Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS2593

Incident date

October 4, 2017

Location

معبر هجين المائي, water crossing linking Hajeen with A’shara town, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.6897222, 40.83 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In what has been described as a “massacre”, between 12 and 54 civilians were killed, and up to 80 more were seriously wounded, in an alleged Russian and Syrian regime raid on a water crossing linking Hajeen with A’shara town. Most sources blamed Russian warplanes for the strikes, some sources blamed “unknown” warplanes, however the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights blamed the “Syrian-Russian” alliance. Aletihadpress reported that a “Su-22 fighter targeted the crossing”.

Fourteen civilians from one family are included in the death tolls, as well as eight Iraqi refugees.

The seriousness of injures meant that local mosques were allegedly calling for blood donations, “in light of the lack of medical resources in the region”, according to SyrianPC. Additionally, it was reported by multiple sources that the number of civilian causalities was likely to rise.

The “six Russian warplanes” which carried out more than six raids “targeted ships carrying displaced peoples” according to a source. Syrian Press Centre reported that there were as many as “three cluster bomb attacks”.

There were many unidentified casualties, and many more missing civilians in the aftermath. According to Geroun News, “continuous shelling of the region and the extent of destruction” made it difficult to recover victims.

Over the course of the day, between 100 and 150 civilians were reportedly killed at multiple river crossings in the vicinity. The US-led Coalition were alleged to have been bombing in the vicinity at the same time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 54
  • (9 children12 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–80
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Unknown

Sources (55) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • News bulletin reporting on the an airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with A’shara town, 4th October 2017. (via Radio Alwan)
  • Asaad al-Gharbi Haj Sulayman, killed in an airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with A’shara town, 4th October 2017. (via Euphrates post)
  • Fouad Al-Karwan, killed in an airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with A’shara town, 4th October 2017. (via Riyad Al Khlaed)
  • Khuder Omir Al Razzj, killed in an airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with A’shara town, 4th October 2017. (via Usama.rizg)
  • Mazen Ayad al-Mughair, killed in an airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with A’shara town, 4th October 2017. (via Tariq Mughir)
  • Iyad al-Mughair, killed in an airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with A’shara town, 4th October 2017. (via Tariq Mughir)
  • Nasser Al - Hamash, killed in an airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with A’shara town, 4th October 2017. (via ahmad.alnory.1/)
  • Khalid Jameel Hinidi Abu Khalid, killed along with 13 people from his family, in an airstrike on the Water Crossing linking Hajeen with A’shara town, 4th October 2017. (via Euphrates post)

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

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 54
  • (9 children12 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–80
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Unknown

Sources (55) [ collapse]