Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1871a

Incident date

December 12, 2018

Location

هجين, Hajin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.68551, 40.83505 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the injury of a civilian in an event near Hajin, Syria. The Pentagon later declared this to have been a US-caused incident.

Their September 2019 civilian casualty report noted: “Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against Daesh terrorists. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

In its annual civilian harm report to Congress in May 2020, the Pentagon flagged this as a US action.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Table from DoD's annual civilian harm report to Congress, May 2020, listing additional US civilian harm events in Iraq and Syria conceded for 2018.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Previously unknown
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    in Hajin, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU681397
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 26, 2019
  • December 12, 2018, in Hajin, Syria, via self-report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against Daesh terrorists. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

On Dec. 12 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 26 strikes consisting of 52 engagements against ISIS targets.

Near Hajin, 25 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 18 fighting positions, four staging areas, five supply routes, three petroleum oil and lubricant facilities, two financial nodes, one improvised explosive device facility and damaged three fighting positions.
Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed one fighting position.
On Dec. 12 in Iraq, Coalition military forces did not conduct any strikes.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS