Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1452

Incident date

September 6, 2017

Location

Al Houssainiyah, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.359656, 40.152454 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, was killed by alleged airstrikes on the al Houssainiyah village, Deir Ezzor, local media reported.

According to local sources, he was killed in “his his home by shrapnel” after the strikes hit. The US-led Coalition were not documented as the culprit however, and nor was any other actor, with only “warplanes” and “airstrikes” referred to by the sources.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Jamal Mohammed al-Hammad
Age unknown male

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al-Houssainiyah (الحسینیة), Deir Ezzor, for which the coordinates are: 35.359656, 40.152454

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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 (9) [ 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 Houssainiyah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV047135
    Military Grid Reference System

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 5th – 6th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle and a staging area.” And additionally that “On Sept. 5, near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed 42 ISIS fuel trucks, four front-end loaders and four tactical vehicles.”

For September 6th - 7th, the Coalition reported: "On Sept. 6, near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit" And additionally that "On Sept. 7, near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two vehicles and an ISIS communication line"

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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 (9) [ collapse]