Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS167 CS147

Incident date

November 18, 2015

Location

البوكمال, Al Bukamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.4561111, 40.9190941 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Violations Documentation Center and others, six civilian males were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike in the vicinity of the Aisha hospital in Al Bukamal. According to Deir Ezzor 24, eight rockets or missiles were launched on the town. However, the Syrian Observatory has attributed the attack to the US-led Coalition.

No further information is available at the present time.

In their January 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.

The victims were named as:

Tarek Thabet al-Nouri
Child male killed
Mhaidi Osama al-Hebini
Child male killed
Usama Mhaidi al-Matroud
Adult male killed
Alayan Aboud al-Ghani
Adult male killed
Huthaifa Tareq al-Thabet
Adult male killed
Omar Hmaid al-Mayouf
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Hathifa Tarek Thabet Al Hawiya (via Free Deir Ezzor Broadcaster)
  • The video shows the moment an airstrike hit Al Bukamal, Nov 18th.
  • Mahidi Osama al Matroud (via Free Deir Ezzor)
  • another video in Deralzur Albuqmal shows the bombing of Russian airliners on the city today
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

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has confirmed carrying out airstrikes in Dayr ez Zawr governorate on November 18th 2015: “From 5:00 to 5:50 a squadron of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers made airstrikes against 6 ISIS facilities in the provinces of Raqqah and Deir-ez-Zor. They engaged depots with weapons and ammunition, mass concentrations of military hardware, training camps and workshops producing explosives.”

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU763144
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020
  • November 18, 2015, in Al Bukamal, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2880/CS147 37SFU763144

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 17th-18th, the Coalition reported: "Near Abu Kamal, two strikes struck two ISIL oil and gas separation plants."

For November 18th-19th: "Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike struck an ISIL gas and oil separation plant."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children4 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (15) [ collapse]