Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1793

Incident date

August 26, 2018

Location

Al Sha'afa, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.57888, 40.93441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 23 civilian non combatants – including 18 women who were reportedly the wives of ISIS fighters on external missions – died along with seven ISIS guards in an alleged Coalition airstrike on an ISIS-held house (and perhaps others) in al Sha’afa, according to sources on the ground. One source added that a child was also killed.

Euphrates Post reported that “international coalition aircraft launched several air raids targeting a civilian house on the outskirts of the town of Sha’afa, which had been taken by IS as a base.”

According to Al Sha’afa town Facebook page , “there were attacks by Coalition aircraft on the edge of al Sha’afa. It has been confirmed that one of the targets was the house of Mohammed al-Wahaysh al-Furaiji – and that the house was used to host the women of IS [widows and the wives of those on external duties] “.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that a Coalition attack on al Sha’afa “resulted in the injury of a young man”.

Smart News gave the only casualty figures, reporting that local sources had said that “the aircraft of the International Coalition targeted a house, used as an IS headquarters, resulting in the deaths of 18 women and seven guards”. It also said that two other civilians died in the attack with five injured: “The source pointed to the death of an elderly man and a child and the wounding of four children and a woman, all civilians living in a house near the targeted location.”

Elnashra instead reported that “militants’ sites announced the killing of two civilians, including a child, and the injury of four children and a woman, following the bombing of international coalition aircraft town of Al-Shafa in the southern suburb of Deir al-Zour.’” It did not mention any women killed in the ISIS house.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18 – 20
  • (1 child18 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

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.
  • 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-Sha’fah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU775260
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 25, 2018
  • August 25, 2018, near al-Sha’fah, Syria, via Airwars. 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

US-led Coalition

For August 25th 2018, the Coalition reported: ” Near Abu Kamal, three strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, and destroyed one Daesh supply route, one Daesh-held building and one Daesh vehicle.”

For August 26th it reported: "Near Abu Kamal, three strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, and destroyed one Daesh supply route, one Daesh-held building and one Daesh vehicle."

Dutch Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘In the fight against terrorist organization ISIS, Dutch F-16s supported ground troops during 10 missions over the Syrian province of Deir Ezzor.‘

‘Weekoverzicht Defensieoperaties Nieuwsbericht | 29-08-2018 | 12:00 In de strijd tegen terreurorganisatie ISIS ondersteunden Nederlandse F-16’s grondtroepen tijdens 10 missies boven de Syrische provincie Deir al Zour. Een overzicht van Defensieoperaties in de week van 22 tot 29 augustus 2018.’

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For August 22nd – 28th, France reports that Task Force Wagram carried out six artillery shooting missions in the Euphrates Valley. Since the beginning of its engagement, the it carried out 1870 shooting missions. Over the past week, the aircraft of Operation Chammal carried out 26 air sorties in support of the local forces engaged on the ground – but there were no airstrikes.

‘CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie En Syrie, les forces démocratiques syriennes (FDS), après avoir repris cet été la poche de Dashisha, sont actuellement dans une phase de réorganisation avant de lancer leur offensive dans la moyenne vallée de l’Euphrate, tout en accompagnant, dans les régions libérées récemment, le retour d’une forme d’administration. L’objectif, pour les FDS, est de permettre le retour à la vie normale et d’éviter le retour de Daech dans ces zones. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak En Irak, si Daech a mené quelques attaques isolées cette semaine, la situation sécuritaire demeure relativement stable du fait de l’action des forces de sécurité irakiennes (FSI) qui allie opérations de sécurisation et actions de rétablissement des infrastructures essentielles au retour à la vie normale de la population. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Alors que la frégate de défense aérienne « Chevalier Paul » patrouille en Méditerranée orientale, la TF Wagram et les aéronefs déployés sur les bases de Jordanie et des Emirats arabes unis (EAU) ont poursuivi leurs missions d’appui à la coalition. Un Atlantique 2 basé en Jordanie renforce le dispositif. Le C135 ravitailleur basé aux EAU a quitté le théâtre le 29 août. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate Six missions de tir ont eu lieu cette semaine (bilan du 22 au 28 août inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 1870 missions de tirs. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des opérations Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux Emirats arabes unis poursuivent leurs actions contre Daech au sein de la coalition. Une patrouille de Rafale a frappé, le 6 août dernier, deux entrées de grottes dans la région d’Al Qaim en Irak où tentaient de se dissimuler des combattants de Daech. Parmi ces derniers il s’est avéré que se trouvaient deux cadres importants de l’organisation : le chef des opérations pour la région de l’Anbar ainsi que le responsable financier pour la même région qui ont été tous deux neutralisés. Sur la semaine écoulée, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 26 sorties aériennes en appui des forces locales engagées au sol (bilan du 22 au 28 août inclus). Aucune frappe n’a été réalisée. Bilan total de l’action du pilier appui aérien depuis le 19/09/14 : 8410 sorties / 1456 frappes / 2247 objectifs neutralisés.'

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18 – 20
  • (1 child18 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]