Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1056

Incident date

June 22, 2017

Location

الشواخ, Shawakj, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3353632, 40.1380348 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians including two children and one woman died in “shelling” on Shawakj, Deir ez-Zor, according to local sources – though it was unclear who was responsible, with only one source attributing the event to Russia.

Free Deir Radio referred to “shelling” but didn’t identify the culprit

However, Hasaka Rasd blamed Russia for targeting “Harwil mosque, which led to the destruction of the shrine and a section of the mosque”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

  • Maher Al-Mashhadani Adult male killed
  • Malak, daughter of Maher Al-Mashhadani Age unknown female killed
  • Salem Mohammed Habi Age unknown male killed
  • Amira Khalil Al-Yassin Child female killed
  • Um Fawwaz Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, 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 Dayr Az Zawr, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV037106
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 28, 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 publicly reported no strikes in the vicinity of Deir ez-Zor for June 21st-22nd.


Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]