Israeli Military in Syria & the Gaza Strip

A child uses his mobile device in the ruins of a building in Beit Lahia, Gaza Strip on May 26th 2021. © Mohamed Zaanoun

Belligerent
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

CS1734

Incident date

March 2, 2018

Location

قرية عفرة, Afra Al Barjari Village, Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

35.8183333, 41.0280556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that up to two civilians were killed and between one to four seriously injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the village of Afra al Barjari, on the evening of March 2nd.

Multiple sources identified some of the adult male victims.

The civilians were said to have been in their car when they were hit by an airstrike and according to a local source quoted by Zaman Al Wasl, the passengers were on the road between Abu Hamda and Al Touymen.

The same report also stated that apart from the civilian victims, two members of so-called Islamic State were killed in the airstrike.

In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for September 2019 – published on November 15th – the alliance classed the event as ‘non credible’, asserting that “After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.”

Coalition officials confirmed to Airwars that their review was a match for this event, and provided coordinates for the area assessed to within 100 metres.

The incident occured around dusk.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Jasser Al Shalabi
Adult male Also known as Jamil al-Ahmad al-Jasser killed
Attallah al-Hajij
Adult male killed
Ammar al-Fayyad al-Ali
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Jamil al-Ahmad al-Jasser, who was killed when a missile hit the car he was travelling in (via Marsad al Hassakah)

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
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Afra Al Bajari, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV832657
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 15, 2019
  • March 2, 2018, near Afra Al Bajari, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 2nd, the Coalition did not publicly report any strikes in the vicinity of Afra Al Bajari, Al Dahra or the Hasakah governorate.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (12) [ collapse]