Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1505

Incident date

September 18, 2017

Location

المرشدة, Al Mrashda, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.510128, 40.931282 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four to six civilians including one woman, displaced from Iraq, and three to five children were reported killed in an airstrike on al Mrashda village near al Boukamal. The Coalition admitted responsibility for six deaths in the event in February 2020, with the US military conceding its role three months later.

JFL at the time of the event thought the aircraft likely to be US-led Coalition, as did Al Nateq, which claimed that a whole family was killed.

Al Hadath alleged a number killed and wounded and referred to “heavy damage” of civilian homes. Euphrates Post referred to “military aircraft” which they claimed “launched several raids…targeting the house of Kamal al-Muhaisin Al Jirro and the house of Hanoush al Aswad in Al-Marshadah”. According to the report the “initial outcome is the martyrdom of an Iraqi woman and her children and three children of Hanoush al Aswad”.

A later report released by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, said “at least six” civilians died, including five children and one woman, and alleged that the US-led Coalition was responsible.

In February 2020, the Coalition conceded the event, noting that “Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh facility. Regrettably, six civilians were unintentionally killed as a result of the strike.”

In May 2020 in its annual civilian harm report to Congress, the Pentagon declared this to have been a US action.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Child of Hanoush al Aswad
Child killed
Child of Hanoush al Aswad
Child killed
Child of Hanoush al Aswad
Child killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Mrashda (المراشدة). Based on images published by media (as seen above) Airwars was able to establish the exact location of the destroyed building through geolocation: 34.510128, 40.931282. Satellite imagery available to Airwars between June 23, 2017 and November 13, 2017 shows damage to this building.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (3–5 children1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Destruction of al Mrashda village following alleged US-Coalition strikes, Sept 17th (via Sound and Picture)
  • Destruction on the streets of Almrachda in the countryside near Abu Kamal, following alleged Coalation airstrikes, September 18th (via @Syria7ra)
  • The material damage to the streets of Almrachda in the countryside near Abu Kamal, following alleged Coalation airstrikes, September 18th (via @Syria7ra)
  • Rubble and destruction on the streets of Almrachda in the countryside near Abu Kamal, following alleged Coalation airstrikes, September 18th (via @Syria7ra)
  • Table from May 2020 Pentagon report to Congress, conceding additional US civilian harm events in Iraq and Syria during 2017.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    6
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Mrashda, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU773204
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 13, 2020
  • 3. Sept. 18, 2017, in Mrashda, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh facility. Regrettably, six civilians were unintentionally killed as a result of the strike. 2205/S1332 37SFU773204

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

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"

For September 18th - 19th the Coalition reported: "On Sept. 18, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and damaged three supply routes"

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

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (3–5 children1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (12) [ collapse]