Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1764

Incident date

June 4, 2018

Location

الباغوز الفوقاني, Al Baghouz al Foqani, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.4641667, 40.9452778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, four civilians were allegedly killed by a Coalition airstrike targeting the center of the town of al Baghouz Foqani.

Both Euphrates Post and Deir Ezzor 24 identified two of the people killed as Nader Jassim al-Mardoukh and Hussein Ali al-Mardoukh. In a separate report, Euphrates Post identified the third civilian as Rami As’ad Najm al-Dandal. According to Al Haall “more than nine others” were injured.

Although most sources reported that the death of three civilians, a fourth man was later identified. Two days after the strike, a family member posted on Facebook about the death of the engineer Dandal al Sheikh A’dhal al Mushrif al Dandal. Euphrates Post, among others, reported that the man was killed as a result of Coalition airstrikes on Al Baghouz al Foqani.

In a private conversation with Airwars researchers, family members stated that they only found out about his death on June 6th – possibly explaining why most sources initially only made mention of three deaths.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hussein Ali al-Mardoukh
Adult male killed
Nader Jassim al-Mardoukh
Adult male killed

Family members (2)

Rami As’ad Najm al Dandal
Adult male killed
Dandal al Sheikh A’dhal al Mushrif al Dandal
Adult male Engineer killed

The victims were named as:

Name unknown
Age unknown

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the center of the village of Baghuz Fawqani (باغوز فوقاني), for which the coordinates are: 34.4641667, 40.9452778. The town is near the Iraqi border

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Rami As'ad Najm al-Dandal, one of four men reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on al Baghouz al Foq (via Euphrates Post)
  • Hussein Ali al-Mardoukh (via Euphrates Post)
  • Nader Ali al-Mardoukh (via Euphrates Post)
  • Dandal A’dhal Al-Dandal (via Euphrates Post)

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
    al-Baghouz Fawqani, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 25, 2018
  • June 4, 2018, near al-Baghouz Fawqani, 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 June 4th, the Coalition reported that “On June 4 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 17 strikes consisting of 20 engagements against Daesh targets. Near Abu Kamal, 15 strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed two Daesh fighting positions, one Daesh tactical vehicle, six Daesh vehicles and one Daesh command and control center."

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Monday 4 June – a Reaper destroyed an armed terrorist truck concealed under cover in eastern Syria…A Reaper provided further close air support to the Syrian Democratic Forces in the Euphrates valley on Monday 4 June. An armed terrorist truck was reported to be to the north of Abu Kamal, and the Reaper’s crew were able to identify the vehicle, parked under cover in an attempt to conceal it, after a thorough search. A Hellfire missile destroyed the vehicle, with a number of subsequent secondary explosions as ammunition on the vehicle caught fire.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

France report that the Wagram Task Force continues to support the offensive against the last pockets of Daesh present in the Euphrates Valley. Since the launch of the offensive on May 1st, it has carried out 111 shooting missions including 16 for the past week – May 30th to June 5th. Over the past week, the aircraft of Operation Chammal have carried out 20 sorties in support of local forces engaged on the ground, mainly missions of intelligence gathering and aerial reconnaissance. No airstrikes were carried out.

‘CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Sur le théâtre irako-syrien, l’activité majeure demeure l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie. Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie En Syrie, les forces démocratiques syriennes conduisent actuellement l’offensive finale contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes au nord-est de la Syrie. Cette offensive finale a été préparée avec soin par la Coalition qui a fourni un effort conséquent pour affiner le renseignement sur le dispositif de Daech et préparer le terrain pour les forces engagées au sol. Dans ce cadre, le nombre de frappes menées par la Coalition en mai a augmenté de 123 % par rapport à son niveau du mois d’avril. L’offensive est coordonnée avec les forces de sécurité irakiennes qui ont augmenté leur présence le long de la frontière irako-syrienne pour empêcher toute fuite de terroristes des zones de combat vers l’Irak. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak En Irak, l’action des forces de sécurité irakiennes se poursuit sur un rythme élevé, notamment dans l’Anbar et les monts Hamrim, mais aussi plus au nord en Ninive, et plus à l’ouest dans le désert de Jazirah. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Task Force Monsabert : poursuite de l’accompagnement de la 6e division irakienne Cette semaine, trois nouvelles formations ont débuté : une séquence d’entrainement au profit de compagnies commandos irakiennes, une instruction armement et une instruction à la lutte contre les engins explosifs improvisés. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate La Task Force Wagram demeure engagée en appui de l’offensive menée contre Daech dans la vallée de l’Euphrate. Depuis le lancement de l’offensive le 1er mai, elle a réalisé 111 missions de tirs dont 16 pour la semaine écoulée (bilan du 30 mai au 5 juin inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, elle a réalisé 1770 missions de tirs. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des opérations Sur la semaine écoulée, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 20 sorties aériennes en appui des forces locales engagées au sol (bilan du 30 mai au 5 juin inclus), essentiellement des missions de recueil de renseignements et de reconnaissance aérienne. Aucune frappe n’a été réalisée. Bilan total de l’action du pilier appui aérien depuis le 19/09/14 : 8115 sorties / 1450 frappes / 2241 objectifs neutralisés.’

Dutch Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For the 2nd straight week, Dutch F-16s fired weapons near Abu Kamal and Hajin in Deir Ezzor. The Dutch MoD reported that between May 30th-June 5th, aircraft targeted ISIS fighters and logistics centers in three missions. Jets supported ground troops in 9 missions, including in Nineveh, Iraq.

‘Weekoverzicht Defensieoperaties Nieuwsbericht | 06-06-2018 | 12:00 In de strijd tegen terreurorganisatie ISIS ondersteunden Nederlandse F-16’s grondtroepen tijdens 9 missies. Bij 3 daarvan zijn wapens ingezet. Dat gebeurde in de omgeving van Abu Kamal en Hajin in de provincie Deir Al Zour in Oost-Syrië. Hierbij zijn onder andere ISIS-strijders en logistieke opslagplaatsen aangevallen. Ook is gevlogen boven de Irakese provincie Ninawa. Een overzicht van Defensieoperaties in de week van 30 mei tot en met 5 juni 2018. Militaire instructeurs in Irak leren Koerdische strijders gebieden te beveiligen. Daarbij staan onder meer wapenhandelingen, medische verzorging, oorlogsrecht en civiel-militaire samenwerking op het programma. De door de coalitie opgeleide instructeurs verzorgen een deel van de opleiding. Een Nederlands chirurgisch team opereert in een Amerikaans role 2-hospitaal in westelijk Irak. Het team werkt nauw samen met Noorse medici.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]