Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Three civilian men were reported killed when their vehicle was struck in a Coalition airstrike, according to reports.
This incident is presently single source only with VDC naming the three men.
In its July 2017 monthly report, the Coalition classed the event as non credible on grounds of proximity: “Oct. 31, 2015, near Al Hawl, Syria, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”
However, given that the Coalition has confirmed airstrikes in the vicinity on October 30th-31st, Airwars is seeking additional clarification from the Coalition.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Hawl (الهول), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.390223, 41.149297. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
Summary
Sources (2) [ collapse]
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.
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
-
After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.
Original strike reports
The Coalition confirms carrying out strikes in the vicinity on October 30th-31st 2015: “Near Al Hawl, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL fighting complex.