Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1668

Incident date

November 8, 2017

Location

حريزة, Harizah, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.2110563, 40.4731349 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to seven civilians died in an airstrike on the village of Harizah, local media said – though they were unclear whether the Coalition or Russia were to blame. The US-led alliance reported no strikes in Syria that day.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “six civilians died in a bombing on the village of Harizah, though it was unclear whether the warplane responsible belonged to the Coalition”.

However, Eldorar reported that Russia carried out strikes “targeting the vicinity of the town of Qouriya and the village of Hariza”, killing seven non-combatants.

Euphrates Post said that “a man displaced from al-Sabha town was killed as a result of a military air strike” on the village. A later report blamed the Coalition for the death of four civilians and named them – see below.

Free Deir Ezzor Radio also blamed the Coalition.

In December 2018, the Coalition announced that it had classed the event as non credible due to a lack of available evidence of civilian harm: “Nov. 8, 2017, near Harizah village, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Farhan al – Sayyah
Age unknown male killed
Uncle of Farhan al – Sayyah
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Qadeef al-A’ttallah Abu A’ref
Age unknown killed
An unnamed displaced person from the town of Al Subha
Age unknown killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incidents mention the village of Harizah (حريزة) for which the coordinates are: 35.2110563, 40.4731349

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (1 man)
  • 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]

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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Harizah village, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU340974
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 30, 2018
  • Nov. 8, 2017, near Harizah village, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 8th-9th the Coalition publicly reported no strikes in Syria.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (1 man)
  • 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]