Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1433

Incident date

August 31, 2017

Location

صغير شامية, Sagheer Shamiya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.477377, 39.98723 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On August 31, 2017, at least three civilians died in an airstrike on Zaghir Shamiya, according to local media – though reports were conflicted as to whether the US-led Coalition, Russia or the Syrian Regime were responsible for the event.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that between two and three people were killed following an aerial offensive in Deir Ezzor Governorate. Initially, the SOHR said that three people were killed in the West of Deir Ezzor, a later report said that two civilians, a man and a woman were killed.

SHRC named a killed victim, Obeid Al-Hamdah, and blamed the Coalition. DPN also named a killed victim, a woman named Huriat Al-Nasser Al-Abdullah, but blamed Russian and Syrian Regime forces. Asharq alsouri identified Huriat’s son Abdul Rahman as injured in the incident.

According to Asharq al Souri, three members from “the family of Hamdah“ were killed in a strike, though the source didn’t identify the culprit.

Attributing the strike to Russian forces SPM Syria reported that a man from the village of Zaghir Shamiya was killed and that, according local sources, bombs containing white phosphorus and cluster bombs were used in alleged Russian strikes in the area on that day. A correspondent for Deir Ezzor 24 also reported the use of white phosphorus and cluster bombs in the the area.

The SOHR did not specify who was to blame. Airwars will update the entry when new information arises regarding the civilians killed; the death toll is expected to rise due to “several injured people in serious conditions”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Huriat Al-Nasser Al-Abdullah حورية ناصر العبدالله
Age unknown female named as a further victim by DeirEzzor24. killed
Abdul Rahman عبد الرحمن
Age unknown male son of Huriat, named by Asharq asouriya injured
Obeid Al-Hamdah عبيد الحمدة
Age unknown male was named by SHRC as a victim killed

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of incident mention Zaghir Shamiya (زغير شامية) village, for which the coordinates are: 35.477377, 39.987230.

  • Zaghir Shamiya (زغير شامية) village in the countryside of Deir Ezzor.

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN), Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 31st – September 1st the Coalition reported “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units, destroyed five tactical vehicles and a machine gun, and damaged a bridge.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN), Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]