Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Self-reporting by the US-led Coalition identified four civilians killed in a strike in the vicinity of Hajin in Deir Ezzor. Local reports at the time made no reference to civilian harm.
According to a Coalition report issued September 27th 2018, “May 23, 2018, near Hajin, Syria, via self-report. During a strike four civilians were unintentionally killed.” The co-ordinates for the event to within 100m were given as 34°41’26.4″N 40°51’05.5″E.
This incident was not tracked by Airwars researchers at the time. A subsequent search has identified a number of reports relating to heavy fighting in the village that day – though with no specific claims of civilian harm.
Shaam Media noted for example “The launch of six rockets from al Omar the oil field in the direction of the city of Hajin a few hours ago.” The Syrian Observatory reported “the International Coalition fired 12 missiles at least believed to be ground-to-ground, from Al-Omar Oilfield in the first round of shelling, while in the second round, they fired 8 missiles at east of the same kind, which caused material damage, without information about casualties.” It also reported clashes at Hajin and said 4 ISIS fighters had been killed in a strike.
On May 24th, Xeber News reported that “French and US troops have deployed alongside Syria’s democratic forces in the hills overlooking the town of Hajin and the headquarters of Radio Daesh in the countryside of Deir al-Zour, liberated by Syria’s democratic forces with the support and cooperation of French, US and British forces earlier.
“The correspondent of the site Xeber 24 reported a military source from the countryside of Deir al-Zour saying that the preparation for the liberation of the town of Hijn from the hands of ISIS is underway after besieging from all sides by French and US forces along with the Syrian Democratic Forces overlooking the town. He pointed out that the level of coordination is very high between the French and US forces and Syria’s democratic forces and that coalition aircraft do not leave the skies of the region.”
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (8) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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“May 23, 2018, near Hajin, Syria, via self-report. During a strike four civilians were unintentionally killed.”
Original strike reports
For May 23rd 2018, the Coalition reported at the time that
“On May 23 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 17 strikes consisting of 30 engagements against Daesh targets.
Near Abu Kamal, 15 strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, destroyed four Daesh-held buildings, four Daesh fighting positions, one Daesh vehicle and two Daesh command and control centers.
Near Al Shadaddi, two strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, destroyed one Daesh anti-aircraft weapon, two Daesh fighting positions and two Daesh IED belts.”
France reported that between May 23rd and 29th, its Task Force Wagram conducted 11 artillery firing missions on the Euphrates Valley.
“La Task Force Wagram demeure engagée en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech dans la vallée de l’Euphrate. Depuis le lancement de l’offensive le 1er mai, 95 missions de tirs ont été réalisées, dont 11 sur la semaine écoulée (bilan du 23 au 29 mai).”