Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS211

Incident date

May 11, 2016

Location

دابق‎, Dabiq, thread making workshop, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.539778, 37.269556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or more civilian non-combatants were reported killed – and at least two others injured – after an alleged Coalition air raid on the village of Dabiq.

Step News, citing an Islamic State source – said seven civilians were also injured in the event. Another source said the civilian casualties occurred when a workshop for making thread was struck. Three Daesh fighters were also reported killed.

According to ARA News, “Saleh Zein, one of the field commanders in the opposition in the northern countryside of Aleppo, confirmed to ARA News, that ‘the international coalition aircraft targeted with several air raids Daesh positions in the northern Aleppo countryside. The bombing focused on the towns of Dabiq, Asnabil, Hor al Naher and the outskirts of the town of Soran Izaz which led to the death of two civilians as well as the death of dozens of Daesh members.”

In its July 2017 report, the Coalition said it had classed the event as non credible based on insufficient evidence of civilian harm: “May 11, 2016, near Dabiq, Syria, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

However given the specific reported details of the event and the named source, Airwars continues to class this event as likely.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Translation: News just in: One person martyred and others injured in coalition raids on the village of Dabiq in northern Aleppo countryside.
  • Translation: Urgent: sources loyal to IS: one person killed and 7 others injured in coalition raids with two missiles on the village of Dabiq.
  • Translation: Al A’amaq, urgent - one person killed and 7 others injured in American raids with two missiles on a workshop for thread making in the village of Dabiq in the Aleppo countryside (via Omar Al-Falahi)
  • Translation: #Aleppo - International coalition planes target a gathering of Daesh in the village of Dabeq which led to the death of 3 IS members.
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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 evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Dabiq, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition reports carrying out one strike in Aleppo governorate on May 10th-11th 2016: “Near Manbij, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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

Sources (9) [ collapse]