Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1697

Incident date

December 13, 2017

Location

هجين, Hajeen, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.68919, 40.82968 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died and nine others were wounded in artillery or air strikes on Hajeen, according to local media – though it was unclear who was to blame.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “Awwad Zayed Hussein al Zayed was killed by Syrian regime artillery shells”. The victim was also named by DE24 who blamed the regime, while RSF reported that “Assad’s forces renewed heavy artillery shelling and rocket attacks on the town of Hajin”.

But according to Al Haal, a Coalition strike killed one civilian and wounded a further nine. The Coalition suggested to Airwars in February 2019 that their strike near Hajeen on this day is unlikely to be a match to this incident based on the descriptions. That strike is now recorded as CS1697a.

In April 2019, the Coalition accepted responsibility for this event, noting: “Coalition aircraft conducted a strike on a Daesh operative. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed and one civilian was unintentionally wounded due to the proximity of the strike.”

Asharq news named an additional victim, Jassim Mohammed Al-Abdullah Al-Wais, reportedly killed in artillery shelling by “SDF militia”, though Airwars understands that only the Coalition have access to artillery.

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

The incident was first reported on December 13, 2017 at 6:50 am by .

The victims were named as:

Awwad Zayed Hussein al Zayed
Age unknown male killed
Jassim Mohammed Al-Abdullah Al-Wais
Age unknown killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Hajeen (هجين), for which the coordinates are: 34.6897222, 40.83. Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest town at 34.6897222, 40.83

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ 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
    Other
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Hajin, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU676401
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 25, 2019
  • Dec. 13, 2017, near Hajin, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted a strike on a Daesh operative. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed and one civilian was unintentionally wounded due to the proximity of the strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For December 12th-13th, the Coalition reported: “Near Abu Kamal, seven strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed two ISIS vehicles and a heavy weapon.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime

Sources (7) [ collapse]