Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1487 RS2446

Incident date

September 14, 2017

Location

مراط, Mrat, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.31407, 40.23865 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died in an airstrike on Mrat, according to local media – though it was unclear who was to blame for this death.

According to Syrianoor, “Activists confirmed that more than 100 civilians – mostly children and women – died during four massacres committed by Russian warplanes and international coalition aircraft in the city of Mayadeen, Baqrass, Baqara, Tabiah Shameya, Khasham, Basira and Marat.”

Euphrates Post also pointed towards Russia. But other sources didn’t identify the warplanes responsible. They said, however, that the victim had died when his home was struck.

Later reports described locals fleeing a regime offensive on the village – making this highly unlikely to have been a Coalition action.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mr. Jassem al-Ajil
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Mrat (مراط), for which the coordinates are: 35.31407, 40.23865. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Jassem Al-Ajeel (Abo Mohamad), killed in a strike on his home in Mrat, Sept 14th (via Hussin Abo Haidar)

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.’

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]