Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS1825

Location

هجين, Hajin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.6897222, 40.83
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S1699)

An alleged Coalition airstrike targeted the town of Hajin, which according to local reports resulted in the deaths of between 12 and as many as 40 civilian casualties.

Halab Today TV reported that “Coalition aircraft carried out more than 50 air raids on the city of the Hajin, east of the Euphrates, on Thursday evening [Nov 8th].” According to Hajeeg Mag, one particular target was an ISIS-held hospital.

Most sources reported on the total number of civilian casualties as a result of the bombings on Hajin city that day, and did not specify the number of civilian casualties as a result of one airstrike. According to these sources, the airstrikes on Hajin resulted in between 12 and as many as 40 civilian casualties. Marsad Al Hasaka, Sound and Picture, Step News Agency, Halab Today TV all put the total death toll at 40 or more, while Bukmalna said that “dozens of civilians” died as result of the airstrikes.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the highest number of civilian casualties described two events in Hajin and Al Shaafa on 8th and 9th of November, and putting the overall total death toll at 41, of whom it said most were reported to have Iraqi nationality, while 13 were Syrian citizens.

According to most sources, the victims included women and children. Both the Syrian Observatory and Halab Today TV report that most victims were from families of the Islamic State. The Observatory specified that the victims included 17 children.

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Civilians reported killed
12–41
17 Children
Civilians reported injured
12–24

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hajin (هجين), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.6897222, 40.83. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Not yet assessed
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For November 8th the US-led Coalition publicly reported the following: "Near Hajin, 19 strikes engaged three tactical units, destroyed two command and control centers, two buildings, one observation point, four supply routes, one fighting position, five weapons caches, three tunnels and one staging area."
Dutch Military Strike Report
For November 7th-13th, the Dutch MoD reported that Dutch F-16s supported ground troops during 8 missions in the fight against ISIS. Weapons were deployed in 3 missions near Deir Ezzor governorate, Syria. Targets were ISIS warehouses and fighting positions.
French Military Strike Report
From Nov 7th – 13th, France reports that the three CAESAR guns carried out 49 ‘fire’ missions from the Iraqi territory – 35 illumination, 14 destruction. Aircraft conducted 18 sorties and 1 strike in support of forces on the ground in Syria.

Media from Sources (6)