Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1661 RS2672

Incident date

November 2, 2017

Location

هجين, Hajeen - al Zir area, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.6897222, 40.83 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One man died and his child was wounded in a casualty event in the al Zir area in Hajeen town, local media reported – though it was unclear whether the casualties were caused by an airstrike or a rocket. Additionally, sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of the US-led Coalition or Russia. 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights pointed towards the Coalition.

Baladi, however, said “the town was hit by a number of rockets which killed a man and wounded others.”

The Our Bukamal Facebook page reported “the death of Turki Hamad Al Hawamah by shelling on Hajeen and the injury of his child”. It added that the shelling targeted “the house of Sawadi al-Habadi and the house of Khudair al-Salbi and the led to the injury of Ibn Khudair al-Salbi. The shelling also focused on the public street close to the shops of Al-Omair.”

Baladi News was the only source to attribute blame to Russian warplanes.

Euphrates Post published a video (see below), showing panic and screaming at the moment that warplanes reportedly struck. The voice over refers to “indiscriminate shelling”.

The incident occured at 12:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Son of Turki al-Hamad al-Hawam
Child male injured

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hajin (هجين) for which the coordinates are: 34.6897222, 40.83. Sources mention Al Zir (الزر) area, “the house of Sawadi al-Habadi and the house of Khudair al-Salbi and the led to the injury of Ibn Khudair al-Salbi. The shelling also focused on the public street close to the shops of Al-Omair.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • "Indiscriminate shelling", footage showing panic and screaming from civilians as they attempt to run from the airstrikes which have targeted their homes. 2nd November 2017. (via Euphrates)
  • Turki Hamad Al-Hawam and his son, he was killed and his son injured in an alleged airstrike on the Al Zir area in Hajin on November 2nd 2017 (via Hajin and around Hajin Facebook post).

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.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 26, 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 November 2nd-3rd: “Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed an ISIS line of communication. Near Dayr Az Zawr, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed an ISIS line of communication, a VBIED factory and an ISIS headquarters.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]