Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

SDF0007

Incident date

August 30, 2023

Location

الجرذي, Al Jarthi, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

On August 30th 2023, an alleged shooting by SDF military patrols hit civilians leaving a mosque in the town of Al-Jarthi al-Sharqi in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, Syria, killing between one and three civilians and injuring between eight and 12 civilians, including two children.

Sources report different accounts of the toll on civilians. Naher media, Zamanalwasl, and Shaam reported one civilian, a young man and teacher named Mohammed Hassan Al-Qataf, being killed by gunfire. Alaraby, Syriatv and the Facebook account of Alsaatizat also report on the death of a professor named Mr. Ayed Al-Obaid Al-Khaleej, reported as injured by Zamanalwasl and @kareemtebii twitter account. @avocat_ali twitter account is the only source reporting on three civilians being killed and eight others being wounded without identifying them.

Shaam and the Twitter accounts @DeirEzzore, @OrientNews, and @Mohab_Nasser2 report 11 civilians being injured, including two children. Alaraby, Syriatv, and Syriahr are the only sources reporting 12 civilians being injured. Nashitnews Facebook account identified five of the injured civilians as Younis Al-Ayed, Moaz Al-Ayed, Majeed Al-Ali Al-Dabish, Hamza Al-Nazim, and Hammam Abdul Karim Al-Akkash; while @kareemtebii twitter account identified Muhannad Khalaf Al-Murshid.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Twitter accounts @kareemtebii and @AljazeeraSouria reported that the attack took place in the town of Al-Jarthi al-Sharqi in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor as a result of gunfire against a group of worshipers as they were leaving the noon prayer from the Abu Ubaida Mosque. A tweet from @DeirEzzore specified that the shooting was occurring on the Main Street on the town.

The suspected attackers are alleged to be SDF military patrol, as reported by most of the sources including Alaraby, Zamanalwasl, and Syriatv, although responsibility has not been accepted explicitly.

The incident occured around midday.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Hassan Al-Qataf محمد الكطاف
Age unknown Teacher killed
Ayed Al-Obaid Al-Khaleej عايد العبيد الثليج
Age unknown male Professor, some sources reported he was injured instead killed
Muhannad Khalaf Al-Murshi
Age unknown injured
Younis Al-Ayed
Age unknown injured
Moaz Al-Ayed
Age unknown injured
Majeed Al-Ali Al-Dabish
Age unknown injured
Hamza Al-Nazim
Age unknown injured
Hammam Abdul Karim Al-Akkash
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Religious Institution
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–12
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Location of confrontations between civilians and SDF forces in the town of Al Jarthi on August 30, 2023. (Image posted by @nahermedia)
  • Location of confrontations between civilians and SDF forces in the town of Al Jarthi on August 30, 2023. (Image posted by @DeirEzzore)
  • Mohammad Hassan Al-Qattaf, killed by alleged SDF gunfire on August 30, 2023. (Image posted by @Rian_almasri)
  • "#SDF forces opened fire on children and civilians in Al-Jardhi in the #Deir ez-Zor countryside, killing three and wounding eight. This picture is taken from a video documenting the incident by a local source while people were leaving noon prayers today." (Image posted by
  • Al-Jardhi, east of Deir Ezzor | Two martyrs and (11) wounded, including a child and a girl, by SDF bullets, according to preliminary toll.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    SDF opens fire on children in the town of #Al-Jardhi and commits a massacre in the town in front of the mosque. SDF follows in the footsteps of ISIS
  • #Urgent | Two dead and 11 injured, including children, by #SDF militia bullets in Al-Jardhi, east of #Deir_ez-Zor

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Religious Institution
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–12
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]