Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1322 RS2381

Incident date

August 2, 2017

Location

قرية التبني, Al Tabani, Shihah junction and other locations, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.605833, 39.818611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 20 civilians died and dozens more were wounded in airstrikes on the village of Al Tabani, according to local media – though it was unclear whether Russia or the Coalition were to blame.

Rami asssaf, @Ahmad_Zahlan and @HAMZH7711 blamed the Coalition, with @Ahmad_Zahlan reporting that white phosphorus had been used.

However, the majority of sources attributed the event to Russian forces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that it was unclear whether the planes belonged to Russia or the Coalition. According to Ahmad al Shibli, there were ten raids, while Al Hassaka Rasd put the death toll at 20 non-combatants.

Multiple sources reported that Abdul Razzaq al-Atrash and 11 members of his family died. Other victims were listed as three brothers, the sons of Hamoud Al Farhan al Darwish.

Euphrates Post reported that the following locations in the village were hit:

Al-Akeisat neighbourhood School

The Electricity Company

House of Ahmed Al Khalil

House of Ahmed Al Hassan

The house of Abdul Rahman al-A’ddad – adding: “it is worth mentioning that dozens of families spent the night in agricultural land for fear of air raids.”

Step News Agency reported that more than ten homes were raised to the ground.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Aisha Mohammed Ba’aj
Age unknown female named by Euphrates Post, who said Russia was likely to blame killed
Sabria Mohammed Ba’aj
Age unknown female named by Euphrates Post, who said Russia was likely to blame killed
Rana Abdul Razzaq Ba’aj
Age unknown female named by Euphrates Post, who said Russia was likely to blame killed
Abdul Razzaq Ba’aj
Age unknown male named by Euphrates Post, who said Russia was likely to blame killed
Tariq Abdul Razzaq Ba’aj
Age unknown male named by Euphrates Post, who said Russia was likely to blame killed
Raed Abdel Razzaq Ba’aj
Age unknown named by Euphrates Post, who said Russia was likely to blame killed
Mohammed Abdul Rahman Ba’aj
Age unknown male named by Euphrates Post, who said Russia was likely to blame killed

The victims were named as:

Abdul Razzaq al-Atrash
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 20
  • (3 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (39) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Tabani (قرية التبني), Western Deir Ezzor governorate. Sources mention airstrikes in the vicinity of two containers or two old structures at the Shihah junction (مفرق شيحا), or the entrance road to the village of Al Tabani, coming from al Buweitiyah (البويطية). Airwars was unable to locate Shihah junction, but the coordinates for the entrance road to Al Tabani are: 35.599386, 39.827688. Other landmarks that were mentioned, but that Airwars was unable to locate these due to limited satellite imagery, are the Al-Akeisat neighbourhood School (مدرسة حارة العكيصات) and The Electricity Company (مؤسسة الكهرباء)    

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 Tabani, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV749398
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 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 August 3rd-4th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed a ISIS financial headquarters.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 20
  • (3 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (39) [ collapse]