Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1029

Incident date

June 18, 2017

Location

العلوه, Al Alwa, Al Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

35.950833, 40.820556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians, including three children, were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes on al Awla village, also known as Jalal, 25km southeast of Ash Shaddadi.

Hasakh News identified five victims; two men in their 50s, and three children of one of the men – two girls and one boy.

All six sources who reported on the airstrike alleged that the Coalition was responsible. However, no strikes were publicly declared in the governorate that day. And in a later assessment of the claim, the Coalition asserted that “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.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Mahmoud al Ali al Jarad
Adult male killed
Ramadan al Ali al Jarad
Adult male killed
Daughter of Ramadan al Ali al Jarad
Child female killed
Daughter of Ramadan al Ali al Jarad
Child female killed
Son of Ramadan al Ali al Jarad
Child male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Alwa (العلوه), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.950833, 40.820556. 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
    5
  • (3 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ 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 Jalal, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV641800
    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

The Coalition did not publicly report any strikes in Al Hasakah governorate for June 17th-19th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]