Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1953

Incident date

November 7, 2020

Location

غريبة الشرقية, Ghariba al-Sharqiya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.622001, 40.770607 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One person was reported killed in an alleged US-led Coalition and QSD/SDF joint security operation/landing in Ghariba al-Sharqiya in Deir Ezzor, Syria on November 7th, 2020.

Some of the local sources which reported the incident said the person killed was an internally displaced person (IDP), and others described him as an ISIS member.

For example, a source told Euphrates Post that “a person was found killed by several bullets near the Khabur River after the SDF withdrew from the village after conducting of the operation. The sources said the person is called Abu Fatima, a displaced from the city of Albu Kamal, east of Deir Ezzor, who has been living with his family in the aforementioned town for four years.”

Euphrates Post later followed up, saying that the man, Mohia Abdullah Al-Dibs, aka Abu Fatima, “is one of ISIS security people and an assistant of Saddam Al-Jamal in what was called the Islamic State.”

The Khabour Facebook page instead identified the slain man as an IDP.

In a civilian casualty assessment released April 2021, the US-led Coalition declared this event to be ‘non credible’, noting: “Nov. 7, 2020, in Ghariba al-Sharqiya, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.”

However this did not explain several local reports that SDF forces (and possibly Coalition special forces) had been dropped into the village by Coalition helicopters.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the banks of the River Khabour (نهر الخابور), located west of the village of Ghariba Al Sharqiya ( غريبة الشرقية). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Ghariba Al Sharqiya are: 35.622001, 40.770607.

  • Reports of the incident mention the banks of the River Khabour (نهر الخابور), here marked in red, located west of the village of Ghariba Al Sharqiya ( غريبة الشرقية).

    Imagery:
    Google Image

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 man)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Unknown, Unknown
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One person was killed in a joint SDF/US led coalition security operation in Ghariba al-Sharqiya in Deir Ezzor on November 7th, 2020. (via EuphratesPost0.

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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU603434
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 16, 2021
  • Nov. 7, 2020, in Ghariba al-Sharqiya, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3291/CS1953 37SFU603434

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Nov. 7, 2020, in Ghariba al-Sharqiya, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3291/CS1953 37SFU603434

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Ghariba al-Sharqiya, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU603434
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

Unknown
  • Apr 16, 2021
  • Nov. 7, 2020, in Ghariba al-Sharqiya, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3291/CS1953 37SFU603434

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 man)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Unknown, Unknown
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (5) [ collapse]