Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1748a

Incident date

May 10, 2018

Location

Khatuniya, Al Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.43054, 41.17421 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident previously untracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the death of one civilian in an event near Khatuniya. The Pentagon later reported this to have been a US action.

According to CJTFOIR’s June 2019 civilian casualty report: “Coalition forces engaged in a small arms fire event. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed in the exchange.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box. Airwars researchers could not find any publicly reported claims of civilian harm in the area on this day.

In May 2020 in its annual civilian harm report to Congress, the Pentagon declared this to have been a US action.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

In its June 2019 monthly civilian casualty report, the Coalition released the MGRS for this incident as 37SFA949339.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Table from DoD's annual civilian harm report to Congress, May 2020, listing additional US civilian harm events in Iraq and Syria conceded for 2018.

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
    Previously unknown
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Khatuniya, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFA949339
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2019
  • May 10, 2018, near Khatuniya, Syria, via self-report. Coalition forces engaged in a small arms fire event. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed in the exchange.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Between May 4 and May 10, Coalition military forces conducted 53 strikes consisting of
63 engagements in Iraq and Syria.

On May 10 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of four
engagements against Daesh targets.
- Three strikes took place near Abu Kamal.
- Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed one Daesh artillery piece.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS