Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1741

Incident date

April 9, 2018

Location

تل الجاير, Tal al Jayer area, Al Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.0393483, 41.1261177 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported the death of a male civilian as a result of an alleged Coalition military action in the vicinity of Tal al Jayer, east of the city of Shaddadi in the southern countryside of Hasakah governorate.

An Al-Khabour correspondent stated that helicopters engaged in a “landing operation” near the Al Sheikh fuel station, allegedly targeting Iraqis and arresting three families, including women and children. According to the report, one civilian was killed in accompanying clashes between Coalition forces and so-called Islamic State. The correspondent reported that the victim, who was identified as Alaa al Barzan, who just “happened to be there”.

The death of the civilian was also reported by Syria News Station, a pro-regime outlet, which also made mention of a number of injured civilians. SNS stated that its sources “confirmed that the clashes resulted in the martyrdom of a civilian and injuring others from the Barzan family” after the “evacuation plan” of US helicopters at 11pm.

Damascus News Network reported that the event took place without any airstrikes. Local sources told the network that indeed three US helicopters had landed near the fuel station to transfer three ISIS families of Iraqi nationality. However, although US jets were said to to accompany the operation, they flew over the region “without any targeting”. That description did not however rule out small arms fire on the ground.

The incident occured at 23:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Alaa al Barzan
Age unknown male killed
Unknown Barzan relative
Age unknown injured
Unknown Barzan relative
Age unknown injured

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a “helicopter landing operation” by the Coalition in the vicinity of the village of Tal Jayer, East of Al Shadadi in the Hasakah countryside, at the petrol station Sheikh. One civilian was reported killed in accompanying clashes between Coalition forces and the so-called Islamic State. The exact coordinates of the petrol station are: 36.0393483, 41.1261177

Summary

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

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 Tel al-Jayer, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 25, 2018
  • April 9, 2018, near Tel al-Jayer, 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 April 9th, the Coalition reported that “On April 9 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted three strikes consisting of three engagements against Daesh targets. Near Dashisha, two strike engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed two Daesh vehicles and one Daesh logistics hub. Near Al Shadaddi, one strike engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed one Daesh logistics hub."

Summary

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