Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1483 RS2441

Incident date

September 14, 2017

Location

خشام, Kisham, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3020098, 40.2914143 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Ten to 12 civilians, mostly children and women, were reported killed following alleged airstrikes on Khishham, 15 km southeast of Deir Ezzor. The majority of sources accused Russian warplanes of committing the offence. However both the Regime and the US-led Coalition were also mentioned in reporting.

Syrian Press Center reported that Russian warplanes used “cluster bombs around the house of Aref al-Humaidi”. According to local reports a number of houses were destroyed.

Qasioun said “A squadron of Russian fighters also shelled the villages and towns of Deir al-Zour in the east with dozens of airstrikes loaded with cluster bombs, the latest of which was in the village of Khasham”.

A number of sources, including Deirezzor and @ahraralmyadein, referred to “warplanes” but did not specify a culprit.

Fresh-syria blamed both the Regime and Russia, whilst Jbc was the only source that referred to the Coalition – Jbc pointed out that the Coalition and Russia were both “committing massacres” in Deir Ezzor countryside – neither were blamed for the Khisham incident specifically.

Later reports identified victims.

According to Euphrates Post the nine children (pictured) were all from the town of Buammaru when they were killed in Khasham, the Euphrates Post alleged Moscow responsible.

Four days after the event, Euphrates Post noted “The movement of displaced people from the towns of Mazloum, Mrat and Khisham Tahtani as a result of artillery shelling by the regime forces located in the town of Al-Marayya.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Awla’a Fadel Al Mohammed Al Khamis
Child killed
Abeer Fadel Al Mohammed Al Khamis
Child killed
Aisha Fadel Al Mohammed Al Khamis
Child killed
Amal Fadel Al Mohammed al Khamis
Child killed
Emaduddin Fadel Al Mohammed Al Khamis
Child killed
Majid Fadel Mohammed Al Khamis
Child killed

Family members (3)

Mohammed Amin Hussein Ahmed Al Salama
Child killed
Amena Hussein Ahmed Al Salama
Child killed
Hussein Abed Ahmad Al Salama
Child killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmed al-Samih
Child male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Khisham (خشام), for which the coordinates are: 35.3020098, 40.2914143. 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
    10 – 12
  • (9–10 children1–2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • From left to right: 1-the child imad Aldenn Fadel Mohammad Al Khamis 2-the girl aysha Fadel Mohammad Al Khamis 3-the child Majed Fadel Mohammad Al Khamis 4-the girl Amal Fadel Mohammad Al Khamis 5-the girl Abeer Fadel Mohammad Al Khamis 6-the child Wala’a Aldenn Fadel Mohammad Al Khamis 7-The Child Mahammad Ameen Husin Ahmad Al Salama 8-the girl Ameen Husin Ahmad Al Salama 9-The child Abed Ahmad Al Salama all killed in alleged airstrikes, September 14th (via Euphrates Post)
  • “My name is Amal AlKhameis. I was killed today due an airstrike by #Russia in #Khsham east #DeirEzzor, they've killed my innocent smile” (via Euphrates Post)

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 September 13th-14th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, nine strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed two tactical vehicles, an ISIS fuel station and a fighting position.”

For September 14th - 15th, the Coalition reported: "Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two vehicles". It later reported, "On Sept. 14, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria six strikes destroyed an ISIS UAS, a fighting position, an ISIS supply route and suppressed three fighting positions"

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Friday 15 September – a Reaper supported coalition airstrikes near Dayr az Zawr, and delivered two attacks itself against extremists in the open, whilst Typhoons destroyed a Daesh-held building… On Friday 15 September, a Reaper was again very active north-east of Dayr az Zawr; it provided support to coalition airstrikes which destroyed three Daesh-held buildings, then conducted two attacks on its own account with Hellfire missiles against terrorists moving through the area. Nearby, a Typhoon flight bombed a further Daesh-held building.’

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 12
  • (9–10 children1–2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (27) [ collapse]