Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS341

Incident date

October 17, 2016

Location

المعماري, al Ma'amari, al-Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

A number of civilians were wounded by Coalition raids that struck a house, according to two local sources.

Euphrates Post reported that a house belonging to a civilian in al Ma’amari village was targeted by Coalition planes, leading to the “injury of 15 people.” Al Natek reported 10 wounded, and later named the house owner as “Mohammad Jassem al Huwait.” However this was disputed by a commentator, who noted “No brother the house is that of Ismail Ali al Huwait… he is my cousin and he had guests at his house Hajj Ahmad al Turki and Abboud and Jumma al Turki and thank God they are all well.”

Hassakah Youth Union also reported wounded civilians – but no deaths – “following raids by the international coalition.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

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 information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Al Ma'amari, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017
  • The report contained insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 16th-17th the Coalition reported no strikes in the vicinity. For October 17th-18th the Coalition reported “Near Al Shadaddi, eight strikes engaged eight ISIL tactical units and destroyed seven fighting positions and two vehicles.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]