Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

SDF0008

Incident date

August 30, 2023

Location

ضمان, Daman, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians, including a child, were killed during a raid by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the village of Daman on August 30, 2023.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that four people were killed during a pre-dawn raid of their homes when the civilians refused to follow the SDF’s orders to leave their homes. Zaman Al Wasl identified two of those killed as a child named Hakam Nawaf al-Sarhan (between 9 to 12 years old) and his father, killed by firing squad. Shaam News reported that three civilians, including a child, were killed. The Syrian News Agency provided the name of the father killed as Nawaf Rashu Al-Sarhan and another civilian killed in the raid as Abdul Razzaq Bashi Al-Sarhan, emphasizing that all of the victims were civilians who did not participate in the clashes in Deir Ezzor.

Euphrates Post added that Hani Saleh Al-Medad (28 years old), an employee in Al-Omar field, was also killed during the SDF raid, and that Abdul was killed while sleeping on his roof by a sniper bullet. @DeirEzzore and @AljazeeraSouria tweeted that Hani was initially arrested and that his body was subjected to severe torture.

According to Naher Media, gunmen riding motorcycles killed and injured a number of SDF members when they targeted an SDF checkpoint in the communications department of Daman. In retaliation, SDF forces with 10 camels stormed the village of Daman, firing indiscriminately and executing four civilians in their homes.

All of the sources attributed the raid and civilian casualties to the SDF, while @DeirEzzore specified that the HAT militia was responsible.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hakam Nawaf al-Sarhan
10 years old male killed
Nawaf Rashu Al-Sarhan
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Abdul Razzaq Bashi Al-Sarhan
Age unknown killed
Hani Saleh Al-Medad
28 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The child named Hakam Nawaf al-Sarhan (between 9 to 12 years old), killed along with his father in clashes in Deir Ezzor on August 29, 2023. (Image posted by Euphrates Post via Facebook)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of the child named Hakam Nawaf al-Sarhan (between 9 to 12 years old), killed along with his father in clashes in Deir Ezzor on August 29, 2023. (Image posted by @DeirEzzore)
  • Hani Al-Saleh, 28 years old, from the village of Daman, killed in clashes in Deir Ezzor on August 29, 2023. (Image posted by @DeirEzzore)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of Hani Al-Saleh, 28 years old, from the village of Daman, killed in clashes in Deir Ezzor on August 29, 2023. (Image posted by @DeirEzzore)

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG

Sources (28) [ collapse]