Airwars assessment
Up to 17 civilians including women and children died in an airstrike on Mheimdeh, Deir ez-Zor, according to local media – though it was unclear who was responsible for the deaths, with many sources pointing towards Russia, some to the regime and others not identifying the culprit.
Free Deir Radio put the death toll at ten with “many” more wounded.
Euphrates Post reported “an initial toll of 15 martyrs, mostly women and children and there were dozens more wounded.” It didn’t identify who were responsible for the “warplanes”, but said that there had been three raids “targeting of civilian homes around the water station”.
However, according to Sharqiya Voice, Step News Agency, Enabbaladi, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and others, Russia was to blame.
Syriannews, also blaming Russia, put the death toll at least 17.
But other sources, including Aletihadpress, pointed to the Assad regime.
According to a report by Albaathmedia, a Coalition raid “destroyed the headquarters of Daesh and two pick-up pickup trucks and killed 14 terrorists in the village of Muhaimida in the western countryside.”
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Family members (3)
- Child of Hassan Albu Hanish Child killed
- Child of Hassan Albu Hanish Child killed
- Child of Hassan Albu Hanish Child killed
Family members (4)
- Hussein Al-Buhannish Age unknown male killed
- Walaa Abdullah Al-Buhannish Child male killed
- Son of Bashar Al-buhannish Age unknown male killed
- Daughter of Abu Bashar Al-Buhannish Age unknown female killed
- Walid Khalaf Al Aref Age unknown male killed
- The daughter of Abu Bashar Age unknown female killed
- Saleh Hameed Jama’ Al-Harith Age unknown male killed
Summary
Sources (33) [ collapse]
Attached to this civilian harm incident is the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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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
For June 22nd-23rd, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed six ISIS oil stills.”
For June 23rd-24th: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed a front-end loader.”