Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS530

Location

حصيبة, Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S465)

Two civilians died in an airstrike on Abu Kamal, according to local sources – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of the US-led Coalition or Iraqi warplanes.

RFS Media said that the Coalition carried out a strike, though added that there was so far no reports of civilian casualties. Euphrates Post reported “intense flights by the international coalition and Iraqi planes in the skies of Deir Ezzor”. It put the death toll at two non-combatants with four more wounded.

But a later report pointed towards Iraqi planes only, and quoted Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, saying that “Our Iraqi Air Force struck Daesh sites inside Syria and in particular the city of Abu Kamal”. Almidanco and Deirfree also blamed strikes by Iraqi planes.

Akil al Ramid published a video showing “scenes of F16 Iraqi planes launching raids on Hasiba and al Bukamal inside the Syrian border”.

Other sources didn’t identify the planes responsible.

 

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
4

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Non credible / Unsubstantiated
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 Abu Kamal, Syria
Location accuracy
1 m
MGRS coordinate
37SFU7565016027
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For February 23rd-24th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed six oil tanker trucks.”
French Military Strike Report
[France reports carrying out 34 sorties in the last week – and 11 strikes destroying 19 ISIL targets. In Iraq, the six strikes were concentrated in the Mosul region. They targeted mortar positions, combatant groups, a logistics depot and a command center. In Syria, two ground troop support missions were carried out in the Raqqah and Deir Ezzor areas against artillery pieces and an armored vehicle, loaded with an explosive device (SVBIED). The intervention of a Rafale patrol, after detection and guidance of the ATL2, led to the destruction of 2 clandestine oil wells in the south-east of Raqqah. In the region of Palmyra, two planned strikes were carried out and enabled the neutralization of a military storage site and a vehicle-bomb manufacturing site (VBIED).Task Force Wagram carried out 28 missions]
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2017-09-29
Original Source
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.

Media From Sources (5)