Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1825

Incident date

November 8, 2018

Location

هجين, Hajin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.6897222, 40.83 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

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.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 41
  • (17 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Coaliton airstrike on a residential neighbourhood in Hajin, November 8th.
  • The aftermath of an alleged Coaliton airstrike on a residential neighbourhood in Hajin, November 8th (Via Hajin Magazine Facebook post).
  • Pictures of destroyed houses, targeted in an alleged Coalition airstrike (via Hajin Magazine Facebook page).
  • Pictures of destroyed houses, targeted in an alleged Coalition airstrike (via Hajin Magazine Facebook page).
  • Pictures of destroyed houses, targeted in an alleged Coalition airstrike (via Hajin Magazine Facebook page).

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

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
  • English
    /
    Original

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.

‘In het weekoverzicht van 7 t/m 13 November laat MinDef weten Nederlandse F-16’s te hebben ingezet ter ondersteuning van grondtroepen in de strijd tegen IS. Tijdens 8 missies werden 3 wapens ingezet boven Deir al Zour, Syrie. IS Opslagplaatsen en gevechtsposities zijn vernietigd.’

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

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.

‘CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie L’opération pour reprendre la poche d’Hajine dans la moyenne vallée de l’Euphrate, lancée le 10 septembre, marque actuellement un temps d’arrêt. Les forces démocratiques syriennes se réorganisent et consolident leurs positions avant de relancer leur offensive. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak En Irak, les opérations de sécurisation des forces de sécurité irakiennes (FSI) se poursuivent, avec un renforcement à la frontière irako-syrienne. Si Daech a perdu ses capacités militaires, l’organisation terroriste conserve une capacité de nuisance, notamment dans la région du plateau d’Hawija. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Le dispositif français déployé au Levant n’a pas évolué de manière significative. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate La Task Force (TF) Wagram appuie l’offensive des forces démocratiques syriennes contre Daech dans la région d’Hajine. Les trois canons CAESAR ont réalisé, depuis le territoire irakien, 49 missions de tir (35 éclairement, 14 destruction – bilan du 7 au 13 novembre inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 2101 missions de tirs. Les Task Forces Monsabert et Narvik poursuivent leurs missions de formation La TF Monsabert poursuit sa mission d’instruction de la 6ème division irakienne. Elle conseille l’état-major de cette division et, ponctuellement, les brigades qui lui sont subordonnées. Ainsi, du 5 au 11 novembre, un groupe d’instructeurs s’est rendu au poste de commandement de la 24ème brigade pour former pour former 20 stagiaires irakiens aux techniques du combat urbain. La TF Narvik forme et conseille les membres de l’Iraki Counter Terrorism Service (ICTS). Elle dispense actuellement des instructions au combat débarqué et au recueil de renseignement. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des opérations Au sein de la coalition, les aéronefs français basés en Jordanie et aux Émirats arabes unis poursuivent leurs actions contre Daech. Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 18 sorties aériennes (bilan du 7 au 13 novembre inclus) et conduit 1 frappe, en appui des FDS en Syrie. Bilan total de l’action du pilier appui aérien depuis le 19/09/14 : 8636 sorties / 1479 frappes / 2278 objectifs neutralises.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 41
  • (17 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (16) [ collapse]