Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS050

Incident date

February 2, 2015

Location

الشدادي, Shadadi, Al Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.056316, 40.730438 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a second alleged incident in the area for this night, it was reported that civilian oil workers died in a Coalition attack. According to Thiqa, “preliminary reports refer to the fall of the martyrs among civilians working in the oil, as well as a number of wounded civilians arrived at the field hospital located in the region , while the fate of dozens of other civilians remains unknown as it is not possible to reach the area because of the intensive coalition flights over the area.”

An internal CENTCOM investigation noted allegations on Twitter that the Coalition had “targeted the oil refineries in Kubaniyah, Al Hawl, and Tishrin in Al Hassakah governorate, killing several employees and workers.” A heavily redacted summary concluded that there was “not enough information to confirm credibility.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Shadadi (الشدادي), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.056316, 40.730438. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Video showing alleged coalition strikes on oil fields near al Shadadi, al Hassaka. Published by SOHR on 4th February 2015.
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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
    a:1:{i:0;s:5:"other";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    Al Hasakah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015
  • Coalition aircraft bombed ISIL locations in southern and southeastern Al Hasakah killing or wounding several people. Not credible. Review of WSV conducted.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]