Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS1646

Location

الشحيل, Al Shaheel, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.0865, 40.45232
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S1442)

On October 18, 2017, two to four civilians were killed in an airstrike on Al Shaheel, according to local media, though sources were conflicted as to who was to blame.

Two men were killed identified by name by multiple sources.

Al Sharqiya Observatory said that the victims died from wounds sustained in a Coalition strike. Sharqiya Voice also named a victim but didn’t identify the warplanes responsible for his death.

The victims were named by Euphrates Post, Jassim Al-Hawar, Hussein Hammadi al-Murr and two displaced men. Eurphrates post claimed that the victims were killed in air strikes targeting the town of Al-Shuhail near Al-Hassan Mosque and Al-Khabassa Mosque.

Marsad al Hassaka also reported that two displaced men from Deir Ezzor had been killed.

According to Deir Ezzor 24 and Sharqiya Voice, Russian warplanes carried out up to seven raids on Al Shaheel.

Smart News Agency said that four civilians died at the hands of unidentified fighter jets.

Victims

Individuals

Adult male via Sharqiya voice killed
Adult male via Euphrats Post killed

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
2–4
2–4 Men

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the Al Hassan (الحسن) and Al Khabassa (الخباصة) mosques in the village of Al Saheel (الشحیل). Due to limited information available to Airwars, the exact locations of these mosques remain unknown, however, the generic coordinates for the village are: 35.0865, 40.45232.

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
No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
Stated location
near al Shaheel, Syria
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For October 17th-18th, the Coalition reported: “Near Abu Kamal, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two VBEID factories and an ISIS headquarters.“
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2018-06-28
Original Source
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.
Russian Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Russian Military position on incident
Not yet assessed