Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS1819

Location

الشعفة, Al Sha'afa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.57888, 40.93441
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S1689)

At least one and as many as 20 civilians including an unspecified number of women and children died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the town of Al Shaafa, which was under the control of ISIS, according to local media.

Several local sources including Euphrates Post reported that “a number of civilian died” in the airstrike. @DeirEzzor24 put the death toll as low as one civilian and reported that dozens more were injured. The Syrian Network said that three had died.

However, Horrya said that as many as 10 civilians were killed. Baladi News, the Syrian Unified Observatory and @Mrskurai reported the deaths of 20 civilians in Al Shaafa and Hajin combined.

According to Al Shaafa Official, the raid in in Al Shaafa killed a “number of civilians”, one of who was named as Bader Al-Zaghir, who is from an area or a tribe called “Saad”.

Multiple sources stated that “most” of the victims were women and children.
The Step News Agency added that an unspecified number of “Daesh elements” had also been killed in strikes on Al Shaafa, Al Soussa and Hajin.

In its October 2020 monthly civilian casualty review, the US-led Coalition classed this event as ‘non credible’, asserting that “This report contains insufficient information on time, location, or details to assess its credibility.”

Victims

Individuals

Bader Al-Zaghir
male killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike
Strike Status
Likely strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Civilians reported killed
1–20
2–5 Children, 2–5 Women
Civilians reported injured
12–24

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Sha’afa (الشعفة), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.57888, 40.93441. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
Insufficient information on the time and location
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
Stated location
in al Shaafa, Syria
Location accuracy
100 m
MGRS coordinate
37SFU774280
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For October 28th 2018 the Coalition publicly reported “Near Hajin, eight strikes engaged two tactical units, and destroyed one supply route, two vehicles, one command and control center, one mortar, one explosive manufacturing facility, one compound and one staging area."
UK Military Strike Report
Sunday 28 October – a Reaper attacked a group of terrorists caught in the open in eastern Syria, whilst Typhoons collapsed the entrance to a cave containing stockpiled weapons in northern Iraq…On Sunday 28 October, a Reaper conducted armed reconnaissance over the Abu Kamal area, and carried out a successful attack with a Hellfire missile, striking a group of terrorists spotted manoeuvring through fields. In northern Iraq, a Daesh stockpile of weapons had been identified in a set of caves on a hillside thirty miles north-west of Kirkuk; a Typhoon flight was able to collapse the entrance to the caves using Paveway IVs.
French Military Strike Report
For Oct 24th-30th, France report that the three CAESAR guns of Task Force Wagram have conducted 6 firing missions from Iraqi territory. Aircraft carried out 18 sorties and four strikes north of Abu Kamal, Syria.
Dutch Military Strike Report
For October 24th – 31st, Dutch MoD reports that Dutch F-16s supported ground troops during nine missions. Weapons were deployed in four: near Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor governorate, Syria and near Mosul, Nineveh province, Iraq. Targets were ISIS warehouses and vehicles.
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2020-10-29
Original Source
4. Oct. 28, 2018, in al Shaafa, Syria, via Airwars report. This report contains insufficient information on time, location, or details to assess its credibility. 3226/CS1819 37SFU774280

Media from Sources (1)