Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS293

Incident date

August 11, 2016

Location

ذيبان‬, Ziban, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.0229084, 40.5630804 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Coalition airstrikes on ‘ISIL oil tankers’ reportedly resulted in the death of a civilian driver and the injuring of others. In September 2020, the Coalition admitted that a strike had been conducted on August 11th 2016 against Daesh equipment, killing one civilian and injuring at least one other.

According to the Syrian Observatory, “Coalition warplanes bombarded areas of Zeban town Badia near al-Omar oil field what killed a man and wounded others.”

A news brief from Arab Today added: “Syrian security source in Deir al-Zour confirms that military aircraft of the international coalition bombed-al Omar oil field, targeting cars and tankers dedicated to the transportation of oil. This resulted in the destruction of a 42-car field in the vicinity.”

The event followed the reported deaths of two or more civilian drivers in a similar incident on August 7th at al Tank.

In the second of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition stated: “Coalition aircraft conducted airstrikes against Daesh equipment. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed and at least one other unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the town level at 35.0108763, 40.5045318.

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
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Diban, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU426767
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 9, 2020
  • Aug. 11, 2016, near Diban, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted airstrikes against Daesh equipment. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed and at least one other unintentionally wounded as a result of the strike. 3029/CS293 37SFU426767

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 10th-11th 2016, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed 15 ISIL oil tankers.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]