Geolocation
Airwars assessment
According to several sources, ten or eighteen civilians, including women and children, were allegedly killed in a Coalition airstrike on the village of Khuweibra in the Tal al Jair area.
Eye on al Hasaka reported in a Facebook post that “The International Coalition committed a new massacre in the Tal Al Jair area”. An individual in the comment section stated that the Khuweibra school, housing Iraqi refugees, was hit. According to the individual, 18 civilians were killed.
This was later reiterated by several sources, among others by SANA (the official Syrian regime outlet), which stated that “18 civilians, mostly children and women, were killed in a new massacre committed by the warplanes of US-led international coalition in Khoibra village”.
Marsad al Hasaka, Step News Agency and Shaam News reported a lower tally of 10 killed. Marsad al Hasaka also published several images of destruction related to the event, which were attributed to Step News. However the stated village was Tal Safouk.
Shaam News also quoted Coalition spokesman Colonel Sean Ryan who stated that: “We did not detect the injury or death of any civilians as a result of the coalition strikes in Al-Hasakah today”. However, this statement was made regarding strikes that took place on June 11th, whereas the civilian casualty incident in Khuweibra reportedly took place during the night of June 7th or the early hours of June 8th. @CJTFOIR did confirm Iraqi and Coalition artillery targeting the area.
In the first of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.
The incident occured during the night.
Summary
Sources (16) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]
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Reported images of destruction at Tal Safouk or Tal al Jair (via Step News)
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Reported images of destruction at Tal Safouk or Tal al Jair (via Step News)
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Reported images of destruction at Tal Safouk or Tal al Jair (via Step News)
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Reported images of destruction at Tal Safouk or Tal al Jair (via Step News)
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Reported images of destruction at Tal Safouk or Tal al Jair (via Step News)
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Reported images of destruction at Tal Safouk or Tal al Jair (via Step News)
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Reported images of destruction at Tal Safouk or Tal al Jair (via Step News)
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Reported images of destruction at Tal Safouk or Tal al Jair (via Step News)
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention a school in the village of Khuwaybira (خويبيرا), for which the coordinates are: 36.0183335, 40.9484911. On satellite imagery of June 19, 2018, no destroyed school or building is visible
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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June 7-8, 2018, in Kwuweibra, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3171/CS1765 37SFV755877
Original strike reports
For June 7th, the Coalition reported that “On June 7 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 12 strikes consisting of 12 engagements against Daesh targets... Near Al Shadaddi, three strikes destroyed two Daesh supply routes and one Daesh line of communication."
For June 6th – 12th, France report that Task Force Wagram conducted 32 artillery shooting missions in support of the ongoing offensive in the Euphrates Valley. Additionally, 22 aerial sorties were conducted in support of local forces engaged on the ground; there were no strikes.
‘Point de situation des opérations ARMÉE FRANÇAISE – OPÉRATIONS MILITAIRES·THURSDAY, 14 JUNE 2018 CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie En Syrie, l’offensive contre les dernières emprises territoriales de Daech se poursuit.Menée par les forces démocratiques syriennes, coordonnée avec les forces de sécurité irakiennes et appuyée par la coalition, l’offensive a déjà permis de reprendre plus de 40 km2 de territoire à Daech. La progression est néanmoins ralentie par la menace importante que font peser les engins explosifs improvisés sur les forces engagées au sol. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak En Irak, les opérations de sécurisation se poursuivent afin de finir de démanteler les cellules de production d’engins explosifs improvisés et les réseaux terroristes restants. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Formation au profit des forces de sécurité irakiennes La Task Force Monsabert conduit actuellement quatre stages au profit des soldats de la 6e division irakienne. Ils couvrent les domaines de formation respectifs suivants : utilisation de mortiers, fouille opérationnelle, recueil de renseignements, formation au combat. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate Les artilleurs de la Task Force Wagram demeurent engagés 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, ils ont d’ores et déjà réalisé 143 missions de tirs. Cette semaine, 32 missions de tirs ont été réalisées (bilan du 6 au 12 juin inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, la TF Wagram a réalisé 1802 missions de tirs. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des opérations Sur la semaine écoulée, 22 sorties aériennes ont été réalisées en appui des forces locales engagées au sol (bilan du 6 au 12 juin inclus), essentiellement des missions de recueil de renseignements ou de reconnaissance aérienne. Aucune frappe n’a été réalisée. Bilan total de l’action du pilier appui aérien depuis le 19/09/14 : 8137 sorties / 1450 frappes / 2241 objectifs neutralisés.’