Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1551

Incident date

September 29, 2017

Location

Near al Rahman Mosque, Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.455167, 40.917541 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A major civilian casualty incident took place at Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor Governorate, at dawn September 29th – 30th, killing up to 25 civilians with 24 to 40 more wounded, local sources said.

According to numerous reports “mostly women and children died”. An initial report by Euphrates Post documented four dead and 30 wounded, though this rose to nine fatalities in a second report. It listed the following victims in addition to those named below:

Two displaced family members from Deir al-Zour

Three people from a displaced family from Raqqa and Iraq

Subsequent reporting from Euphrates Post described the site of destruction following the raids “as the house of Firas Moussalli near the mosque of Rahman” (pictured). A sixth report identified 11 victims, including a whole family displaced from Deir Ezzor.

Free Deir Ezzor Radio initially reported seven dead and 40 wounded following “targeting of military aircraft” on “several residential sites” of the city, “which led to the destruction of a number of houses and apartment and some shops”. It listed areas affected as:

A house near the Rahman Mosque
Dr. Jamal Al Farhan Building in Al Fayhaa Square
A market in the Center of Fayhaa Square
Baath Preparatory School in the Associations neighborhood
The perimeter of the starting position, in the vicinity of Aisha Hospital
Roundabout of Martyrs, near the cemetery of martyrs

The number killed was expected to rise according to the DeirEzzor24 correspondent who predicted “high number of martyrs due to the presence of wounded in critical condition” reportedly they “were transferred to hospitals nearby”.

According to a later report by Free Deir Ezzor Radio, the death toll did rise significantly. It alleged 20 died on September 30th in Abu Kamal.

Smart was one of the few sources that blamed the US-led Coalition, asserting that nine were killed and dozens injured, “by an airstrike likely by the international coalition”. Local activists quoted by Smart alleged 40 wounded and reiterated the list of neighbourhoods affected. The activists added that “the wounded had sought shelter in the field in the town”. Baladi also blamed the Coalition and reported 11 dead including a whole family, the account correlates with earlier reports of an entire family displaced from Deir Ezzor allegedly killed in the offensive.

Two daughters of Laith Bassam Alawi, also mentioned by the Euphrates Post, were later documented by Sharqiya Voice as Genie Laith Alawi and Rehab Laith Alawi. The report did not specify a culprit.

Euphrates Post reported the death of the girl Zamzal al Zahri Jamal al Zahri (pictured) and latterly reported the death of Mrs. Wala’a Liwaa al Said Hibet and her children: her son Othman Al-Rawi and her daughter Lian Al-Rawi.

Jisirtv blamed Russia for the strikes, as did Euphrates Post and the Syrian Network for Human Rights amongst other sources. Euphrates Post, however, were not certain and said the strikes “were likely Russia”. Alrafiden and Smart blamed the Coalition. Many sources did not apportion blame. Free Deir Ezzor Radio referred to “military aircraft”. The majority of sources blamed Russia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Genie Laith Alawi
3 years old female Daughter of Laith Bassam Alawi killed
Rehab Laith Alawi
4 years old female Daughter of Laith Bassam Alawi killed

Family members (3)

Wala’a Liwaa al Said Hibet
Adult female Mother killed
Othman Al-Rawi
Child male Son killed
Lian Al-Rawi
Child female Daughter killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Jamal Al-Farhan
Adult male killed
Souad Shafiq Taha
Adult female killed
Suad Taha Alshafq
Age unknown male killed
Jenan Farouk Farhan
Age unknown female killed
Aula Farouk Farhan
Age unknown female killed
Amman Ismail al-Alwani
Age unknown male killed
Farouk Farhan al-Aloni
Age unknown male killed
Ahmed Jamal Al-Farhan
Adult male killed
Qutada Abdulqader Al-Fahd
Age unknown female killed
Wife of Dr Abdullah Turki
Adult female From Mayadeen killed
Ahmed Hammadi Al-Musalli
Age unknown male killed
Zamzal al Zahri Jamal al Zahri
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 25
  • (4 children3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–40
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Ahmed Jamal Al-Farhan allegedly killed at dawn Sept 29th/30th by airstrikes in Abu Kamal (via Euphrates Post)
  • Zamzad al-Zahri Jamal al-Zahri
  • Aftermath of the attack
  • Genie Laith Alawi and Rehab Laith Alawi

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention multiple locations in Abu Kamal: Al Fayhaa (الفیحاء) square area; The Baath School in Associations neighborhood (الجمعیات); the perimeter of the starting position (مركز الانطلاق), in the vicinity of Aisha (عائشة) hospital; the Martyrs Roundabout (دوار الشهداء) area, near the Martyrs Cemetery (مقبرة الشهداء) close to the Fatima Al Zahra (فاطمة الزهراء) and Al Rahman (الرحمن) mosques. The coordinates for Al Rahman mosque (الرحمن) are: 34.454899,40.917142. Airwars has geolocated the photograph of the destroyed building near Al Rahman mosque to 34.455167,40.917541, with the camera facing Southwest.

  • Local media reports of the incident included a photograph of a destroyed building near Al Rahman mosque (الرحمن). The geolocation is 34.455167, 40.917541 with the camera facing Southwest.

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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Abu Kamal, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 28th – 29th the Coalition reported “Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units, destroyed two fighting positions and a supply route; and damaged a fighting position.”

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 25
  • (4 children3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–40
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (25) [ collapse]