Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1888

Incident date

January 18, 2019

Location

الباغوز, Al Baghouz, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.4641667, 40.9452778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what was described as a “massacre”, local sources reported that an alleged Coalition airstrike targeted the town of Al-Baghouz Tahtani east of Deir Al-Zour, killing between 6 and 39 civilians including women and children.

Most sources reported that the civilians were struck while fleeing areas under ISIS control. However one local source, who did not mention the belligerent, claimed that the civilians were killed in an attack on areas under the control of so-called ISIS.

Separately and according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), Coalition airstrikes were visible between 13.30 and 14.00. SOHR added that a total of 16 people were killed of whom six were civilians and included women and children, in addition to 10 members of the so called Islamic State.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR) initially placed the death toll at 15 civilians, claiming that among the victims were six children and an additional three women. However, it later added that the death toll had risen to 28 civilians including ten children and eight women.

Sound and Picture put the death toll at a much higher 39, including 22 children.

A number of families were struck according to reports, which resulted in the alleged killing of several members of the same families. Among others, eight civilians including five children from the same family were alleged killed.

The entire Al-Anis family was alleged killed as well, except one child who was injured and is depicted in the photo below. @deirezzor24 tweeted a video in which the child asks for his family and his brothers and sisters. He says that he is okay and wants to see them.

The incident occured between 3:30 pm and 4:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Ahmed Al-Jassim Al-Mu’i
Adult male From the city of Qouriya killed
Wife of Ahmed Al-Jassim Al-Mu’i
Adult female killed
Daughter 1 of Ahmed Al-Jassim Al-Mu’i
Child female killed
Son of Ahmed Al-Jassim Al-Mu’i
Child male killed
Daughter 1 of Ahmed Al-Jassim Al-Mu’i
Child female killed

Family members (13)

Omar Al-Ahmed Al-Mu’i
Adult male From the city of Qouriya killed
Wife of Omar Al-Ahmed Al-Mu’i
Adult female killed
Unnamed child of Omar Al-Ahmed Al-Mu’i
Child killed
Unnamed child of Omar Al-Ahmed Al-Mu’i
Child killed
Unnamed child of Omar Al-Ahmed Al-Mu’i
Child killed
Unnamed child of Omar Al-Ahmed Al-Mu’i
Child killed
Unnamed child of Omar Al-Ahmed Al-Mu’i
Child killed
Unnamed child of Omar Al-Ahmed Al-Mu’i
Child killed
Unnamed child of Omar Al-Ahmed Al-Mu’i
Child killed
Unnamed child of Omar Al-Ahmed Al-Mu’i
Child killed
Unnamed child of Omar Al-Ahmed Al-Mu’i
Child killed
Unnamed child of Omar Al-Ahmed Al-Mu’i
Child killed
Unnamed child of Omar Al-Ahmed Al-Mu’i
Child killed

Family members (4)

Yousef Al-Jassem Al-Mu’i
Adult male From the city of Qouriya killed
Wife of Yousef Al-Jassem Al-Mu’i
Adult female killed
Son of Yousef Al-Jassem Al-Mu’i
Child male killed
Sister in law of Yousef Al-Jassem Al-Mu’i
killed

Family members (1)

Wife of Munir Al-Jasim Al-Mu’i
Adult female From the city of Qouriya killed

Family members (4)

Wife of Ahmed Hussein Abu Bakr
Adult female From the city of Qouriya killed
Unnamed child of Ahmed Hussein
Child killed
Unnamed child of Ahmed Hussein
Child killed
Unnamed child of Ahmed Hussein
Child killed

Family members (2)

Al-Anis family
All family members alleged killed, except one child. From the city of Qouriya. killed
Omar Anis al-Rumaih
Child male injured

Family members (3)

Asmaa’ Al-Mu’i
From the city of Qouriya killed
Abd Al-Ghani Al-Mu’i
killed
Faysal Al-Mu’i
Age unknown injured

Family members

Family members (8)

Al - Haj Hassan Khalil Al - Azzawi
Adult male From the city of Al Ashara killed
Son of Al - Haj Hassan Khalil Al - Azzawi
Child male killed
Son of Al - Haj Hassan Khalil Al - Azzawi
Child male killed
Unnamed daughter of Al - Haj Hassan Khalil Al - Azzawi
Child female killed
Unnamed daughter of Al - Haj Hassan Khalil Al - Azzawi
Child female killed
Unnamed daughter of Al - Haj Hassan Khalil Al - Azzawi
Child female killed
Unnamed daughter of Al - Haj Hassan Khalil Al - Azzawi
Child female killed
Unnamed daughter of Al - Haj Hassan Khalil Al - Azzawi
Child female killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 39
  • (6–22 children4–8 women3–4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 targets
    ISIS, Other

Sources (40) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Al-Haji Hassan Khalil, one of the victims of an alleged Coalition airstrike (via Al Ashara my city Facebook page)
  • Hussein al Khalil al Azzawi, alleged killed in a Coalition airstrike (via SN4HR).
  • "Omar Anis al-Rumaih" the only survivor after an alleged Coalition airstrike killed the rest of his family.
  • Omar Anis al-Rumaih, the only survivor after his family was killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike, asks to see his family and wants to let them know he is okay.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Between Jan. 13 - 26, 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted 645 strikes consisting of 1,360 engagements in Syria, and conducted nine strikes consisting of 12 engagements in Iraq.

In Syria, 645 strikes engaged 394 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 244 fighting positions, 172 supply routes, 85 staging areas, 21 vehicles, 17 buildings, 15 vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, 14 mortar launching sites, 13 manufacturing facilities for improvised explosive devices, 12 command and control nodes, nine tunnels, eight weapons catches, seven pieces of engineering equipment, five launching sites for unmanned aircraft systems, two weapons storage facilities, two mortar tubes, two improvised explosive devices, one unmanned aircraft system, one machine gun, one logistic node and one check point.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For January 16th - 22nd, France report and 9 strikes in the Hajin region of Syria. Task Force Wagram carried out, from the Iraqi territory, 28 firing missions.

Point de situation des opérations Armée française - Opérations militaires·Thursday, 24 January 2019 CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE A l’occasion de ses vœux, le président de la République a évoqué la situation au Levant, rappelant que Daesh est désormais privé de territoire en Irak, et sur le point de l’être en Syrie. Il a par ailleurs souligné les efforts des forces armées françaises, matérialisés d’une part par les campagnes aériennes et l’appui de l’artillerie, et d’autre part par la formation dispensée aux forces armées irakiennes Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie La progression des forces démocratiques syriennes dans la moyenne vallée de l’Euphrate, dont l’offensive est appuyée par une couverture aérienne et l’appui de l’artillerie de la Task Force Wagram, se poursuit et se rapproche de la frontière séparant l’Irak et la Syrie. Poursuite des actions en Irak En Irak, la situation sécuritaire est stable. Les forces de sécurité irakiennes ont maintenu un rythme opérationnel de contrôle de zones élevé, notamment à proximité de la frontière irako-syrienne. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Le dispositif français déployé au Levant n’a pas évolué. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate Les artilleurs de la Task Force (TF) Wagram appuient, depuis l’Irak, les forces démocratiques syriennes engagées contre Daech dans la région d’Hajine. La TF Wagram a réalisé, depuis le territoire irakien, 28 missions de tir (02 éclairements, 26 appui – bilan du 16 au 22 janvier inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, en octobre 2016, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 2476 missions de tirs. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des opérations Les aéronefs français basés en Jordanie et aux Émirats arabes unis poursuivent leurs actions contre Daech, au sein de la coalition. Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 22 sorties aériennes (bilan du 16 au 22 janvier inclus). Les Rafale français ont conduit 9 frappes dans la région d’Hajine. 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, en charge de la sécurisation de l’ouest du grand Bagdad. Elle conseille également ponctuellement les brigades qui lui sont subordonnées. Récemment, les équipes EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), spécialisées dans la neutralisation d’engins explosifs de tous types, ont conseillé des cadres irakiens dans la préparation et la mise en œuvre d’explosifs. Elles les ont accompagnés au cours d’une mission de destruction de plusieurs tonnes de munitions découvertes, dont des engins explosifs improvisés posés par Daech d’une part, et des munitions périmées d’autre part. Ces formations spécifiques font partie des missions de la TF Monsabert qui participe directement à l’amélioration de la capacité opérationnelle de l’armée irakienne. La TF Narvik, poursuit sa mission de formation et de conseil de l’Iraki Counter Terrorism Service (ICTS). Dans ce cadre, pour la toute première fois, un stage de Combat Corps à Corps de haute intensité (C4) est actuellement délivré à l’Académie des forces spéciales irakiennes, à la demande du commandement irakien. Celui-ci, tirant les leçons de la campagne contre Daech, veut doter ses troupes des meilleures techniques en matière de combat rapproché.  L’objectif est de former des cadres irakiens, mais aussi de transmettre des savoir-faire pédagogiques qui permettront aux futurs moniteurs d’instruire leurs hommes.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 39
  • (6–22 children4–8 women3–4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 targets
    ISIS, Other

Sources (40) [ collapse]