Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1477 RS2431

Incident date

September 12, 2017

Location

Hatla, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.34169, 40.19897 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two adult male civilians, one child and one woman died in airstrikes on Hatla, according to local media, though sources were conflicted as to whether the Coalition or Russia were to blame. The majority of sources, however, pointed to Russia. Munitions recovered at the scene were Russian in origin.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Alwatan blamed the Coalition for the death of one man in Hatla. But Smart News, Marsad al Hassaka, Qasioun and the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that Russia carried out strikes with cluster bombs.

According to Alqudos , “Russian warplane targeted the villages and towns of the eastern countryside of Deir Al-Zour, including Hatla, Mrat, Mazloum, Khasham, Tabit, and new Akidat with more than 70 raid cluster munitions”.

Euphrates Post, also blaming Russia said that an elderly man died and named two male victims. Jisr TV reported that a child was killed in strikes on Hatla but didn’t identify the culpriT, however, a child fatality was named by several other sources.

Additionally, Justice for Life, who put the death toll at three said that this total included one woman.

The US-led Coalition informed Airwars that as a result of their deconfliction agreements they have ceased to conduct strikes entirely in Deir Ezzor city.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sulaiman Pasha al-‘Alawi
Adult male killed
Ali al-Hayish
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hatla (حطلة) , for which the coordinates are: 35.34169,40.19897. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • A cluster bomb, reportedly dropped by Russia on Hatla, Sept 12th (via Euphrates Post)
  • A cluster bomb remnant, allegedly Russian, found in Hatla following suspected strikes September 12th (via Euphrates Post)
  • A cat in Hatla, killed following suspected Russian or Coalition airstrikes (via Euphrates Post)
  • A cluster bomb remnant, allegedly Russian, found in Hatla following suspected strikes September 12th (via Euphrates Post)
  • A cluster bomb remnant, allegedly Russian, found in Hatla following suspected strikes September 12th (via Euphrates Post)
  • A cluster bomb remnant, allegedly Russian, found in Hatla following suspected strikes September 12th (via Euphrates Post)
  • A cluster bomb remnant, allegedly Russian, found in Hatla following suspected strikes September 12th (via Euphrates Post)
  • A cluster bomb remnant, allegedly Russian, found in Hatla following suspected strikes September 12th (via Euphrates Post)
  • A cluster bomb remnant, allegedly Russian, found in Hatla following suspected strikes September 12th (via Euphrates Post)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 11th – 12th the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, seven strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed two vehicles, a tactical vehicle, a VBIED, and a fighting position.“ It later reported, "On Sept. 11, near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed four ISIS fighting positions"
For September 12th-13th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions, two VBIEDs, a VBIED facility and a logistics node.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Monday 11 September – Tornados destroyed two sniper positions in Raqqa, and attacked a Daesh-held compound and terrorists on a motorcycle near Dayr az Zawr…A flight of Royal Air Force Tornados supported the Syrian Democratic Forces fighting in Raqqa on Monday 11 September, when Paveway IV guided bombs were used to destroy two sniper positions. A second Tornado flight patrolled north-east of Dayr az Zawr, where they attacked a group of terrorists in a compound with a Paveway IV. Survivors of the attack then attempted to move to another position on a motorcycle, but were successfully engaged with a Brimstone missile.’

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Tuesday 12 September – a Reaper successfully guided a coalition airstrike onto a truck-bomb workshop near Dayr az Zawr…The following day [Sept 12th], a Reaper remotely piloted aircraft operated in the same area near Dayr az Zawr, and provided precision targeting that enabled a coalition air strike to destroy a truck-bomb workshop and a vehicle that was being prepared there.’

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman2–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (21) [ collapse]