Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1844

Incident date

November 20, 2018

Location

هجين, Hajin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.6897222, 40.83 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Coalition was said to have fired white phosphorus munitions on Hajin, according to sources on the ground.

Free Deir Ezzor Radio claimed that it was the sixth time Coalition forces used white phosphorus during the month.

Amongst others, Sound and Picture and Sana News claimed that civilians were killed and injured, but exact numbers were not stated.

Marsad al Hasakah reported that the town had come under fierce artillery bombardment: “The heavy artillery of Syrian Democratic Forces [in fact likely the Coalition] did not stop targeting the market behind the General Hospital and the neighbourhoods near the Khalid ibn al-Walid mosque and near the  Al-Tawheed mosque amid intermittent clashes between SDF and ISIS on the outskirts of Hajin  on the side of the Badia [the desert] and near al Jaabi area. The suffering of thousands of civilians trapped in the areas under the control of ISIS in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour areas, continue after they have become a direct target of the bombing of the international coalition forces and the SDF.”

In its December 2020 monthly civilian casualty report, the Coalition assessed this event as ‘non credible’, claiming that it had conducted no strikes in the geographical area which corresponded with civilian harm claims.

The incident occured during the night.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hajin (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.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Incendiary
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Syrian Democratic Forces, US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • White phosphorus bomb according to Deir Ezzor Radio Facebook post on November 20th, 2018.
  • White phosphorus bomb according to Deir Ezzor Radio Facebook post on November 20th, 2018.
  • White phosphorus bomb according to Deir Ezzor Radio Facebook post on November 20th, 2018.

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

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
    in Hajin, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU676401
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 15, 2020
  • Nov. 20, 2018, in Hajin, Syria, via Airwars report. 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. 3235/CS1844 37SFU676401

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 20th, the Coalition publicly reported: On Nov. 20 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of six engagements against ISIS targets.
Near Hajin, six strikes destroyed six supply routes.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

France report that from Nov 14th – 20th, Task Force Wagram conducted 64 firing missions – 47 ‘lighting’, 17 ‘destruction’. Aircraft carried out 18 sorties but there were no strikes.

‘CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie L’opération pour reprendre la poche d’Hajine dans la moyenne vallée de l’Euphrate, lancée le 10 septembre, marque actuellement un temps d’arrêt. Appuyées par la coalition, les forces démocratiques syriennes se réorganisent et consolident leurs positions avant de relancer leur offensive. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak En Irak, les opérations de sécurisation des forces de sécurité irakiennes (FSI) se poursuivent. Evitant le contact, Daech tente d’alimenter un sentiment d’insécurité par des actions clandestines ciblant indistinctement les FSI ou la population irakienne. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE 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 (TF) Wagram appuie l’offensive des forces démocratiques syriennes contre Daech dans la région d’Hajine. Elle a réalisé, depuis le territoire irakien, 64 missions de tir (47 éclairement, 17 destruction – bilan du 14 au 20 novembre inclus).’ Depuis le début de son engagement, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 2165 missions de tirs.'

Dutch Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For November 14th-20th 2018, the Dutch MoD reported that Dutch F-16’s supported ground troops in the fight against IS during 10 missions. Weapons were deployed during 3 missions above Deir Ezzor in Syria, targeting IS warehouses and fighting positions.

‘In het weekoverzicht van 14 t/m 20 November laat MinDef weten F-16’s te hebben ingezet tijdens 10 missies ter ondersteuning van grondtroepen in de strijd tegen IS. Bij 3 werden wapens ingezet, boven Deir al Zour in Syrie. Opslagplaatsen en gevechtsposities van IS zijn vernietigd.’

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Incendiary
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Syrian Democratic Forces, US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (15) [ collapse]