Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1137 RS2313a

Incident date

July 1, 2017

Location

المجاوده, Majawdeh, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.6574984, 40.7948971 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and a number of others were injured following airstrikes on Majawdeh, roughly 85km southeast of Deir Ezzor. However responsibility was contested.

The victim was identified by a number of sources, which also reported that his wife and daughter were injured.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee reported that the wife of Hadlan had also died, but it was the only source out of many to do so.

Two of the ten sources reporting the incident alleged that the Coalition was “likely” responsible whereas one source, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, alleged that the Syrian government was behind the attack and published images of cluster munitions which it claimed were used. The remaining sources said that the warplanes were unidentified or did not make any reference as to who was responsible within their reports.

The victims were named as:

Raed Subhi al Hadlan
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

The village is 85 km southeast of Deir ez-Zor, according to SMART News Agency. It used to be known as “Al-Qataa”. Coordinates: 34.6574984, 40.7948971. However, munition shown in two photos published on social media likely shows AO-2.5RTM / AO-2.5RT cluster munition, suggesting this was an attack by the Syrian Arab Air Force or the Russian Air Force.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Raed Subhi al-Hadlan, killed in an alleged Coalition strike on Majawdeh, 1st July 2017. (via Dier Ezzor24)
  • Raed Subhi al-Hadlan, killed in an alleged Coalition strike on Majawdeh, 1st July 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
  • Evidence of cluster munition remnants in the aftermath of the alleged Coalition raid on 1st July 2017. (via Sharqiya voice)
  • Evidence of cluster munition remnants in the aftermath of the alleged Coalition raid on 1st July 2017. (via SN4HR)
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 Majawdeh, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 26, 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 30th-July 1st, the Coalition reported: ” Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes destroyed six ISIS oil tanks, three well heads and two oil trucks.” It additionally reported that “On June 30, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, three strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed four ISIS-held buildings, two command and control nodes and three oil stills.”

For July 1st-2nd: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed 20 ISIS oil storage barrels and six oil tankers.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]