Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS806

Incident date

May 12, 2017

Location

القورية, Quriya, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.94995, 40.55731 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Euphrates Post, five named civilians died in an airstrike when the car they were in was struck in Quriya. According to one source, Zaman Alwasl, the victims died as they were returning from a picnic in nearby Badia. The US-led alliance later accepted responsibility for injuring one person in the event.

All sources but one at the time attributed their deaths to the US-led Coalition – though Syria News Desk said that warplanes belonging to the Syrian regime were responsible.

The source didn’t identify the warplanes responsible for the deaths, though an earlier report said that Coalition aircraft had been seen over Deir Ezzor.

RFS also put the death toll at five, including two children, and blamed the Coalition.

However, one source, Syria News Desk, said that the regime was responsible, reporting that “four members of the organization [IS] and five civilians were killed yesterday night, following two raids by regime military aircraft on the city of Qouriya controlled by the organization [IS] in the eastern suburb of Deir al-Zour.

Al-Hamd pointed out that the warplanes targeted two vehicles, one carrying four members of the organization and the other five civilians at the entrance of the eastern city of Qureia as they entered the city. The shelling also completely burned the cars and damaged cars passing by.”

In December 2018 the Coalition accepted responsibility for the event – though only for one person injured rather than the five reported fatalities: “On May 12, 2017, near Quriya, Syria, via Airwars report. The coalition aircraft engaged what was positively identified as an ISIS vehicle containing two known ISIS combatants. While ISIS combatants were killed in the attack, a civilian in the vicinity was unintentionally injured in the explosion.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Idris Abu Somar
Adult male killed
Sheikh Mahmoud Al Karad Abu Ahmed
Adult male killed
Muslim Aldrees
Adult male brother of Mohammed Aldrees killed
Mohammed al-Muslim
Adult male Mohammed Idris’s cousin killed
Abdul Salamah Abu Laith
Adult male Cousin of Mohammed Aldrees killed

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 34.96, 40.55

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The funeral of five civilians, killed in an alleged Coalition strike on their vehicle in Quriya, May 12th (via Baladi)
  • Mohammed al-Adris "Abu Somer", killed in an airstrike on Quriya, May 11th (via Euphrates Post)
  • Abdul Salamah and Mahmoud Al-Karad two men killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Quriya, May 12th (via Euphrates Post)
  • The funeral of five men allegedly killed by Coalition airstrikes on their vehicle in Quriya, May 12th (via Zaman ALwasl)

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
    Killed by strike blast
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Quriyah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU422686
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 30, 2018
  • On May 12, 2017, near Quriyah, Syria, via Airwars report. The Coalition aircraft engaged what was positively identified as an ISIS vehicle containing two known ISIS combatants. While the ISIS combatants were killed in the attack, a civilian in the vicinity was unintentionally injured in the explosion.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 11th - 12th, the Coalition reported: "Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes destroyed three ISIS oil processing items and two ISIS well heads"

For May 12th - 13th, the Coalition reported: "Near Dayr Az Zawr, six strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed 16 ISIS oil tankers, two ISIS oil processing equipment, two fighting positions, and a vehicle"

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime

Sources (26) [ collapse]