Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1117

Incident date

June 28, 2017

Location

الطيانة, Al Tayyana, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.021718, 40.866423 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian male, but possibly as many as two, died in airstrikes on Al Tayyana, according to local media – though it was initially unclear whether the Coalition or Russia was responsible. The US-led alliance accepted responsibility in September 2017.

Five sources reported that only one fatality was caused by the airstrikes, however the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the higher number of two.

It also reported that the victim died “after warplanes targeted the area surrounding the oil wells” and the RFS Media Office reported that the bombing caused “the burning and destruction of a large number of tanks and burners”.

According to Baladi, “Warplanes, both Russian and allied, intensified raids on the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour, where a civilian was killed by raids targeting an area where oil tankers were gathering around the town of Tiyana on Wednesday.”

In its September 2017 casualty report, the Coalition stated: “June 28, 2017, near Mayadin, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on a convoy of ISIS oil trucks, it is was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed. After warning shots were fired, all truck drivers but one stopped, vacated their vehicles and moved a safe distance away. One truck continued driving and was subsequently destroyed and its driver presumed killed. The other vehicles in the area were abandoned after the warning shots were fired and subsequently destroyed with no assessed civilian casualties.”

Officials provided coordinates to Airwars – 35°01’18.2″N 40°51’59.1″E – which placed the event near Maleh, they said. This appears to be a match for this event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Iyad Hussein Al-Hameed.
Age unknown dentified by Euphrates Post killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Inside target vehicle
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Mayadin, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU7027977043
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 1, 2017
  • June 28, 2017, near Mayadin, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on a convoy of ISIS oil trucks, it is was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed. After warning shots were fired, all truck drivers but one stopped, vacated their vehicles and moved a safe distance away. One truck continued driving and was subsequently destroyed and its driver presumed killed. The other vehicles in the area were abandoned after the warning shots were fired and subsequently destroyed with no assessed civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 28th-29th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed 10 oil storage tanks, six oil trucks, two fuel trailers, an well head, a piece of oil processing equipment and an ISIS headquarters.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]