Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1435

Incident date

September 1, 2017

Location

Al Shmeitiya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.471226, 39.935818 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On September 1, 2017, up to seven civilians died in an airstrike on Al Shmeitiya, according to local media. While most sources didn’t identify the belligerent, two reports attributed the event to Russia.

In three sequential reports the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted the deaths of between two and four civilians following airstrikes on al Shmeitiya, Deir Ezzor. Initially SOHR reported that three people were killed in the west of Deir Ezzor, though did not specify the location. A second report said four civilians were killed after airstrikes on al Shmeitiya, and the third SOHR report alleged that two men were killed in the town. None of the SOHR reports blamed the US-led Coalition or any other actor, referring only to “bombing by warplanes”.

The Syrian Human Rights Committee reported that Owaid al-Hamid al-Saleh was killed in the incidents in the Al-Shmeitiya area and Syrian Press Center reported that Khalaf Al Hamid was killed in the same incidents.

According to the reports a number of other civilians are likely to have been injured, though the number was unknown. Significant material destruction reportedly occurred as a result of the raid.

Sadaalshaam reported that seven civilians died including one woman in a strike by unidentified warplanes. However, Alghad alsouri and Syrian Press Center blamed Russia. The former put the death toll at three.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Owaid al-Hamid al-Saleh عويد الحامد الصالح
Age unknown male killed
Khalaf Al Hamid خلف الحامد
Age unknown male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al-Shmeitiya (الشمیطیة), for which the coordinates are: 35.471226, 39.935818. One source mentions an area called al-Mestah (المسطاحة), which Airwars was unable to locate

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

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 al Shmeitiya, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV849257
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 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 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.”

For September 1st - 2nd, the Coalition reported: "Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed 11 oil stills, four vehicles, an ISIS-held building, a bulldozer, a fuel truck, and an artillery system", and later reported "On Sept. 1, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle"

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 – 7
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]