Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1141

Incident date

July 2, 2017

Location

الصور, Al Soor, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.5081949, 40.6549072 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one family and as many as 50 civilians were reportedly killed, said to be family members of ISIL fighters, following alleged Coalition airstrikes on Al Soor to the north east of Deir Ezzor.

The airstrikes were said to be in the telephone exchange area of the city, a number of local sources reported.

According to Baladi News, “media sources said that about 50 members of the families of Islamic State were killed Sunday, an air strike of the coalition aircraft International, targeted a house near the telephone exchange area in Soor north of the city of Deir al-Zour, while other sources said that The dead are members of one family of a member of the organization.”

All four sources reporting the incident alleged that the Coalition was responsible.

In their monthly civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition has indicated that the credibility of this civilian harm allegation is in the process of being assessed.

In a civilian casualty assessment released July 13th 2021, the Coalition classed this event as ‘non credible’, claiming that “After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 50
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included 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.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV500306
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 13, 2021
  • Jul. 2, 2017, in al Soor, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action. 1829/CS1141 37SFV500306

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 1st-2nd, the Coalition reported: Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed 20 ISIS oil storage barrels and six oil tankers.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 50
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]