An airstrike targeted a local taxi bus killing between ten and 15 civilians including up to seven children according to sources – although there was disagreement over whether the Coalition or Russia was responsible.
According to the Hassakah Youth Movement, “the Hyundai belongs to Hussein Morei Al Atiya [who died in the attack]. Mr Atiya transports villagers to Al Hassaka on a daily basis to the goat market in the city.” It added that five of those who died were from the Al Addad family – who had recently been detained by Daesh and were only released that day.
The Syrian Network, the VDC and All4Syria blamed Russia.
In a detailed later report, the Damascus Center later noted: “At approximately 9:35am on Wednesday February 17 2016, the skies of South Hasaka witnessed a squadron of fighter jets, the colours of which were white and dark white – thought by activists in the field and observers to be Russian aircraft.“
Orient News said 10 were killed, while Sinna put the death toll at 12, including “two children who came out of an IS prison in exchange for a fine and were on their way to the city of Hasaka“. The media activist “yaman Al_huskkawi” said that the strike was on a public bus. Both sources said that Russia was responsible.
However other sources alleged that the Coalition may have been responsible.
Shaam News noted: “Activists said an anonymous aircraft believed to belong to the international alliance targeted a civilian car in a village in the area of Abd al Aziz mountain on its way to the city of Hasaka. This resulted in the deaths of ten civilian passengers and the injuring of others.”
Al-arabeya reported: “Warplanes thought to be from the coalition lead by the United States ( though not sure) targeted a civilian car in Jayer town, Hasaka near Mountain Abdulaziz which killed 10 people and wounded others. The car owner is a civilian and used to pick up passenger daily to the sheep market.”
Alhayat also blamed the Coalition, putting the death toll at 15 including three children, as well as nine members of ISIS.
Six victims including two children were named.
Plus four unnamed civilians. According to Sinna there were four unidentified children.
In their February 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
