said that and IS car was struck and that two members of IS died. It added, however, that it was unclear whether the warplane responsible had belonged to the Coalition or to Russia or to the Syrian regime.

Euphrates Post put the death toll as high as 11, including five children and two women.

In June 2018, the Coalition confirmed responsibility for two deaths in this event, their report noted: “During a strike destroyed Daesh financial exchange facility, two civilians were unintentionally killed.”

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hassan al-Karkaz
Age unknown male killed
Waled al-karkaz
Age unknown killed

Family members (5)

Abu Mohammed al-Diri family 1
Age unknown killed
Abu Mohammed al-Diri family 2
Age unknown killed
Abu Mohammed al-Diri family 3
Age unknown killed
Abu Mohammed al-Diri family 4
Age unknown killed
Abu Mohammed al-Diri family 5
Age unknown killed

The victims were named as:

Mohand Almadad
Age unknown killed
Amal Amjad al-Sufi
4 years old male killed

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 34.452778, 40.917778

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 11
  • (1–5 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–25
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Amal Amjad al-Sufi, killed in an alleged Coalition strike on Abu Kamal, July 26th 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • 'Deir al-Zour witnessed yesterday [jULY 26TH] two horrific massacres in the city of Mayadeen, which killed 15 martyrs and more than 15 wounded, and the second in the city of Albuqmal, which killed 10 martyrs and more than 25 wounded'

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
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near Abu Kamal, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU761141
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018
  • July 26, 2017, near Abu Kamal, Syria, via Airwars report. During a strike destroyed Daesh financial exchange facility, two civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 26th-27th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes destroyed three ISIS well-heads.” And “Near Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed an ISIS financial exchange facility and a VBIED factory.“

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

In the last week (20th-27th) France reports carrying out two strikes in Raqqah, destroying two ISIL combat positions. Task Force (TF) Wagram carried out 21 artillery strikes in Mosul. The overall record of air activity since September 19th 2014 amounts to 1,324 strikes, 2,092 targets destroyed and 6,857 sorties.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, Dans la ville de Raqqah, Daech continue de perdre du terrain, jour après jour, face aux Forces Démocratiques Syriennes. Les combattants terroristes continuent néanmoins de disposer de solides positions défensives dans le cœur de la ville, à partir desquelles ils mènent des contre-attaques régulières et des actions de harcèlement. En Irak, Les forces de sécurités irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations de sécurisation de la ville de Mossoul, face à des équipes isolées de combattants qui continuent de mener des actions symboliques de harcèlement. Dans le même temps, Daech consolide ses positions autour de Tal Afar, pour tenter de résister à l’offensive prochaine de la Coalition pour libérer aussi cette ville. Daech poursuit par ailleurs ses actions de diversion et de harcèlement, en se concentrant dans les régions de l’Anbar et d’Hawijah. Certaines actions ont également été menées cette semaine dans l’Ouest de l’Irak, dans la région de Rutbah. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 45 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 04 missions de recueil de renseignement et 06 de ravitaillement en vol. Un C135-FR récemment déployé a en effet réalisé de nombreuses missions en quelques jours à peine, soutenant ainsi, à son niveau, la bascule des efforts de la Coalition vers les autres bastions de Daech. Deux frappes ont été menées dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah, détruisant deux positions de combattants ennemies, au contact des troupes alliées engagées. De ces positions, des tireurs de Daech tenaient sous leur feu les soldats alliés à une centaine de mètres à peine. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a réalisé 21 missions de tir dont 07 de harcèlement et 14 d’éclairement. Ces missions interdisent une offensive de contre des terroristes vers Mossoul. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève à 1 324 frappes, 2 092 objectifs détruits et 6 857 sorties. Le bilan global de l’activité artillerie atteint 1 331 missions.’

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Wednesday 26 July – a Reaper destroyed a terrorist truck in eastern Syria..A Royal Air Force Reaper flew an armed reconnaissance mission over eastern Syria on Wednesday 26 July. A group of armed terrorists were observed boarding a truck, and the Reaper’s crew tracked the vehicle as it headed west along a desert road, some 20 miles south-south-east of Hasakah, before engaging with a Hellfire missile once it was in an isolated location. The missile scored a direct hit which destroyed the truck.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 11
  • (1–5 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–25
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (26) [ collapse]