Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1557 RS2579

Incident date

October 1, 2017

Location

Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.466049, 40.907593 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between nine and 15 civilians died, including an entire family, following alleged airstrikes in a second reported ‘massacre’ at Abu Kamal in 24 hours. Reports were contested: some sources blamed the Coalition, while others believed Russia were the likely culprit. Many of the known sources did not apportion blame.

The strikes were conducted after midnight, according to Syrian Press Center, which published a list of the dead, originally posted by Furat Post (the IS Russian language propaganda outlet). However, a list was later reported by various other media sources.

Free Deir Ezzor reported reported that in the last few days more that 20 civilians were killed in Abu Kamal alone, however these numbers were not seemingly relevant to this particular incident.

A tenth fatality was documented by Free Deir Ezzor, though the identity of the person was not recorded. That report alleged that the US-led Coalition had carried out “several thermal missile strikes” on the outskirts of Aisha hospital, a street near the market and Dwar Egyptian.

JisirTV reported that “The international coalition aircraft carried out a new massacre in the town of Bu Kamal in the eastern suburb of Deir al-Azur, killing 13 civilians, nine of them from one family, and 15 others were seriously injured.”

Greater detail on location was provided by the Euphrates Post, which said that raids targeted “the shoulder and grain silos and near the Al-Shafei Mosque and the Egyptian roundabout in the city”. The report added “the situation is very tragic due to the total interruption of electricity and drinking water for months”.

There was also huge destruction to civilian homes.

Baladi and the Syrian Network for Human Rights suspected Russia to be the culprit, Baladi referred to “unidentified aircraft likely to be Russian”. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights recorded 12 dead, including four women. It did not allocate blame. The highest death toll was reported by Jisirtv at 13, with 15 were seriously wounded, according to its report. It attributed blame to the US-led Coalition.

The number of dead was likely to increase according to a source due to the severity of some of the injuries. Footage shows civilians received medial treatment in hospital in the aftermath.

A local source tweeted that “More than 20 Russian planes have raided civilians today”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Adult male killed
Adult female killed

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Adult female killed

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Age unknown male killed
Abdullah Yasin Al-Hamdawi
Adult male killed
The daughter of Suleiman Yassin al-Hamdawi
Age unknown female killed
Adult male killed
Child female killed
Adult female killed
31 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 15
  • (2 children4 women7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–24
  • 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 (50) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • What is believed to be a Russian/Soviet RBK bomb (canister of cluster bomblets), from an airstrike on Abu Kamal, 1st October 2017. (via Soundandpicture)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on Abu Kamal, 1st October 2017. (via Soundandpicture)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on Abu Kamal, 1st October 2017. (via Soundandpicture)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on Abu Kamal, 1st October 2017. (via Soundandpicture)
  • Zumurod Jamal al Zuhri, killed in alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on Abu Kamal, 1st October 2017. (via SN4HR)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on Abu Kamal, 1st October 2017. (via @WmCWofaEmTYeTGr)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on Abu Kamal, 1st October 2017. (via Abdelsalamali1)
  • Hamza Hammadi Al Rabi’, killed in an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on Abu Kamal, 1st October 2017. (via Seif Salem Al Rabi’)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on Abu Kamal, 1st October 2017. (via Houcine Jelassi)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on Abu Kamal, 1st October 2017. (via Houcine Jelassi)
  • Mohammed Adnan Al-Muthour, killed in alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on Abu Kamal, 1st October 2017. (via Euphrates post)
  • News bulletin reporting on an alleged Russian and Coalition raid on Abu Kamal, 1st October 2017. (via JisirTV)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention multiple strikes in the city of Abu Kamal (أبو كمال) for which the coordinates are: 34.466049, 40.907593. Some of these struck near the grain silos (34.457243, 40.893602), Aisha Hospital area (34.46068, 40.907956), Al-Misria roundabout (المصریة), market street, shoulder street (الكتف), and the Shafei mosque (الشافعي).    

  • Location of the grain silos and the Aisha Hospital within the city of Abu Kamal (أبو كمال).

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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 30th – October 1st the Coalition reported “Near Abu Kamal, three strikes destroyed an ISIS well head and engaged two tactical units” For October 1st – October 2nd the Coalition reported “Near Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed two ISIS well heads and a fighting position.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 15
  • (2 children4 women7 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15–24
  • 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 (50) [ collapse]