Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1882

Incident date

January 4, 2019

Location

الشعفة, Al Shaafa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.592522, 40.93441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Coalition airstrike and artillery shelling targeted a residential area in Al Shaafa town, reportedly killing a total of six civilians.

Among the declared victims were a family of four civilians that were killed when artillery shelling targeted their house.

In addition, Sputnik reported the death of a Chechen civilian woman. Citing Khida Saratov, a member of the Human Rights Council of the Chechen President and the Working Group on the Return of Russian Women and Children from the Middle East Conflict Zone, it announced that a Russian woman and child were killed during the bombing. “Khava Akihadova, a 35-year-old woman from the district of Nadeterechi in Chechnya, was killed by the international coalition air attack on the village of Shaaf in Deir al-Zour province and has five daughters aged between a month and a half to 12 years old, who temporarily sought refuge in a Kurdish family.” The daughters survived.

However, Sputnik added that “As a result of a missile fired at a house in the same area, Khalid 4-year-old, the grandson of Rosa Yuzbekova of Dagestan, was seriously injured and could not move.” The other son Omar survived.

In its December 2020 monthly civilian casualty report, the Coalition assessed this event as ‘non credible’, claiming that ” The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to assess its credibility.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Ali Al-Farhoud
Adult male killed
Wife of Ali Al-Farhoud
Adult female killed
Child of Ali Al-Farhoud
Child killed
Child of Ali Al-Farhoud
Child killed

The victims were named as:

Khava Akihadova
Adult female killed
Khalid
Child male Grandson of Rosa Yuzbek from Dagestanova of Dagestan killed
Omar
Child male Brother of Khalid injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (3 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (13) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in al Shaafa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU774295
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 15, 2020
  • Jan. 4, 2019, in al Shaafa, Syria, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to assess its credibility. 3260/CS1882 37SFU774295

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Between Dec. 30, 2018 and Jan. 12, 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted 575 strikes consisting of 1,147 engagements in
Syria.

In Syria, 575 strikes engaged 485 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 308 staging areas, 220 fighting positions, 105
mortar, rocket and artillery systems, 57 supply routes, 50 manufacturing facilities for improvised explosive device
and vehicle borne improvised explosive device, 31 command and control nodes, 26 vehicles, 19 weapons caches,
18 mortar launching sites, 18 petroleum oil and lubricant storage facilities, 11 heavy and light weapon systems,
eight reservoirs and tankers for petroleum oil and lubricants, eight pieces of heavy equipment, seven vehicle borne
improvised explosive devices, six tunnels and caves, four buildings, two unmanned aircraft systems, one weapons
facility, one logistics hub and one fuel storage.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For Jan 2-8, France report that task Force Wagram carried out 28 missions of which 12 were strikes. Meanwhile aircraft conducted two strikes in support of the SDF.

CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie Dans la moyenne vallée de l’Euphrate, les forces démocratiques syriennes (FDS), après avoir sécurisé la ville d’Hajine, poursuivent leur offensive en direction du sud et du village de Shafah. Daech reste résilient et s’appuie sur une densité de piégeage importante pour ralentir les FDS. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak En Irak, la situation est inchangée. La sécurisation des célébrations du nouvel an a été un succès. Pour autant, Daech conserve des capacités de nuisance, tout en poursuivant sa posture de dissimilation et d’évitement. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Le dispositif français déployé au Levant n’a pas évolué. Par l’opération Chammal, les armées françaises demeurent engagées, les modalités de l’engagement tenant compte en permanence des réalités du terrain. La priorité demeure de vaincre militairement cette organisation terroriste, et empêcher sa résurgence alors qu’elle passe à la clandestinité. 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 les forces démocratiques syriennes contre Daech dans la région d’Hajine. La TF Wagram a réalisé, depuis le territoire irakien, 28 missions de tir (23 d'éclairement, 12 de destruction – bilan du 2 au 8 janvier inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 2446 missions de tirs. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des opérations Les militaires de la base aérienne projetée en Jordanie ont accueilli la ministre des armées et le chef d’état-major de l’Armée de l’air à l’occasion du réveillon de la Saint Sylvestre. Les aéronefs français basés en Jordanie et aux Émirats arabes unis ont poursuivi leurs actions contre Daech, au sein de la coalition. Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 14 sorties aériennes (bilan du 02 au 08 janvier inclus). Les Rafale ont conduit 2 frappes cette semaine en appui des forces démocratiques syriennes. Bilan total de l’action du pilier appui aérien depuis le 19/09/14 : 8782 sorties / 1514 frappes / 2325 objectifs neutralisés. Les Task Forces Monsabert et Narvik poursuivent leurs missions de formation La Task Force (TF) Monsabert poursuit sa mission d’assistance et de conseil de l’état-major de la 6ème division irakienne. La TF Narvik, poursuit sa mission de formation et de conseil de l’Iraki Counter Terrorism Service (ICTS), notamment dans les domaines du renseignement, du combat au corps à corps, et en conduisant des stages de remise à niveau.

Dutch Military
  • English
    /
    Original

In the last 10 days of the year, 15 missions were flown. Weapons were deployed ten times and targeted ISIS fighting positions and warehouses.

In de laatste 10 dagen van het jaar zijn er nog 15 missies gevlogen. Hierbij zijn 10 keer wapens ingezet, tegen gevechtsopstellingen en opslagplaatsen van Islamitische Staat.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (3 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (13) [ collapse]