Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS1713

Location

هجين, Hajeen, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.6897222, 40.83
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S1512)

Five named civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Hajeen, sources on the ground said. The earliest report of casualties was on January 13th, though some reports later claimed the event was on the 14th or even the 15th.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “five civilians, including a woman, were killed as International Coalition warpalnes fired missiles on Hajin city in Deir Ez-Zour eastern suburbs, on January 13, 2018.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, also blaming the Coalition, put the death toll at four including “a man and his wife”.

Step News referred to a “massacre” in Hajeen, in which “a family of five including a woman” died.

Euphrates Post and Free Deir Ezzor named the victims. And Revolutionary Forces of Syria Media Office reported that “Both Matruk al-Saleh and his wife, and Yashar al-Salih, Yasser Shaker Al Isma’il and Abdul Qader Shaker al-Ismail were killed as a result of the shelling that targeted their home in a Hajeen city” – thought this report put the event as January 14th.

Sound and Picture, DCHRS and Qasioun were among other sources attributing the event to the Coalition.

ANHA news agency made no mention of civilian deaths, but reported that “17 Daesh mercenaries were killed during clashes between Syrian Democratic forces and Daesh mercenaries near the village of Hajin”.

Victims

Family members (3)

Matrouk al Saleh
Adult male killed
Wife of Matrouk al Saleh
Adult female killed
Yashar al-Salih
female Sometimes spelled Bashar and therefore possibly male. killed

Family members (2)

Yasser Shaker Al Isma’il
male killed
Abdul Qader Shaker al-Ismail
male killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Civilians reported killed
4–5
1–2 Women

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hajeen (هجين), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.6897222, 40.83. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Non credible / Unsubstantiated
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 Hajin, Syria
Location accuracy
100 m
MGRS coordinate
37SFU676401
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For January 13th 2018 the Coalition reported that “On Jan. 13 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 13 strikes consisting of 24 engagements against ISIS targets. For January 14th, the Coalition reported that "Near Abu Kamal, nine strikes [1 British?] engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed two pieces of ISIS engineering equipment, a fighting position, an ISIS vehicle, an indirect fire weapon, two logistics centers, two VBIED factories, an ISIS line of communication and a UAV."
UK Military Strike Report
‘Sunday 14 January – a Reaper eliminated a Daesh drone operator…On Sunday 14 January, a Reaper spotted the third terrorist drone team identified during the week; on this occasion, the extremists attempted to conceal themselves in a building, but could be seen controlling the drone from the top-floor window. A Hellfire was directed accurately through the window.’
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
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