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
Summary
Sources (12) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]
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.
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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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
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Since last year’s Section 1057 report, CJTF-OIR assessed that an additional 21 reports of civilian casualties during 2017 were credible, with approximately 71 civilians killed and approximately 13 civilians injured as result of U.S. military operations. With these additional assessments, CJTF-OIR assessed that a total number of 191 reports of civilian casualties during 2017 were credible, with approximately 864 civilians killed and approximately 219 civilians injured. 18-Sep-17 Al Mrashda, Syria Air 0 civilians injured 6 civilians killed
Original strike reports
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"
‘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.’