Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1674

Incident date

November 14, 2017

Location

الحوايج, Al Jawaij, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.0528105, 40.4941326 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died in an airstrike on al Jawaij town, according to local media – though it was unclear who was to blame.

Deir Ezzor noted “clashes between the forces of SDF and the organization [IS] in the town of Hawayj”. That suggested that any airstrikes may have been by the Coalition.

Additionally, Smart News reported that “Syrian Democratic Forces took control of the town of Al-Hawayj (45 km east of Deir al-Zour) east of Syria after clashes with the Islamic State.”

In June 2019 the Coalition announced that it had assessed this allegation of civilian harm to be non-credible, noting “After a review of all available strike records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Suleiman Al-Ghalab
Age unknown male named by Sharqiya Voice who blamed "the bombing by warplanes”. They didn’t identify the aircraft responsible. killed
Ahmed Ali Al-Hamoud
Age unknown male named by Sharqiya Voice who blamed "the bombing by warplanes”. They didn’t identify the aircraft responsible. killed
Ali Adel Al-Rabee
Age unknown male named by Sharqiya Voice who blamed "the bombing by warplanes”. They didn’t identify the aircraft responsible. killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Hawaij (الحوايج), for which the coordinates are: 35.0528105, 40.4941326

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
    Other
  • Stated location
    near Deir ez-Zor, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU363799
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 27, 2019
  • Nov. 14, 2017, near Deir ez-Zor, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available strike records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 14th-15th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed three explosive hazards, two fighting positions and a command and control center.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]