Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1672

Incident date

November 11, 2017

Location

رجم الصليبي, Rajim al Salibi, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

36.040216, 41.178818 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians including paramedics died and “many” more were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike which reportedly struck an ambulance in Rajim al Salibi, local media said. Sources said that the victims were killed as they attempted to help those who were wounded in incident S1471 (listed above) in Al Duaji.

According to Al Khabour, “during an attempt to aid the wounded [from the event in Al Duaji] and take them to a medical point in Rajim Al-Salibi, aircraft bombed the ambulance at the checkpoint (Al-Salibi). This led to the death of five civilians, who were named – see below. 

Zaman al Wasl blamed the Coalition, as did Hasaka Rasd, which also named the above victims. This source added that “the car, which helped them to cross the Al Salibi crossing was targeted again by a drone plane and so far no one has been able to reach to the bodies”.

Eldorar also attributed the event to the Coalition, reporting that “during an attempt to rescue the wounded, the Coalition forces attacked the ambulance again near the Rujm al-Sulaybi checkpoint, resulting in a second massacre that killed five paramedics and civilians.”

Baladi, also blaming the Coalition, said that “three paramedics and two drivers” died.

The incident was first reported on November 11, 2017 at 10:00 pm by .

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Fadel Al-Ezzo
Age unknown killed
Bader Fadhal Al-Ezzo
Age unknown killed

The victims were named as:

Abdul Majid Alsnagar
Age unknown male killed
Abdul Ghafur Abdul Majid Al-Sinjar
Age unknown male killed
Omar Aldolf
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a paramedics’ vehicle driving towards a checkpoint in the area of Rajim al Salibi (رجم الصليبي). Airwars was unable to locate this area but according to local reporting, it is related to the area of Duaij (الدعيج), which, according to information linked to incident CS1671, we have assessed is most likely located in the area marked in red below

  • Assessed area in which the village of Duaij (الدعيج) is most likely located

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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 11th-12th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]