Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2576 CS1561

Incident date

October 1, 2017

Location

حي النختب بقرص فوقاني, Al Nakhtab, Bokros Foqani, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.0573579, 40.4155234 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 12 civilians were killed – including an entire family – and up to 30 were injured, following airstrikes on Al Nakhtab, Bokros Foqani. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, some attributing blame to the Coalition, others to Russia and SOHR to the Syrian regime. A handful of sources blamed “unknown warplanes”. Airwars understands that the Coalition was not bombing in this territory at the time, while Russia and the regime reportedly were.

In what was described as a “massacre” by Radio Realz Free Radio, dozens were reported wounded, as well as the death of as many as three children, two women and a man. There were many critical cases of wounded civilians, meaning the death toll was likely to rise. 

@EatingMyPeaz reported on the death of a “mother and her 12-hour old newborn” due to Russian airstrikes. 

@MOAZALSHAMY reported that the military aircraft “targeted residential areas of the town”. Photographic evidence shows the destruction of properties, including the death of a cow near a home. Additionally, one source reported that four homes were totally destroyed, leaving nothing left. 

Alhal reported that “The Russian warplane targeted for the second day in a row the village of Bqaras, with more than 13 raids, which resulted in the deaths of 10 civilians, including a whole family, and injuring more than 30 others”.

Euphrates Post reported that two of the casualties were displaced peoples, but did not specify who. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Child male son of Hussein al-Hassan al-Mallah killed
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 12
  • (3 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (34) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Ali al-Jassim al-Hammadi al-Faraj-Abu Hussein was reportedly killed by the contested airstrikes in al-Naktab, Deir Ezzor, October 1st, 2017. (via Hamwdi Ab Al Qasim)
  • Footage from the incident in Buqras, al-Naktab, Deir Ezzor, October 1st, 2017 (via @SalamaAlhussein)
  • Akab Awwad Al-Jawer was reportedly killed by the contested airstrikes in al-Naktab, Deir Ezzor, October 1st, 2017 (via Mohammad Al Juair)
  • Footage from the incident in Buqras, al-Naktab, Deir Ezzor, October 1st, 2017 (via @4oCBJSVN8E9VJev)
  • News bulletin reporting on the incident in Buqras, al-Naktab, Deir Ezzor, October 1st, 2017 (via Al - Jisr Satellite Channel)
  • Civilian homes in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on Buqras, al-Naktab, Deir Ezzor, October 1st, 2017 (via Alhal)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on Buqras, al-Naktab, Deir Ezzor, October 1st, 2017 (via Al - Jisr Satellite Channel)
  • The death of a cow in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on Buqras, al-Naktab, Deir Ezzor, October 1st, 2017 (via Euphrates Post)
  • The death of a cow in the aftermath of an alleged Russian and Coalition airstrike on Buqras, al-Naktab, Deir Ezzor, October 1st, 2017 (via Euphrates Post)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Buqrus (بقرص), for which the coordinates are: 35.0573579, 40.4155234

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
  • Stated location
    near Borqas, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 30th-October 1st the Coalition reported “Near Abu Kamal, three strikes destroyed an ISIS well head and engaged two tactical units. Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed an ISIS tactical vehicle.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 12
  • (3 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (34) [ collapse]