Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1021

Incident date

June 17, 2017

Location

القورية, Al Qouriya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.951122, 40.530784 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One little girl was reportedly killed, according to the Syrian Press Center, and several other civilians were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Quoriya in Deir Ezzor.

While that source was the only one to report a civilian fatality, all others reported that a number of civilians were wounded in the airstrikes. Syrian Newsdesk reported that 10 civilians, including six members of one family, were injured when one of the alleged strikes hit a civilian vehicle on a road between Al Quoriya and Al Sada while targeting ISIL members.

A number of sources also reported that a house near the Al Hajeen water tank was hit – causing civilian injuries, including one girl – and so too was the Al Khouri district of the town.

Six of the seven sources alleged that the Coalition was responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Qouriya (القورية), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.951122, 40.530784. 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
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Al Qouriya, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU407692
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 22, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 16th-17th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes destroyed seven ISIS oil trucks, four ISIS oil tanks, a front-end loader, an ISIS oil pump and an ISIS well head.”

For June 17th-18th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed an ISIS well head.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]