Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS703

Incident date

April 17, 2017

Location

الهاني, Al Hari, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.41375, 40.95004 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died and six others were wounded in an airstrike on Al Hari, according to local media – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of the Coalition or Iraqi forces.

According to @SyriaFonder, “US bombing targeted the city of Albuqamal. The shelling targeted Al Sukkariya roundabout and a house at the Egyptian roundabout and a car between Daher and Al Suwaiya and Hawi Hassrat.” 7alnet also blamed the Coalition, saying that it struck civilian homes, resulting in the death of three non-combatants and injury of six more. The Smart News Agency reported that “a number of civilians were killed and wounded by unknown aircraft in the town of Al Hari”.

However, @RadioAlKul said that Iraqi warplanes “launched missile strikes on the outskirts of the city of Albuqmal and the village of Al Hari.” Euphrates Post also attributed the incident to Iraqi aircraft.

The incident was first reported on April 17, 2017 at 10:51 pm by SharqiyaVoice.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Hari (الهري), Deir Ezzor governorate, for which the coordinates are: 34.41375, 40.95004. 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
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "Martyrs and wounded by the Iraqi warplanes launched missile strikes on the outskirts of the city of # Albuakmal and the village of # Hari" (via @RadioAlKul)
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 Abu Kamal, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 16th-17th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, nine strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed nine ISIS oil equipment items, five well heads, and one vehicle; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.”

For April 17th-18th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes destroyed four ISIS well heads, a command and control node and an ISIS vehicle.”

Iraq Government Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iraq Government Forces
  • Iraq Government Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Iraq Government Forces

Sources (14) [ collapse]