Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1796

Incident date

September 12, 2018

Location

الباغوزالباغوز, Al Bagouz Fawqani, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.4641667, 40.9452778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that one or more civilians were killed and injured in a bombardment on Al Bagouz. One victim was specifically named.

Deir Ezzor 24 and the Syrian Network for Human Rights stated that a named adult civilian male Najem Hassan al-Saleem was killed by ‘SDF artillery shelling’ on the village. It is important to note that it is Airwars’ understanding that only the Coalition had access to artillery in Deir Ezzor. @Alahmed_nasser claimed in a tweet that in fact the French military was shelling the town with artillery.

Al Shaafa reported dead and wounded civilians as a result of “a hysterical artillery bombardment on the entire town of Bagouz”, but did not identify the culprit.

According to a Halab Today correspondent, the Coalition was instead responsible for “martyrs and wounded civilians as a result of air raids”. Step News Agency also noted that the “International Alliance launched several air raids targeted the town of Al-Bagouz”, though the outlet did not make mention of any civilian casualties.

On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition reported this incident to be “non-credible”, stating that “After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Najem Hassan al-Saleem
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 34.46417, 40.94528

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Open incident
  • Stated location
    near al Baghouz Fawqani, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU7867215341
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 10, 2022
  • Sept. 12, 2018, near al Baghouz Fawqani, Syria, via Airwars report. After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike. 3186/CS1796 37SFU7867215341

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition stated that “On September 12 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 14 strikes. Near Abu Kamal, 14 strikes [1 British?] engaged 11 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed seven ISIS supply routes and one ISIS command and control center."

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Wednesday 12 September – a Reaper killed several terrorists in combat in eastern Syria…A Reaper supported the SDF on Wednesday 12 September as they mounted an offensive towards Abu Kamal, at the southern end of the one significant remaining pockets of Daesh-held territory in eastern Syria, near Hajin. Daesh fighters were observed in action on the outskirts of a village to the east of Abu Kamal, throwing grenades and firing a machine-gun. The terrorists took cover beneath the overhang of a building, but the Reaper’s crew were able to guide a Hellfire missile very accurately to strike them.

Dutch Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For the 2nd straight week, Dutch F-16s fired weapons on ISIS targets. The Dutch MoD reported that between September 6th-12th, jets targeted a weapon storage unit in one mission near Hajin. Aircraft supported ground troops in DE and Iraq in 9 missions.

‘Weekoverzicht Defensieoperaties Nieuwsbericht | 12-09-2018 | 12:00 In de strijd tegen terreurorganisatie ISIS ondersteunden Nederlandse F-16’s grondtroepen tijdens 9 missies boven de Syrische provincie Deir al Zour en Irak. Hier is tijdens 1 vlucht wapeninzet geweest in de buurt van Hajin. Hierbij is een wapenopslagplaats van ISIS aangevallen. Een overzicht van Defensieoperaties in de week van 6 tot 12 september.’

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For Sept 12th-17th, France report that Task Force Wagram has carried out 22 artillery ‘firefights’ from Iraq this week. Aircraft conducted 19 sorties but there were no strikes.

‘CHAMMAL Cette semaine est marquée par le 4ème anniversaire de l’opération Chammal qui a débuté le 19 septembre 2014 et constitue la contribution française à l’opération Inherent Resolve regroupant 74 pays et 5 organisations internationales dans la lutte contre Daech. SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak En Irak, la situation n’a pas évolué de manière significative. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Le dispositif français n’a connu qu’une seule évolution, avec la relève du Chevalier Paul par la FREMM Auvergne en Méditerranée orientale. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate En appui de l’offensive lancée le lundi 10 septembre par les forces au sol dans la région de Hajine, la TF Wagram a réalisé, depuis le territoire irakien, 22 missions de tirs cette semaine (bilan du 12 au 17 septembre inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, la TF Wagram a réalisé 1911 missions de tirs. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des opérations Les aéronefs français basés en Jordanie et aux Emirats arabes unis poursuivent leurs actions contre Daech au sein de la coalition. La semaine dernière, ils ont réalisé 19 sorties aériennes en appui des forces locales engagées au sol (bilan du 12 au 17 septembre inclus). Aucune frappe n’a été réalisée. Bilan total de l’action du pilier appui aérien depuis le 19/09/14 : 8477 sorties / 1457 frappes / 2249 objectifs neutralisés. TF Monsabert et Narvik La Task Force Monsabert et la Task Force Narvik poursuivent leurs missions de formation au profit des forces irakiennes.’

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (10) [ collapse]