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.
Summary
Sources (14) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]
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.
Attached to this civilian harm incident is the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, 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.
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.
Original strike reports
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.”