Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1444

Incident date

September 4, 2017

Location

Hamda barrier on road to Al-Hool camp, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.592661, 40.819016 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that two civilians, an elderly man and woman, were killed following airstrikes in Eastern Deir Ezzor.

The civilians killed were displaced from the town of Al-Matarada, Deir Ezzor, and they were travelling in a van toward the Al-Hool refugee camp in the southern countryside. The US-led Coalition was not blamed for the attack. However no other actors were cited, with sources referred instead to “unidentified airplanes” and “unknown warplanes”. According to Al Hassaka Marsad, the strike hit the vehicle close to the Hamda checkpoint.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention that the alleged Coalition airstrike targeted a car or van, near a checkpoint in the village of Abu Hamda (أبو حامضة), approximately 35 km from Shaddadi, on the road to Al-Hool refugee camp (مخیم الهول) in the eastern Deir Ezzor countryside. The civilians killed were displaced from the town of Al-Matarada (المطاردة). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location of the Hamda checkpoint, however, the coordinates for the town of Al-Matarada (المطاردة) are: 34.592661, 40.819016, and the coordinates for the Al-Hool refugee camp (مخیم الهول) are: 36.375962, 41.141396

  • The town of Al-Matarada (المطاردة) and the Al-Hool refugee camp (مخیم الهول)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

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 Hamdha barrier, Deir Ez Zor, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 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 September 3rd – 4th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes destroyed 30 ISIS oil barrels, three oil stills, a well-head and a VBIED.”

For September 4th - 5th, the Coalition reported: "Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed four vehicles and a VBIED"

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]