Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1488

Incident date

September 14, 2017

Location

العشارة, Al A'shara, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.92, 40.56 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that members of ISIS families died in airstrikes which hit homes in al A’shara/Al Hawa – though none of the reports said who was responsible for the incident. Moreover, there was some dispute over the location of the strike, and whether the homes struck belonged to civilians.

According to Euphrates Post, “Two foreign families belonging to IS were killed as a result of the targeting of two houses by warplanes in Al-Hawi neighborhoods in the city of Al-A’shara.”

However, in the comments section underneath the post, a comment by Amin al Huweish reads: “By God, I don’t know where you get your information from. First of all the strike was not on al Hawi Road. Secondly the raids were on civilian homes and until now no one is reported killed. I am from al A’shara and I know it inch by inch and neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Have some fear of God when spreading news.”

7al also said the strike was on the Al Hawi neighbourhood, resulting in the death of “two European families belonging to the organization [ISIS]”

Two children were named as injured in an airstrike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rahaf Hussein Ali Al-Ma’and
Child injured
Wissam Hussein Ali Al Hassan
Child injured

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention multiple neighbourhoods (Al Jaber, Al Ahmadali, Al Hawi and Al Hikma street (الحكمة)) in the town of Al Asharah (العشارة), for which the coordinates are: 34.92, 40.56

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The girl Rahaf Hussein Ali Al-Ma'and was injured following suspected airstrikes on Al-Azhar, Deir Ezzor, September 14th (via Euphrates Post)
  • The child Wissam Hussein Ali Al Hassan was injured in suspected airstrikes on Al-Azhar, September 14th (via Euphrates Post)
  • The impact on the streets of Al-Ashra following alleged Coalition airstrikes, September 14th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Material destruction in Al-Ashra following suspected Coalition airstrikes, September 14th (via Euphrates Post)
  • A street in Al-Ashra following suspected Coalition airstrikes, September 14th (via Euphrates Post)
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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 A’shara, Deir Ez Zor, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU424528
    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 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.’

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 6
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (12) [ collapse]