Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1733

Incident date

February 28, 2018

Location

الصفاوي, Al Safawi, Al Hassakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources stated that three or six civilians, including a seven-year-old child, were killed in an airstrike on a vehicle in the town of Al Safawi in the countryside of southern Al Hasakah on February 28th.

Most local sources reported that the victims all came from the same family and were killed when driving in their car. Other sources, like Baladi, specified that in fact 3 civilians were killed and 3 others were injured as a result of the bombardment. The report also listed the names of the victims, provided by local sources.

All media identified the Coalition as the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mohannad As’ad al-Khamis al-Issa
Adult male killed
Bashir Juma al-Issa
Age unknown male killed
Son of Khamis al-Issa
7 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • 'A raid by an international coalition aircraft targeted a civilian car yesterday in the village of Safawi east of the city of Shaddadi, killing three people: _ The seven-year-old son of Khamis al-Issa _Muhannad Asaad Al Khamis Al - Issa _ Bashir Juma Al-Issa In addition to wounding two others'

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-Safawi, al-Hassaka, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 25, 2018
  • February 28, 2018, near al-Safawi, al-Hassaka, Syria, via Airwars. 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 February 28th, the Coalition did not publicly report any strikes in the vicinity of Al Safawi or Hasakah governorate.

However see the UK report below.

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Wednesday 28 February – Typhoons attacked two Daesh armoured vehicles in eastern Syria, and cratered a road to prevent it being used to move supplies or truck-bombs…Royal Air Force aircraft continued to fly daily armed reconnaissance patrols over eastern Syria, but the next air strikes did not occur until Wednesday 28 February. One flight of Typhoons delivered attacks with Paveway IVs against two Daesh armoured vehicles spotted by the Syrian Democratic Forces to the north-east of Abu Kamal, with one of the weapons being accurately delivered through cloud against a target which the aircrew could not themselves see. A second Typhoon flight conducted Paveway attacks on a key road in the area, cratering it to prevent the terrorists from moving equipment along it, particularly heavy truck-bombs.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]