Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1123

Incident date

June 29, 2017

Location

محكان, Mahkan, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.974444, 40.485556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A girl was killed and up to 20 others were injured in airstrikes on Mahkan, however claims concerning who was responsible were contested.

News Jorf claimed that the Coalition was responsible, meanwhile, Baladi News alleged that the Syrian government was responsible. The remaining eight sources reporting the incident did not make any claims as with regards to responsibility.

Euphrates Post identified the deceased girl and also reported that Falah al Saleh al Jawid’s daughter and grandchildren were injured in the attack.

No further details were available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

A’noud Saleh Awad al Massih
Child female named by Euphrates Post killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A’noud Saleh Awad Al Massih, killed in an alleged Coalition and Syrian regime raid on Makhan, 29th June 2017. (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 Makhan, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU366716
    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 29th-30th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes destroyed four ISIS oil stills, four oil storage tanks, a modular oil refiner and a well head.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]