Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1689

Incident date

December 1, 2017

Location

البرهوم, al Burham, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.654112, 40.88346 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In its July 26th, 2018 civilian casualty statement, the Coalition self-reported an incident of civilian harm on the banks of the Euphrates river, near the crossing between the villages of Al Burham ( البرهوم ) and Abu Hasan ( أبو حسن ).

The report noted: “December 1, 2017, near al Burham, Syria, via self-report. During a strike on Daesh position used to conceal weapons, one civilian was unintentionally killed.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

Airwars researchers could not find any reported claims of civilian harm in the area on this day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near al Burham, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU726363
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • December 1, 2017, near al Burham, Syria, via self-report. During a strike on Daesh position used to conceal weapons, one civilian was unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Near Abu Kamal, 12 strikes [1 or more British] engaged 13 ISIS tactical units and destroyed four ISIS vehicles, a tactical vehicle, an ISIS fighting position, an indirect fire weapon and a heavy weapon.

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Friday 1 December – a Reaper conducted three attacks on terrorists in eastern Syria, and supported seven attacks by coalition aircraft…Whilst other Royal Air Force aircraft flew armed reconnaissance missions to identify remaining concentrations of terrorist activity, RAF Reapers supported the Syrian Democratic Forces as they cleared Daesh extremists from villages in eastern Syria, along the Euphrates valley. On Friday 1 December, a Reaper worked very closely with two flights of coalition aircraft, some fifteen miles north-west of Abu Kamal. The Reaper supported seven attacks by the coalition jets against several groups of terrorists, an armed truck and a Daesh-held building, and conducted three attacks with its own Hellfire missiles, which killed a number of extremists spotted both in defensive positions and in the open.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]