Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS143

Incident date

November 10, 2015

Location

البوثة, Bootha, Al Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.2237632, 41.1133289 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to nine civilians from two families were killed in an alleged Coalition dawn strike at the small village of al Bootha – near to the Tishreen oilfield, and close to the scene of fierce clashes between Kurdish ground forces and Daesh.

The Union of Hassakah Youth initially attributed the attack to the Forces for a Democratic Syria – the Kurdish YPG. However it later noted: “It has now become clear that it was carried out by coalition planes. But we join our voices to the voices of all the activists in Hassakah in holding responsible, legally and morally, the Forces for a Democratic Syria which is providing the coalition with targets to bomb. The coalition is also responsible for committing this crime.

Local activist Siraj al Hasskawi said the dead came from two families, which had both fled the violence in nearby Hassakah city.

In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

46 years old male killed
40 years old female Saleh's wife killed
20 years old male Saleh and Wassima's son killed
Adult male Saleh and Wassima's second son killed

The victims were named as:

Adult female killed
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Bootha (البوثة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.2237632, 41.1133289. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (3–2 children2–3 women4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Mother and son Wassima and Shuja, killed in a reported Coaltion strike November 10th 2015
  • More members of al Malash family. Via Siraj al Hasskawi Facebook page
  • A photo showing the house which the coalition allegedly targeted killing al Malash family members. Via: the Union of Hassakah's youth Facebook page.

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFA899108
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020
  • November 10, 2015, in Bootha, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2879/CS143 37SFA899108

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 9th-10th 2015. the Coalition reported that “Near Al Hasakah, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (3–2 children2–3 women4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]