Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1725

Incident date

February 19, 2018

Location

هجين, Hajin / Bahra, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.6897222, 40.83 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 12 and 16 civilians, including 5 children and 6 women were allegedly killed and “dozens” wounded in a Coalition airstrike on the city of Hajin on February 19th. However some sources, like Deir Ezzor24, stated that the airstrike in fact took place in Al Bahra, a town near Hajin.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the victims were Internally Displaced Persons from Mouhasan, Deir Ezzor. This claim was supported by other local sources who reported that ten members of the Al-Khalaf Al-Saleh family, all IDPs from Mouhasan, were killed in the airstrike.

Deir Ezzor24 and Euphrates Post published a list with all known casualties. It is worth mentioning that an earlier report by Euphrates Post stated that Muhammad al-Da’as (number 14 on its casualty list) was a member of so-called Islamic State. His whole family was reported killed in the same airstrike and was included on the list as well.

The Syrian Network, among others, later reported that on that same day the Khdairin bakery in Hajin was additionally targeted by an airstrike, damaging the building severely.

It is worth mentioning that an earlier report by Euphrates Post stated that Muhammad al-Da’as (number 14 on the casualty list) was a member of so-called Islamic State. His whole family was killed in the same airstrike and was included on the list as well.

SN4HR, among others, later reported that on that same day, the Khdairin bakery in Hajin was targeted by an airstrike, damaging the building severely.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (8)

Khaled Al Khalaf Al Saleh Al Hussein
Age unknown male killed
Hanaa al Khalaf al Saleh al Hussein
Age unknown female killed
Rahaf Mahmoud al Khalaf al Saleh
Age unknown male killed
Lara Mahmoud t al Khalaf al Saleh
Age unknown female killed
Hala Khalaf Al Saleh Al Hussein
Age unknown female killed
Bakr
Age unknown male Son of Hana al Khalaf al Saleh killed
Ghafran
Age unknown female Daughter of Hana al Khalaf al Saleh killed
Name unknown

Family members (7)

Habiba Mohammad al-Da’as
Age unknown female killed
Tayba Mohammad al-Da’as
Age unknown female killed
Maryam Mohammed al-Da’as
Age unknown female killed
Hamza Mohammad al-Da’as
Age unknown male killed
Ahmed Mohammad al-Da’as
Age unknown male killed
Jabir al-Da’as
Adult male killed
Wife of Jaber al-Da’as
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Fatima Nasser Al Ali
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 16
  • (5 children6 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Muhammad al-Da’as was described locally as a member of ISIS. However members of his immediate family had no known associations with the terror group (via Euphrates Post)

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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Hajin
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU676401
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 25, 2018
  • February 19, 2018, near Hajin, Syria, via Airwars. 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 February 19th, the Coalition reported: “On Feb. 19 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted seven strikes consisting of 12 engagements against Daesh targets.
• Near Abu Kamal, seven strikes engaged four Daesh tactical units and destroyed a Daesh observation post, a weapons cache and a Daesh resupply vehicle and damaged a bulldozer and a mortar."

Dutch Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For February 14th-21st, the Netherlands reports its F16s attacked ISIS combatants near Abu Kamal, Syria. The jets supported ground troops in 9 missions, including in the Nineveh and Diyala provinces, Iraq. Only weapons deployed in one mission

‘Nederlandse F-16’s vielen ter ondersteuning van grondtroepen ISIS-strijders aan. Dat gebeurde in de omgeving van Abu Kamal in de provincie Deir Al Zour in Oost-Syrië. Een overzicht van Defensieoperaties in de week van 14 tot en met 21 februari 2018. militairen kijken naar taxiënde F-16 De jachtvliegtuigen ondersteunden grondtroepen tijdens 9 missies. Bij 1 missie werden wapens ingezet. Zij vertoonden zich ook in de Iraakse provincies Ninawa en Diyala. Nederland strijdt boven Irak en Oost-Syrië in coalitieverband tegen terreurorganisatie ISIS.’

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For Feb 14th-20th, France reports 28 air sorties. Two strikes were conducted: one in the area of ​​Abu Kamal in support of the SDF, the other in support of security operations in Iraq, northeast of Baghdad. Task Force Wagram carried out four shooting missions in support of the Iraqi Security Forces (2 interdiction missions and 2 illuminance missions).

‘CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Sur le théâtre irako-syrien, les opérations se poursuivent. Les objectifs demeurent de : défaire les poches terroristes résiduelles en Syrie ; sécuriser les territoires récemment libérés en Irak. Poursuite des combats en Syrie En Syrie, les forces démocratiques syriennes poursuivent leurs efforts contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes sur les rives orientales de l’Euphrate. Cette semaine leur progression a été ralentie du fait des mauvaises conditions météorologiques compliquant l’appui aérien de la Coalition. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak En Irak, les opérations de sécurisation se poursuivent sur l’ensemble du pays. Elles se concentrent dans la région des monts Hamrim mais aussi plus à l’ouest, dans le désert de Jazirah. 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, quatre missions de tirs ont été réalisées au profit des forces de sécurité irakiennes (2 missions d’interdiction et 2 missions d’éclairement – bilan du 14 au 20 février). Depuis le début de sa mission, la TF Wagram a réalisé 1622 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 28 sorties aériennes (bilan du 14 au 20 février) au cours desquelles deux frappes ont été réalisées, une dans le secteur d’Abu Kamal en appui des forces démocratiques syriennes combattant les dernières poches de Daech dans la vallée de l’Euphrate, l’autre en appui des opérations de sécurisation en Irak, au nord-est de Bagdad. Bilan total depuis le 19/09/14 : 7790 sorties / 1439 frappes / 2227 objectifs neutralisés.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 16
  • (5 children6 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]