Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS194

Incident date

March 31, 2016

Location

الصالحية, Sala Heya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.82738, 43.38919 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of three civilians in an artillery strike near Sala Heya.

Their December 2016 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIL mortar system, it was assessed that three civilians were inadvertently killed by Coalition counter-battery artillery near the point of origin of an ISIL mortar strike on friendly forces.”

Reports from the day made no mention of the Coalition, instead blaming the Assad regime. Baladi News noted that “Warplane shelling in Sala Heya, Kanamat, Jafar and Mariya in East of Syria killed a civilian and wounded others.” LCCSY reported that “Abdulla Sibhi al-Zaid, from #Jiaa village, was martyred due to targeting #Salhia neighbourhood with airstrikes yesterday.”

A day later Sin News said that 34 ISIL fighters had died in Coalition strikes on the town.

In July 2019 the Coalition provided Airwars with the location for this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdulla Sibhi al-Zaid
Age unknown male killed

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest district at 35.336, 40.145

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Killed by strike blast
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Stated location
    near Sala Heya, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLE545660
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 1, 2016
  • March 31, 2016, near Sala Heya, Syria: During a strike on an ISIL mortar system, it was assessed that three civilians were inadvertently killed by Coalition counter-battery artillery near the point of origin of an ISIL mortar strike on friendly forces.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Artillery strikes are not reported as part of daily Coalition press reports.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (7) [ collapse]