Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1670

Incident date

November 10, 2017

Location

Al Shafa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.617246, 40.922012 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

It was locally reported that the following six civilians died in an airstrike on Al-Sha’afa water crossing.

Most sources didn’t say who was responsible, referring to ‘raids’ and ‘bombing by aircraft.’.

However, Khafafeesh al Zalam reported that Russia carried out raids on a nearby town on November 11th, killing two civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hisham Mash’an Al-Shaji
Age unknown killed
Bassam Ghaleb Al-Shaji
Age unknown killed

Family members (2)

Ahmed Awad Akash al-Kharamit
Age unknown killed
Waleed Hamad Awad Al Kharamit
Age unknown killed

The victims were named as:

Salah Hamad Al-khulyawi
Age unknown killed
Abdullah Mohammed al-Hassan al-Badawi
Age unknown male killed

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the river crossings between the village of Al Sha’afa (الشعفة), for which the coordinates are: 34.57888,40.93441, and the village of Al Ramadi (الرمادي), for which the coordinates are: 34.6388889,40.8755556. Possibly there were strikes on multiple river crossings within the stretch of 7-10km between these villages on opposing sides of the river. Hundreds of cars are seen on the western side of the river on satellite images available to Airwars from mid November to early December 2017 (an example can be seen around this area: 34.617246,40.922012), most likely abandoned by fleeing villagers or IS militants

  • River between Al Sha'afa (الشعفة) and Al Ramadi (الرمادي)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • 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 (9) [ 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.
  • 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 10th-11th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, seven strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and damaged a heavy machine gun.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]