Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1525

Incident date

September 25, 2017

Location

البوكمال, Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.45251, 40.9181 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed with perhaps four or more additional casualties after a Coalition airstike near Al Hana hospital in Abu Kamal, according to local media. While a number of sources didn’t identify the culprit, at least two attributed the incident to the US-led Coalition. In July 2018 the alliance accepted responsibility for unintentionally killing one civilian.

According to RFS, “In the city of Abu Kamal warplanes carried out raids on a number of houses, one of which was aimed at the organization [IS] and is in the vicinity of the hospital in the center of the city. There was news of a number of civilians killed and injured along with members of IS.”

Euprates Post reported that “warplanes launched an air strike at dawn today targeting a building near al-Hana Hospital in the city of Abu Kamal, with reports of civilian casualties”.

Marsad al Hassaka provided some more information, saying that “a displaced family and a civilian young man from Abu Kamal” were killed in a Coalition strike near Al-Hana hospital.

Step also blamed the Coalition for conducting strikes near the hospital, which resulted in an unspecified number of civilian casualties.

In its July 2018 civilian casualty report, the Coalition took responsibility for the event, noting: “September 25, 2017, near Abu Kamal, Syria, via Airwars report. During a strike on Daesh Headquarters one civilian was unintentionally killed.” Officials confirmed that this related to event S1351, and provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the area around the Al Hana (الهناء) hospital in the city of Abu Kamal (البوكمال). The coordinates for the hospital are: 34.452838, 40.917828.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

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
    1
  • Stated location
    near Abu Kamal, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU762140
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • September 25, 2017, near Abu Kamal, Syria, via Airwars report. During a strike on Daesh Headquarters one civilian was unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 24th-25th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed a fighting position.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]