Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1457 RS2419

Incident date

September 9, 2017

Location

Abu Kamal, al Suwei’ya bridge, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.440964, 40.929244 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four named civilians were reported killed in a Coalition airstrike in Abu Kamal, local media reported.

Smart reported raids “targeted an apartment building near the bridge”, identified by a correspondent for Jisr TV as “Suwayyah” bridge 120km east of Deir Ezzor, next to the prison where a major civilian casualty incident took place the same day.

In addition to the civilians killed others were reportedly wounded, according to local sources. Local hospitals and mosques launched an urgent call for blood to be donated to help those injured.”

See also S1285.

Airwars previously thought that the Coalition had assessed this to be credible in their February 2018 report – however, Coalition officials later indicated that they were separate events. The confirmed deaths can now be found in CS1457a.

In their monthly civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition has indicated that the credibility of this civilian harm allegation is in the process of being assessed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ahmed Mahgoub
Adult male killed
Son of Ahmed Mahgoub
Age unknown male killed
Son of Ahmed Mahgoub
male killed

The victims were named as:

Wafik al-Rawi
Adult female killed

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention that the Coalition airstrike targeted an apartment building in near the Suwei’ya bridge (جسر السویعیة), in Abu Kamal. The coordinates for the bridge are: 34.440964,40.929244. On satellite imagery available to Airwars of September 7 and 12, structural damage to a building near the bridge can be seen at these coordinates: 34.444389,40.926754

  • Location of structural damage seen on satellite imagery of September 7 and 12, and the Suwei’ya bridge (جسر السویعیة)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1–4 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 (23) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Open incident
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 8th – 9th the Coalition reported publicly no strikes in the vicinity of Abu Kamal.
For September 9th - 10th, the Coalition reported: "Near Abu Kamal, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS headquarters" and "Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes [1 British] engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two fighting positions and a vehicle"

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Saturday 9 September – a Reaper destroyed a motorcycle and trailer carrying three terrorists north-east of Dayr az Zawr… The following day [Sept 9th], another Reaper flew a further patrol in the same area of Syria, and tracked a group of three terrorists on a motorcycle and trailer. The Reaper’s crew waited patiently until the targets were in open countryside before firing a Hellfire which scored a direct hit.’

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1–4 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 (23) [ collapse]