Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1718

Incident date

January 26, 2018

Location

البحرة, Al Bahra village, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.74226, 40.76953 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Thirty civilians allegedly died in Coalition airstrikes on Al Bahra village in the Deir Ezzor countryside, according to local sources. The original source for these claims appeared to be ISIS.

@7UFCmSxd0IUBffH and other sources said that there were “more than 30 martyrs, most of them women and children, and injured civilians, in US air strikes on the village of Al-Bahra.

The Shaam News Network reported “warplanes of the International Coalition committed a massacre in air strikes on the town of Al-Bahra”. It went on to cite the ISIS media agency Amaq Agency which had “said that coalition air raids on the town had killed 30 people, most of them women and children, and caused many casualties.”

An ISIS video associated with this event was released, though has since been deleted from public records. Al Jazeera also cited ISIS as the source for claims of 30 civilians killed. Further sources additionally blamed the Coalition, reporting that most of the victims were women and children. A number of sources referred specifically to “US airstrikes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A reported child victim of a Coalition strike on al Bahra (image likely via ISIS propaganda video)

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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Al Bahrah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU619458
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For January 26th 2018 the Coalition reported: “On Jan. 26 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted five strikes consisting of eight engagements against Daesh targets. Near Abu Kamal, five strikes engaged two Daesh tactical units and destroyed a construction vehicle, a VBIED, two fighting positions and two Daesh headquarters.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Friday 26 January – Tornados struck a Daesh-held building and a Reaper hit a group of terrorists…On 26 January, a Reaper worked alongside two Tornados over the area [Euphrates area]; the Reaper identified one building occupied by extremists, which allowed the Tornados to strike, then it hit a further group with a Hellfire.

Dutch Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For January 24th-30th, the Netherlands report F16s attacked Dutch F-16s attacked ISIS targets in support of ground troops, including buildings, set-ups, a headquarters and a storage location. This happened in the neighborhood of Ar Ramadi and Abu Kamal in the province of Deir Al Zour in eastern Syria. Dutch fighter planes helped ground troops during 12 missions, which were also over the Iraqi provinces of Nineveh and Anbar. Weapons were used six times.

Weekoverzicht Defensieoperaties Nieuwsbericht | 31-01-2018 | 12:00 Nederlandse F-16’s vielen ter ondersteuning van grondtroepen ISIS-doelen aan, waaronder gebouwen, opstellingen, een hoofdkwartier en een opslaglocatie. Dat gebeurde in de buurt van Ar Ramadi en Abu Kamal in de provincie Deir Al Zour in Oost-Syrië. Een overzicht van Defensieoperaties in de week van 24 tot en met 30 januari 2018. Technicus bevestigt brandstofslang aan F-16Toon opties Een F-16 wordt bijgetankt (september 2015). De jachtvliegtuigen hielpen de grondtroepen tijdens 12 missies, ook boven de Iraakse provincies Ninawa en Al Anbar. Bij 6 werden wapens ingezet. Nederland neemt boven Irak en Oost-Syrië in coalitieverband deel aan de strijd tegen terreurorganisatie ISIS

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For January 24th-30th, France reports that Task Force Wagram continued to provide support in the Euphrates Valley. Five firefighting missions were carried out for the benefit of the Iraqi security forces. This week, the air activity provided intelligence and support missions for the Iraqi security forces and the SDF. It resulted in 20 sorties during which three strikes were carried out, all in the area of ​​Abu Kamal in support of the SDF.

‘CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Sur le théâtre irako-syrien, les opérations se poursuivent. Les objectifs demeurent de : défaire les dernières poches terroristes résiduelles en Syrie ; sécuriser les territoires récemment libérés en Irak. Poursuite des combats en Syrie En Syrie, les forces démocratiques syriennes poursuivent leur combat contre les dernières poches Daechies présentes sur les rives orientales de l’Euphrate. Les mauvaises conditions météorologiques réduisent encore les capacités d’appui de la Coalition. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak En Irak, les forces de sécurité irakiennes poursuivent des opérations de contrôle de zone et de sécurisation, confirmant leur autonomie croissante. Dans la vallée de l’Euphrate, autour d’Al Qaim, comme dans la province de Ninive, les opérations conduites par les forces de sécurité irakiennes donnent de bons résultats avec la découverte et la destruction de nombreux engins explosifs improvisés. Des infirmiers irakiens formés au secourisme de combat Depuis le 13 janvier et pour une durée de quatre semaines, la Task Force Monsabert réalise une instruction « Advance Combat Life Saver » au profit des infirmiers irakiens du centre médical de la 6ème Division. Le stage est essentiellement pratique et vise à faire des stagiaires de futurs instructeurs au secourisme de combat. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE la Task Force Wagram en appui des opérations de sécurisation La Task Force Wagram poursuit son appui aux opérations de sécurisation menées dans la vallée de l’Euphrate. Cette semaine, cinq missions de tirs ont été réalisées au profit des forces de sécurité irakiennes (2 missions d’éclairement et 3 mission d’interdiction – bilan du 24 au 30 janvier). Depuis le début de sa mission, la TF Wagram, a réalisé 1615 missions de tirs. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des opérations Cette semaine, l’activité aérienne a permis d’assurer des missions de renseignement et d’appui au profit des forces de sécurité irakiennes et des forces démocratiques syriennes. Elle a donné lieu à 20 sorties aériennes (bilan du 24 au 30 janvier) au cours desquelles trois frappes ont été réalisées, toutes dans le secteur d’Abu Kamal en appui des forces démocratiques syriennes combattant les dernières poches de Daech dans la vallée de l’Euphrate. Bilan total depuis le 19/09/14 : 7708 sorties / 1434 frappes / 2222 objectifs neutralisés.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (16) [ collapse]