Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1745

Incident date

April 17, 2018

Location

Al Sarajiya village near Abu Hamda, Al Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

35.993563, 40.994453 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported on the deaths of up to eleven civilians as a result of strikes carried out by Coalition helicopters in an area east of the city of Al Shadadi.

According to Euphrates Post “a massacre” took place after a bombardment on a prison in the town of Abu Hamda. The report put the initial civilian death toll at eleven. The media outlet also stated that US helicopters carried out “landing attempts” – as did most other sources. All reports blamed the Coalition for the casualties.

An Al Khabout correspondent quoted sources from inside the villages, who confirmed that an “Apache aircraft” used “heavy machine guns” to target an ISIS HQ which resulted in “martyrs and wounded among the villagers”. The same sources stated that Coalition forces arrested four people who were allegedly taken to the US base in the city of Shaddadi.

The report of Coalition bombardments on a prison was reiterated by Zamanalwasl and Al Jisr TV. However, both media outlets stated that 8 civilians were killed and a number of others injured in the village of al Sarajiya, east of Abu Hamda.

The lowest fatal tally, 3, was reported by the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

The incident was first reported on April 17, 2018 at 3:00 pm by .

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the area of Abu Hamda (أبو حامضة), Hasakah governorate, for which the coordinates of its midpoint are: 35.993563, 40.994453 (or according to the Military Grid Reference System: 37S FV 78). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 11
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]

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 Al-Sarajiya Village, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 26, 2018
  • April 17, 2018, near Al-Sarajiya Village, 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 April 17th, the Coalition did not publicly report any strikes in the Hasakah governorate.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 11
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]