Geolocation
Airwars assessment
According to local sources three to four civilians were killed by artillery or airstrikes, injuring up to 18 others near the sheep market of al Soussa.
Al Soussa Youth reported “a very violent bombardment of rocket launchers” on the sheep market and nearby houses. According to the report, “more than ten missiles” resulted in large clouds of smoke, while drones were flying overhead.
In a later report, Al Soussa Youth identified a number of civilians that were killed in the attack: Sa’ad Hashim al-Khudair al-Suwa’yi (possibly killed as he left an internet shop) and two sons of Ali Khalif al-Hasan al-Shahani – according to Baladi, one of them was still a child.
In a video following these reports, Al Soussa Youth would note that the victims were sitting on a veranda when they were killed. According to the official Facebook page for al Soussa, rockets had struck Al A’liyat mill, near the house of Hussein al-A’kla and confirmed the death of the three civilians, adding that women and children were also injured.
Deir Ezzor 24 was the first source to note that “aircraft believed to be affiliated to the Coalition” were responsible for the civilian casualties. Al Haall also said that the Coalition was responsible for “killing four civilians and injuring more than 18 other, some of them critically”. The outlet quoted Faisal al-Sayyed, who noted that “most of the shells fell next to the Osman mosque”.
Euphrates Post however stated that the rockets originated from “forces of the Assad regime stationed in the city of Abu Kamal”, targeting the town of al Soussa “yesterday evening”. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also concluded that the “violent explosions” that shook al Soussa were caused by “targeting by the regime forces”.
Baladi made mention of a fourth “unidentified body” of a person killed in the bombardment. The report stated that it was not the Coalition or pro-regime forces, but the SDF’s artillery and missile fire which were responsible for the incident. According to the media outlet, “local media sources” had informed them that “sdf forces shelled dozens of rockets in the town of al-Sousse […], killing four civilians and injuring others, mostly women and children.” Sadaa al Sham and Al Araby al Jadid also identified the SDF as the culprit.
Al Ghad al Souri noted two separate strikes on the city. The first, by the US led Coalition, targeted and killed ISIS leader Abkhadijah al Jazairi [the Algerian] in a residential area of al Soussa it said, noting that three civilians also died. A second action by regime forces then killed and injured civilians near the sheep market.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Family members (2)
The victims were named as:
Summary
Sources (13) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Original strike reports
For July 24th, the Coalition did not publicly report any air or artillery strike in Syria, asserting: "There were no reported strikes conducted in Syria on July 24, 2018."
For July 18th – 24th, France report just two artillery shooting missions by Task Force Wagram in the Euphrates Valley. There have been a total of 197 missions since the offensive began on Maty 1st. French aircraft carried out 29 sorties in support of ground forces but there were no airstrikes.
‘IRAK – SYRIE – CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie En Syrie, l’offensive contre les deux dernières emprises territoriales de Daech se poursuit. La sécurisation de la poche de Dashisha est quasiment terminée mais la dépollution de la zone est toujours en cours. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak Les opérations de sécurisation se poursuivent. Une opération majeure dans le désert de Djézireh s’est terminée notamment le 18 juillet. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Formation au profit des forces de sécurité irakiennes Depuis début juillet, la Task Force Narvik conduit une formation de lutte contre les engins explosifs improvisés (C-IED) au profit de 40 soldats de l’Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (ICTS). Elle a pour objectif l’apprentissage de méthodes élémentaires de détection, de sécurisation et de destruction des engins explosifs improvisés à courte distance. Cette formation contribue à la montée en puissance des unités de sécurité nationales irakiennes. Elle s’inscrit, avec l’ensemble des instructions réalisées, dans le pilier «formation» de la contribution française à l’opération Inherent Resolve. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate Les artilleurs de la Task Force Wagram demeurent engagés en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech dans la vallée de l’Euphrate. Depuis le lancement de l’offensive le 1er mai, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 197 missions de tirs, dont 2 sur la semaine écoulée (bilan du 18 au 24 juillet inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 1856 missions de tirs. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des operations Sur la semaine écoulée, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 29 sorties aériennes en appui des forces locales engagées au sol (bilan du 18 au 24 juillet inclus). Aucune frappe n’a été réalisée. Bilan total de l’action du pilier appui aérien depuis le 19/09/14 : 8265 sorties / 1453 frappes / 2244 objectifs neutralisés.’