Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS092

Incident date

July 7, 2015

Location

حطلة, Hatla, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.34169, 40.19897 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

There were contradictory claims as to the status of Bassel Jassem Al Jirroh – reportedly killed in a Coalition or Assad regime strike at Hatla.

While the Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies and al-Natiq described him as a young male non-combatant killed at Al Aziziah Street, the pro-government Tishreen claimed that al-Jirroh was a “terrorist.”

Hassakah News Network also said al-Jirroh was a combatant, but was killed in a Syrian regime airstrike: “Three armoured vehicles were also targeted and five cars equipped with machine guns, as well as terrorist groupings in The Youth housing which led to the destruction of the armoured vehicles and the killing of a number of terrorists.”

In its monthly civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the Coalition assessed the event as ‘non credible’, noting that “July 7, 2015, in Hatla, 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. 2798/CS092 37SFV090116”.

Coalition officials also provided Airwars with a geolocation to within 100 metres of the area reviewed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hatla (حطلة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.34169, 40.19897. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • 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 belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (6) [ collapse]

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 Hatla
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV090116
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019
  • July 7, 2015, in Hatla, 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. 2798/CS092 37SFV090116

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition has confirmed strikes in the vicinity for July 6th-7th 2015: “Near Al Hasakah, four airstrikes struck five ISIL tactical units, destroying an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL building.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • 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 belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (6) [ collapse]