Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1291

Incident date

July 28, 2017

Location

ميادين, Mayadin, Al Masaken, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.016624, 40.4645133 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died and several others were wounded in airstrikes on Al Mayadin, according to local media – though it is unclear whether the US-led Coalition or Russia were to blame.

According to Euphrates Post, “The International Alliance launched several air raids around 7am targeting the Al Masaken area near the mosque of Othman bin Affan and the kindergarten Al Ryaheen and the area of Jerdak in the center of the city of Mayadeen. The civilian Bashar Hamoud al-Hurib was killed and a number of others wounded”. The victim was also named by other sources. However, these did not identify the planes responsible for his death.

However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that there were four raids on Al Mayadin, but that it was unknown whether the warplanes were Russian or belonged to the Coalition. It said “The first and second raids targeted Rawdat Al-Rihan and houses near Othman Ibn Affan Mosque, causing the death of a young man and injuring others”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Bashar Hamoud al-Hurib
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

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 Mayadin, Syria
    Nearest population center

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 28th-29th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes destroyed an ISIS headquarters, an oil storage vehicle, and a well-head.” It additionally reported that “On July 28, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, one strike destroyed four ISIS oil stills.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Sources (7) [ collapse]