Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1142

Incident date

July 2, 2017

Location

حطلة, Hatla, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.34169, 40.19897 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians and as many as three were killed following airstrikes on Hatla in Deir Ezzor. However it was not clear who was responsible.

Three sources alleged that Russian warplanes were responsible. Meanwhile five sources reported the airstrike without apportioning blame, and so the Coalition could not be definitively ruled out.

Free Deir Azour Radio identified two of the victims. They were among two sources to report that there were only two civilian casualties, however three sources claimed there were three.

Euphrates Post reported that “Warplane raids targeted the house of Awwad al-Nasr and al-Hamad al-Dabbashi, and near Abu Hafez fishmongers, leaving a number of wounded civilians.” It later also reported that a child “died of his wounds as a result of the targeting with cluster bombs by the warplanes in the town of Dablan in Deir al-Zour, east of 28/6/2017. It is worth mentioning that Yassin al-Alawi lost three children as a result of the massacre.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mukhles al Azzawi
Age unknown killed
Abd al Qader Osman
Age unknown killed
Asaad Awad Al-Nasr
Child male died of wounds days later killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The houses of Awad al-Nasr [Arabic: عواد النصر], Hammad al-Dabbashi [الحمد الطبيشي] near Abu Hafez’s fishmonger [Arabic: مسمكة أبو حافظ], taregted by alleged Russian and Coalition raids on Deir Ezzor. (via Euphrates post)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Asaad Awad Al-Nasr from the town of Hatla dies from wounds sustained two days ago by air strikes by alleged Russian and Coalition airstrikes, 2nd July 2017. (via Euphrates post)
  • Image depicting the destruction of housing moments after the raid on Halta, 2nd July 2017. (via Euphates 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 Hatla, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SFV089115
    Military Grid Reference System

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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]