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Airwars Assessment
(Previous Incident Code: S1701)
Local media reported that between 11 and 26 civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Hajin, in what some sources described as “a massacre”.
In June 2019 the Coalition accepted responsibility for just one death in this event, with their monthly civilian casualty report noting: “Near Hajin, Syria, via media report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh facility. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed due to their proximity to the strike.” Officials confirmed to Airwars that this matched our event CS1827.
Airstrikes were carried out in Hajin and Al Shaafa on the same day according to locals, and most sources reported on a combined number of civilian casualties as a result of airstrikes in both places. Zaman al Wasl News reported the death of 11 civilians, but did not specify the number of casualties in each location.
Smart News and Al Haal added that air and artillery strikes were allegedly carried out by both the Coalition and the regime. The Coalition itself later complained of multiple strikes by an unnamed party (presumably the regime) into the Hajin Pocket. According to Al Haal’s named source, 18 civilians died in addition to six members of ISIS and dozens of wounded.
This particular airstrike in Hajin allegedly targeted “Mohammed al-Latta’s shops, on al Ishreen Street”, a site which reportedly housed ISIS families and weapons.
Reuters reported that the Syrian government protested to the United Nations about an air strike by the US-led coalition against Islamic State which it said killed 26 civilians in Hajin – to which the Coalition’s spokesman replied that the alliance had “successfully struck and destroyed an ISIS (Islamic State) observation post and staging area in Hajin, void of civilians at the time”.
Sana News described the event as a “massacre” that claimed the lives of two children and two women, who were reported to be of the same family by the Syrian Network for Human Rights.Euphrates Post named five victims, all from the same family.
The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.
In May 2020, in its annual civilian harm report to Congress, the Pentagon declared this as a US event.
Victims
Family members (5)
Key Information
Geolocation Notes
Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest village at 34.6897222, 40.83
Military Statements
Media From Sources (4)
#د24:
— ديرالزور24 (@DeirEzzor24) November 18, 2018
مقتل السيدة "إسراء شريف المخلف الملا" من أبناء بلدة #البوليل متأثرة بجراحها التي أصيبت بها جراء غارات طيران التحالف الدولي على مدينة #هجين بريف #ديرالزور الشرقي قبل عدة أيام