Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Local sources reported that up to twelve people from one family, including between two and four children and four women, were killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Hadaj village.
According to Amc-Sy, eight members of the Awwad al Latif family were killed and others wounded when their homes were struck on a Friday night. Euphrates Post reiterated this statement, but detailed that the strike happened “after breakfast”. In a later report, the same media outlet also shared a list of 10 victims it said were killed.
The report went on to say that the only survivor of Mohammed’s family was Amal al-Ghanim.
Ahmad Al-Ass’ad, head of the Jabour tribe in southern Hasakah, said in a statement to Step News that the raids had targeted shops owned by Awad Al-Latif Al-Awada. Moreover, the report stated that “The American base in al-Shaddadi fired two missiles at the same site”.
Al Jazeera also noted that the strikes happened “in conjunction with rocket attacks from remote locations” and mentioned that helicopters were also present during the attack.
While most sources reported the death of eight civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the highest tally of twelve civilians killed.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Family members (11)
Summary
Sources (25) [ collapse]
Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]
Reports of the incident mention the village of Hadaj (هداج), for which the coordinates are: 36.03078, 41.05519. On satellite imagery a large crater from an an airstrike on multiple buildings is visible on June 6, 2018 at these coordinates: 36.037579, 41.064363. This appears to have happened after May 30, 2018, which matches the date reported. On additional satellite imagery available to Airwars of June 6, 2018, visible car tracks indicate that the strike must have happened a couple of days or some time before the image was taken
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Original strike reports
For May 31st, the Coalition reported that “On May 31 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of seven engagements against Daesh targets. […] Near Al Shadaddi, two strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed two Daesh command and control centers.”
‘Thursday 31 May – Typhoons and Tornados destroyed two compounds in eastern Syria, used by the terrorists as a headquarters and equipment store…The focus for RAF attacks for the remainder of the week were terrorist facilities in eastern Syria towards the border with Iraq. On Thursday 31 May, flights of Tornados and Typhoons joined forces to deliver an attack with twelve Paveway IVs against two large adjoining compounds, which were being used by Daesh as a headquarters, weapons store and muster point. All twelve weapons hit and destroyed their intended targets.’
For the 2nd straight week, Dutch F-16s fired weapons near Abu Kamal and Hajin in Deir Ezzor. The Dutch MoD reported that between May 30th-June 5th, aircraft targeted ISIS fighters and logistics centers in three missions. Jets supported ground troops in 9 missions, including in Nineveh, Iraq.
‘Weekoverzicht Defensieoperaties Nieuwsbericht | 06-06-2018 | 12:00 In de strijd tegen terreurorganisatie ISIS ondersteunden Nederlandse F-16’s grondtroepen tijdens 9 missies. Bij 3 daarvan zijn wapens ingezet. Dat gebeurde in de omgeving van Abu Kamal en Hajin in de provincie Deir Al Zour in Oost-Syrië. Hierbij zijn onder andere ISIS-strijders en logistieke opslagplaatsen aangevallen. Ook is gevlogen boven de Irakese provincie Ninawa. Een overzicht van Defensieoperaties in de week van 30 mei tot en met 5 juni 2018. Militaire instructeurs in Irak leren Koerdische strijders gebieden te beveiligen. Daarbij staan onder meer wapenhandelingen, medische verzorging, oorlogsrecht en civiel-militaire samenwerking op het programma. De door de coalitie opgeleide instructeurs verzorgen een deel van de opleiding. Een Nederlands chirurgisch team opereert in een Amerikaans role 2-hospitaal in westelijk Irak. Het team werkt nauw samen met Noorse medici.’