Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1665

Incident date

November 4, 2017

Location

البصيرة, Al Busayra or Al Basira, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.15618, 40.42716 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six named civilians including one woman died in an airstrike on al Basira, local media said.

Marsad al Hassaka reported the death of “Mohammad Manadi al Sha’aran known as Baj’eeb“. The source said that he died “in front of the Grand Mosque in Al-Basira, as a result of the air raids”. In a second report, the same source named “Ahmed Mahmoud Hassan al-Abd known as Tahmir Abu Jakouk” as another victim of a strike, though neither report apportioned blame.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “at least two civilians were killed as International Coalition warplanes fired missiles on al Basira city in Deir Ez-Zour governorate eastern suburbs, on November 4, 2017”.

Both Almanar and Radio Alkul – who put the death toll at four – also blamed the Coalition.

Images published by Free Deir Ezzor Radio reportedly show the SDF “controlling the mountain of al Basira”, indicating that they were fighting for control of Basira.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Manadi al Sha’aran known as Baj’eeb
Age unknown male killed
Ahmed Mahmoud Hassan al-Abd known as Tahmir Abu Jakouk
Age unknown male killed
Abdul Qadir Talib Daoud Al-Hassan Al-Ali
Age unknown male named by Syrian Press Center killed
Mustafa Nuri Ahmed al Douda
Age unknown male named by Syrian Press Center killed
Abdulmutallab Dawood Al Hussein
Age unknown male an engineer, named by Syrian Press Center killed
Ms. Reham Ismail Hamadi Al-Obeid
Adult female named by Syrian Press Center killed

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Busraya (البصيرة), for which the coordinates are: 35.15618,40.42716. One source mentioned the strike was in front of the “Grand Mosque” (ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺠﺪ ﺍﻟﻜﺒﻴﺮ). We identified at least three mosques in the town, however, no visible damage can be seen in their vicinity around Nov. 4, 2017.

  • Mosques in Al Busraya (البصيرة) town

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This image published by Deir Ezzor Radio reportedly shows the SDF in control of al Basira. 5th November 2017. (via Free Deir Ezzor radio)

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.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 26, 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 November 4th-5th, the Coalition reported that “Near Abu Kamal, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two ISIS-held buildings, a command and control node, a weapons cache and an ISIS motorcycle. Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, two lines of communication, three ISIS vehicles, two fighting positions, a VBIED and an explosive hazard.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]