Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS1843

Location

حويزية, Huweiziya village, al Shadadi, Al Hassakah, Syria

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S1717)

According to local sources, 13-year-old Ali Matar al-Hammad was killed by a cluster bomb that was left behind after previous bombing on the village of Hweiziyah in rural Shaddadi, south of Hasaka. Several sources including Step News Agency blamed the Coalition. 

However according to a number of tweets from amongst others @Syria_News5 and @SyriaNewsNetwrk, the cluster bomb was left behind after clashes between SDF and Daesh. 

The Coalition is not known to have used cluster munitions in Syria – indicating that the remnant munition might also have come from prior Syrian government or Russian military actions.

In its monthly civilian casualty report for October 2020, the US-led Coalition asserted that “that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.”

Victims

Individuals

Ali Matar al-Hammad
13 years old male killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Strike Status
Contested strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Civilians reported killed
1
1 Child

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
in al Shadadi, Syria
MGRS coordinate
38RQV021296
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For November 19th, the Coalition publicly reported: On Nov. 19 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of nine engagements against ISIS targets. Near Hajin, six strikes destroyed five supply routes. [Note however that this report relates to a remnant munition from a previous military action]
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2020-10-29
Original Source
14.Nov. 19, 2018, in al Shadadi, Syria, via Airwars. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3234/CS1843 38RQV021296