Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1152

Incident date

July 4, 2017

Location

ابوحامضة, Abu Hamda, Al Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9931118, 40.9959984 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians were killed as a result of alleged Coalition airstrikes on the village of Abu Hamda in Al Hasaka, local sources reported.

Al Hasaka Center Media reported that the airstrikes targeted the house of Ahmad al Alawi and that those killed were internally displaced refugees from the villages of Al Dhib and al Thaweebah.

All five sources reporting the incident alleged that the Coalition was responsible, though the alliance publicly declared no strikes in the governorate for this period. A later assessment asserted that “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.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

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 Abu Hamda, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV799850
    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

The Coalition has not publicly reported any strikes in Hasakah for July 3rd-5th

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]