Geolocation
Airwars assessment
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.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Family members (5)
Summary
Sources (28) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]
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Pictures of destroyed houses, targeted in an alleged Coalition airstrike (via Euphrates Post, posted on November 12th 2017).
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Pictures of destroyed houses, targeted in an alleged Coalition airstrike (via Euphrates Post, posted on November 12th 2017).
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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.
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
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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Nov. 9, 2018, 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.
Original strike reports
For November 9th, the Coalition publicly reported: On Nov. 9 in Syria, coalition military forces conducted 19 strikes consisting of 46 engagements against ISIS targets.
Near Hajin, 19 strikes engaged 15 tactical units, and destroyed six buildings, three tunnels, two command and control centers, one observation point, one vehicle borne IED, three supply routes and two weapons caches.
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.’
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.’