Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS322

Incident date

September 30, 2016

Location

بادية هجين, Hajin Desert, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.7285633, 40.9080811 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three or four civilian fuel truck drivers were reported killed along with a number of Daesh fighters, in the Hajin Desert area of Deir Ezzor. In September 2020, the Coalition admitted that a strike had been conducted on September 30th 2016 against “Daesh equipment”, killing at least three civilians

According to blogger Hamad al Ramadan, “several fuel truck drivers were killed as well as a number of Daesh members, following international coalition raids yesterday.” Smart News and the Syrian Observatory said three truck drivers died.

Al Haal noted that “Majd Ali (a resident of the eastern rural area) said in an interview with al Haal that the international coalition, “targeted, yesterday evening, four cars in the desert of Hajin, resulting in burning the cars and killing their drivers. The raids also targeted a pick up truck belonging to IS near the place, which led to the death of all of them [IS members] and burned completely.”

And Fars News also noted that Coalition aircraft “targeted a number of tankers transporting oil was on their way from the desert of Hajin into Iraqi territory.”

In what may be a reference to this or another event, on December 1st 2016 the Coalition issued the following statement: “After a thorough review of the facts and circumstances of each alleged civilian casualty report, CJTF-OIR assessed that the following 12 reports received in October are non-credible. Non-credible means that at this time there is not sufficient evidence available to determine that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in alleged civilian casualties.

Oct. 1, 2016, near Dayr az Zawr, Syria: No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographical.”

In the second of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition stated: “Coalition forces conducted multiple strikes against Daesh equipment. Regrettably, at least three civilians were unintentionally killed as a result of these strikes.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 34.7187577, 40.9177208.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: several fuel truck drivers killed as well as a number of Daesh members following international coalition raids yesterday (via Hamad al Ramadan)

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
    3
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Hajin, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU747446
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 9, 2020
  • Sept. 30, 2016, near Hajin, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition forces conducted multiple strikes against Daesh equipment. Regrettably, at least three civilians were unintentionally killed as a result of these strikes. 3058/CS322 37SFU747446

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 29th-30th 2016 the Coalition stated: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes damaged four ISIL supply routes and disabled a bridge along an ISIL supply route.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]