Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1495

Incident date

September 15, 2017

Location

السوا, Al Sa'awa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.53226, 39.96322 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two to six civilians died in airstrikes on an IDP camp in the village of Al Sa’wa in the western suburb of Deir Al Ghazur, according to local sources. The location is disputed, as Sharqiya24 and Deirezzor24 cited “the water crossing” as the location and not the camp.

Marsad Al Hasaka named victims. The source added a “number” were “wounded” in addition to the fatalities. The civilians were from Al Shmitiya.

Regime forces were alleged responsible by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, who documented “several civilians” killed.

Baladi said the offensive was likely carried out by “Russian” planes, and reportedly the camp was targeted by “a number of rockets”, Baladai also mentioned the river crossing, suggesting that the crossing was hit in the same raid. Syriahr noted “material damage” and referred to unidentified “shelling” as the cause. Step News Agency also referred to “Russian fighters”.

The US-led Coalition was blamed for the attack by Masar news who documented six civilians killed.

In a report by Alaraby, three civilians were documented killed, and “dozens” wounded, in a village in the west of Deir Ezzor under control of the so-called Islamic State organization, the village was unnamed in the report.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Razzaq Al Ahmad Al Fayyad
Age unknown male killed
Abdul Samad Al Abdul Mohsin Al Ahmad
Age unknown male killed
Bara’a Abdullah Al-A’aka’ab
Age unknown male killed

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a river crossing or IDP camp in or near the village of Al Sa’awa (السوا), the coordinates for this village are: 35.53226, 39.96322. The only known river crossing in the vicinity of this village can be found here: 35.519024, 39.925432. On satellite imagery (of February 2017) there are no visible IDP camps in this area, but people often set up their tents near the river, which might explain the confusion. Russian forces also bombed this river crossing around that time, as seen in this video: https://youtu.be/o3AwJ15NdW0?t=9s.

  • River crossing in the vicinity of the village of Sa'awa (السوا)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 6
  • (3 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]

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 14th-15th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two vehicles.“ and "Additionally, 38 strikes consisting of 55 engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on Sept. 14 that closed within the last 24 hours. 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"

For September 15th - 16th, the Coalition reported: "Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes [1 British?] engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions" and "Additionally, 13 strikes consisting of 18 engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on Sept. 15 that closed within the last 48 hours. On Sept. 15, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, five strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions and a command and control node"


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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 6
  • (3 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (14) [ collapse]