Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1675

Incident date

November 16, 2017

Location

درنج, Daranj, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.9361, 40.58223 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians died and several more were injured in an airstrike on Daranj, according to local media. Most sources attributed the event to the Coalition. However, one pointed towards the Assad regime and one blamed Russia.

Deir Ezzor 24 and Step News Agency blamed the Coalition, with Step putting the civilian death toll at four with three more wounded. The Coalition later confirmed injuring two civilians in Daranj that day.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “at least four civilians from the same family were killed as International Coalition warplanes fired missiles near their car in Daranj village”. However, one source, Al Jazeera Syria, blamed regime warplanes, putting the death toll at five.

The Shaam News Network was alone in blaming Russia. It put the death toll at five.

In May 2018 the Coalition accepted responsibility for this incident, with their monthly civilian casualty report noting: “During a strike on Daesh-held building two civilians were unintentionally injured.”

The Coalition providede Airawrs 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 (4)

Mohammed al Khalaf
male killed
Haitham al Khalaf
killed
Imad al Khalaf
killed
Mahmoud al Khalaf
male killed

The victims were named as:

Ali al-Abboud al-Zu’aiter
Age unknown head injury injured
Mohammed Hanash al-Hamid
Age unknown light injury injured

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to 34.918333, 40.581389 – the generic coordinates for Daranj.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ali al-Abboud al-Zu'aiter injured following an alleged Coalition strike on Daranj, Nov 16th (via AL Qouriya media centre)

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 injuries conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near al Shadadi, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU445671
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018
  • November 16, 2017, near al Shadadi, Syria, via self-report. During a strike on Daesh-held building two civilians were unintentionally injured.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 15th-16th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Thursday 16 November – a Reaper bombed a group of terrorists firing on Syrian Democratic Forces in eastern Syria… With Daesh having suffered major defeats in both Iraq and Syria, Royal Air Force missions continue daily, focused on armed reconnaissance to identify remaining terrorist locations and support, as necessary, clearance operations on the ground by Iraqi troops and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF have continued their operations against extremists south-east of Al Mayadin, in eastern Syria, and an RAF Reaper provided close air support to them on Thursday 16 November. The first terrorist threat that the Reaper’s crew identified was a vehicle being driven at very high speed towards the SDF positions. Fearing this to be a probable truck-bomb, the Reaper’s crew tracked the lorry, ready to engage. However, no intervention was necessary, as the driver lost control of the vehicle, which crashed off the road and promptly exploded; it had indeed been a truck-bomb. The Reaper subsequently spotted a group of terrorists opening fire on the SDF; a GBU-12 guided bomb quickly eliminated this threat

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

In the past week, France reports 26 sorties but just 1 strike, in Iraq’s Al Qaim region. Since Sept 19th 2014, it reports a total of 7445 sorties, 1417 strikes and 2202 targets destroyed. Since Sept 27th 2015, it reports 151 strikes in Syria, destroying 298 targets

OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En zone irako-syrienne, les combats se concentrent toujours sur l’axe Abou Kamal / Al Qaim. En Irak, les forces de sécurités irakiennes demeurent également impliquées dans des actions de sécurisation des zones récemment reconquises, notamment autour d’Hawijah. En Syrie : les combats se rapprochent d’Abou Kamal Soutenues par la coalition, les forces démocratiques syriennes poursuivent leur progression au Nord de l’Euphrate dans le secteur de Tanak. De leur côté les forces pro-régime, après avoir repris Deir-Ez-Zor et Mayadin, mènent actuellement l’offensive sur Abou Kamal, dernière ville tenue par Daech en Syrie. En Irak : début de l’offensive sur Rawah, dernière ville tenue par Daech en Irak Après avoir conquis Al Qaim, où les opérations de fouille et de nettoyage sont terminées, les forces de sécurité irakiennes s’attellent à conforter et consolider les positions conquises avant de reconquérir Rawah. Cette étape constituera la dernière confrontation « directe » avec Daech. Au fur et à mesure des combats et de la dégradation des capacités de Daech, la bascule de l’organisation vers une forme insurrectionnelle semble se confirmer. De nombreux djihadistes tenteraient de se fondre dans les flux des réfugiés fuyant les zones des combats dans l’Anbar. Une dispersion des combattants de Daech dans le désert de Jézirah est également observée. Par ailleurs, n’étant pas complètement sécurisée, les forces de sécurité irakiennes poursuivent des opérations de sécurisation dans la poche d’Hawijah de manière à y interdire la préparation d’attaques sur Bagdad. ACTIVITE DE LA SEMAINE La TF Wagram de nouveau en appui des forces de sécurité irakiennes dans leur lutte contre Daech Après avoir participé à la reprise d’Al Qaim, la TF Wagram participe maintenant à l’appui feux de l’offensive sur Rawah. Cette semaine, elle a réalisé 13 missions de tir. Bilan de la TF WAGRAM du 08 au 14 novembre inclus : 13 missions de tirs réalisées. Depuis le début de la mission de la TFW : 1541 missions réalisées. Activité aérienne Cette semaine, l’activité aérienne a donné lieu à 26 sorties, une frappe et 1 objectif neutralisé dans la région d’Al Qaim. Bilan du 08 au 14 novembre: Bilan missions AIR : 26 sorties / 1 frappe / 1 objectif neutralisé. Bilan total depuis le 19/09/14 : 7445 sorties / 1417 frappes / 2202 objectifs neutralisés. Dont depuis le 27/09/15 en Syrie : 151 frappes / 298 objectifs neutralisés.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (14) [ collapse]