Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1502

Incident date

September 17, 2017

Location

الباغوز, Al Baghouz, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.454815, 40.965073 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

‘Dozens’ of civilians died in airstrikes on al Baghouz, according to local sources. However reporting was confused with another alleged incident at Al Sukkariya (S1328/CS1501) with no breakdown of casualties.

According to @albokmalnews and @DeirEzzor24, more than nine civilian homes were “completely destroyed in the area of Sukkariyah and in the Baghouz”. The sources said that preliminary information indicated ‘dozens’ had been killed, though neither identified the culprit.

JBC, Aljazeera and Abarhapress said that crude oil refineries in al Al Baghouz had been struck. Jisr TV, Euphrates Post and Shaam all blamed the Coalition.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Baghouz (الباغوز). Airwars was able to geolocate the images published by Euphrates Post of the destroyed building to these coordinates: 34.454815, 40.965073. On satellite imagery available to Airwars of October 20, 2017, damage can be seen to this building. Reports also mentioned that the airstrike targeted improvised oil refineries near the village at this location: 34.4957, 40.98763.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 24
  • 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 belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Photographs illustrating the devastation caused by the bombing of the international coalition aircraft on the town of al Baghouz, September 17th (via Euphrates Post)

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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near al-Baghouz, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 16th – 17th the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS boat.”

For September 17th - 18th, the Coalition reported: "Near Abu Kamal, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a logistics node and an ISIS headquarters" and "Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a VBIED and an ISIS headquarters"

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Sunday 17 September – a Reaper eliminated a truck-bomb near Dayr az Zawr, while Tornados bombed a weapons store near Abu Kamal in eastern Syria…The next day, a Reaper conducted yet another successful attack north-east of Dayr az Zawr, eliminating a truck-bomb with a Hellfire, whilst to the south-east, close to the border with Iraq, two Tornados bombed a weapons store near Abu Kamal.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 24
  • 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 belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]