Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1786a

Incident date

August 1, 2018

Location

near Ash Shajlah, Syria, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.47451, 40.95236 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident previously not tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later conceded the deaths of two civilians in an event near Ash Shajlah, Syria. The Pentagon later said this was a US action.

In its May 2019 civilian casualty report, the Coalition noted “Coalition aircraft conducted a strike against a Daesh staging area. Regrettably, two civilians were unintentionally killed due to the proximity of the strike.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

In its annual civilian harm report to Congress in May 2020, the Pentagon declared this as a US incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
    2
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Ash Shajlah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU793165
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2019
  • Aug. 1, 2018, near Ash Shajlah, Syria, via self-report. Coalition aircraft conducted a strike against a Daesh staging area. Regrettably, two civilians were unintentionally killed due to the proximity of the strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

On August 1 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of three
engagements against Daesh targets.
- Near Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed one Daesh staging area and one Daesh
vehicle-borne IED factory.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS