Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS467

Incident date

January 31, 2017

Location

القطعة, Al Qata, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.66164, 40.79138 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One person was reported killed in an alleged Coalition strike on al Qata – though it was not clear whether they were a civilian or a combatant.

According to the Syrian Observatory, “warplanes believed to be affiliated to the International coalition targeted places in the desert of the town of Qata eastern Deir Ezzor, which resulted in the death of at least one person.”

On March 4th the Coalition said it was assessing an event “near Dayr Az Zayr, Syria, via self-report.” Two months later officials confirmed that “that one civilian was unintentionally killed when he entered the target area after the munition was released.” The provided location – 37SFU 42967 39806 – lies equidistant between al Qata and Sbeikhan and it is our present assessment that these are most likely the same event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Qata (القطعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.66164, 40.79138. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Al Qata (Abu Kamal), Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU6414636981
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For January 30th-31st the Coalition stated: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes destroyed 10 oil drums, two oil storage tanks and an oil wellhead.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition