Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1972

Incident date

November 30, 2021

Location

هجين, Hajin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.6897222, 40.83 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two people, according to local sources, identified as Saber Sinjar Al-Fahd and Sami Dilis Al-Aoun, were killed allegedly by US-led Coalition and Kurdish SDF forces during an airstrike on an ISIS “sleeper cell” or the house of a former member of the oppostion factions in the city of Hajin, east of Deir Ezzor, Syria, on November 30th 2021 at dawn. None of the sources refer to Sami as being a militant while sources are conflicted as to whether Saber was affiliated with ISIS.

A local souce, @Sada_AlSharqieh tweeted that the men killed were cousins.

The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights reported that the two killed were apparently shot, and that this coincided with the airdrop operation.

According to Watan News, one person was arrested on charges of belonging to ISIS. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that the person arrested by the “International Coalition” forces was also released after the end of the security operation.

There is somewhat confusing reports, with Furat and other sources reporting that the house was Saber Al-Sinjar’s, one of the men reported to have been shot, and that he was arrested and taken to an unknown destination. According to the Euphrate Post, Al-Sinjar had fled about three years ago to Turkish territory after the SDF and Coalition forces took control of the area, only to return several months before this incident took place.  However, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the person arrested was later released at the end of the security operation.

Local sources who reported to Nedaa said that Saber Al-Sinjar was working in Turkey and has no political activity. Therefore, whether he was or was not still a member of ISIS remains unclear.

Apparently the operation lasted for around four hours, during which the Coalition launched stun grenades, “which caused a state of panic and fear among civilians living in the area.”

Furat reported that the SDF launched a ground raid operation with the support of a US-led Coalition aircraft, and that the SDF “used sound bombs in the raid, in conjunction with the flight of helicopters of the International Coalition at a low altitude, and one of the SDF military vehicles fell in an empty water canal (Al-Sarb).”

In a civilian casualty assessment released November 3, 2023, the Coalition classed this event as ‘non credible’, claiming that “Based on a thorough review of all available information, it was determined that any potentially corroborating operation affected only legitimate military targets, with no civilian casualties.”

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Saber Sinjar Al-Fahd
Age unknown male killed
Sami Dilis Al-Aoun
Age unknown male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hajin (هجين), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.6897222, 40.83. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 men)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Saber Al-Sinjar, allegedly killed by the US-led Coalition and SDF in an airstrike or by gunshot wounds on November 30th 2021. (Image via @jamlyyyyy_)
  • Sami al-Aun, allegedly killed by the US-led Coalition and SDF in an airstrike or by gunshot wounds on November 30th 2021. (Image via @jamlyyyyy_)
  • "A military vehicle of the international coalition forces deteriorated during a raid on the house of Saber Sinjar in the city of Hajin, east of Deir Ezzor" (Twitter post by @Sada_AlSharqieh)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 3, 2023
  • November 30, 2021, near Hajin, Syria, via Airwars report. Based on a thorough review of all available information, it was determined that any potentially corroborating operation affected only legitimate military targets, with no civilian casualties. 3317/CS1972 37SFU6762840159

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 men)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (19) [ collapse]