Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1086

Incident date

June 25, 2017

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.528889, 40.9675 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilian males were killed and six others were injured in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Al Soussa in the east of Deir Ezzor governorate, a number of local sources reported.

Some sources reported that as many as six people died while JP News alleged that 15 people were killed. However, they were the minority among a large number of reports from the incident. Two male victims were identified by name and another six injured were identified.

From the 12 sources that reported the incident, 11 alleged that the Coalition was responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ayman Jassim Hassan al Jijan
Age unknown male injured
Tala’at Abdul-Razzaq al Jijan
Age unknown female injured
Faisal Hamad Hassan al Jijan
Age unknown male injured

Family members (2)

Hussein Ahmed al Sattam
Age unknown male injured
Abdul-Razzaq Muza’ed al Sattam
Age unknown male injured

The victims were named as:

Hamoud Mahmoud Khadeir al A’sman
Age unknown male killed
Adnan Ahmed al Sattam
Age unknown male killed
Mohammed Jassim al Fadhil al Khudair
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 15
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Reported destruction of civilian homes following an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Soussa, June 25th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Reported destruction of civilian homes following an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Soussa, June 25th (via Euphrates post)
  • Reported destruction of civilian homes following an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Soussa, June 25th (via Euphrates post)
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 Soussa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU797230
    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 24th-25th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, six strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed three ISIS-held buildings, two command and control nodes, an ISIS staging area, a mortar system, a tactical vehicle, and an ISIS oil refinery.“

For June 25th-26th, “Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes destroyed six ISIS oil storage tanks, four ISIS pump jacks and two ISIS facilities.” It additionally reported that “On June 25, near Dayr az Zawr, one strike destroyed an ISIS-held building.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 15
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]