Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Six named civilians including one woman died in an airstrike on al Basira, local media said.
Marsad al Hassaka reported the death of “Mohammad Manadi al Sha’aran known as Baj’eeb“. The source said that he died “in front of the Grand Mosque in Al-Basira, as a result of the air raids”. In a second report, the same source named “Ahmed Mahmoud Hassan al-Abd known as Tahmir Abu Jakouk” as another victim of a strike, though neither report apportioned blame.
According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “at least two civilians were killed as International Coalition warplanes fired missiles on al Basira city in Deir Ez-Zour governorate eastern suburbs, on November 4, 2017”.
Both Almanar and Radio Alkul – who put the death toll at four – also blamed the Coalition.
Images published by Free Deir Ezzor Radio reportedly show the SDF “controlling the mountain of al Basira”, indicating that they were fighting for control of Basira.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Summary
Sources (9) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]
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This image published by Deir Ezzor Radio reportedly shows the SDF in control of al Basira. 5th November 2017. (via Free Deir Ezzor radio)
Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]
Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Busraya (البصيرة), for which the coordinates are: 35.15618,40.42716. One source mentioned the strike was in front of the “Grand Mosque” (ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺠﺪ ﺍﻟﻜﺒﻴﺮ). We identified at least three mosques in the town, however, no visible damage can be seen in their vicinity around Nov. 4, 2017.
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 November 4th-5th, the Coalition reported that “Near Abu Kamal, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two ISIS-held buildings, a command and control node, a weapons cache and an ISIS motorcycle. Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, two lines of communication, three ISIS vehicles, two fighting positions, a VBIED and an explosive hazard.”