Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS1788

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.528889, 40.9675
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S1626)

One child was killed and her mother was wounded in an airstrike on Al Sousse, local media said. Most sources blamed the US-led Coalition, though there was one allegation against the regime.

According to the Syrian National Movement, “a female child was killed and her mother was injured by the International Alliance shelling the town of Sousse”. The pair were said to have originally lived in Abu Kamal.

Sound and Picture reported that “the International Air Force targeted the villages of Al-Bagouz and Al-Sousse in the countryside of Abu Kamal with several air strikes, resulting in a number of civilian casualties.”

Step also said a girl died and a number more civilians were wounded in Coalition strikes.

Al Soussa Youth said that the raids occurred on the shops of Ahmad al Turki and Mohsen al Turki.

However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights blamed the regime, reporting that “in Deir Ezzor province, a citizen woman was killed due to shelling by the regime forces on areas in Al-Susah town in Deir Ezzor countryside.”

On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition reported this incident to be “non-credible”, stating that “After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike
Strike Status
Contested strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Civilians reported killed
1
1 Child
Civilians reported injured
1–3

Geolocation Notes

Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 34.53392, 40.95823

Military Statements

Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed
U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Open incident
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
Stated location
near al Soussa, Syria
Location accuracy
1 m
MGRS coordinate
37SFU7971223100
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For August 6th, the Coalition publicly reported no strikes in Syria, asserting: "There were no reported strikes conducted in Syria on August 6, 2018."
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2022-03-10
Original Source
Aug. 6, 2018, near al Soussa, Syria, via Airwars report. After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike. 3177/CS1788 37SFU7971223100