Incident Code

CS1797

Location

الباغوز, Al Bagouz Fawqani, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.4641667, 40.9452778
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S1640a)

Local media reported a “massacre against civilians” after air and artillery strikes in the area of Sheikh Hamad in the town of Al Bagouz Fawqani. A hospital was also reported damaged or destroyed in the action.

Orient News reported “a large number of dead and wounded […] as a result of artillery and rocket fire and Coalition warplanes, especially on the Sheikh Hamad area in the town of Al-Baguz”. Halab Today said that “dozens of civilians” were killed and injured as a result of Coalition airstrikes.

Jisr TV reportedintensive artillery from the French and American international coalition.” Smart New Agency claimed that the shelling had struck a hospital, leading to the death of one civilian.

According to the media outlet, Al Bagouz was “subjected to dozens of raids and artillery shells and missiles, resulting in large-scale destruction”. The media outlet went on to say that the SDF was responsible for the attack, though it is Airwars’ understanding that only the Coalition had access to artillery at Deir Ezzor.

Additionally, Step News Agency stated in a tweet that six ISIS members were killed by air raids by the Coalition as they tried to advance to points controlled by the SDF near the Sheikh Hamad School in al Bagouz.

On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition reported this incident to be “non-credible”, stating that “After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Strike Status
Likely strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Civilians reported killed
1–6
Civilians reported injured
2–6

Geolocation Notes

Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 34.46417, 40.94528

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Open incident
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
Stated location
near al Baghouz Fawqani, Syria
Location accuracy
1 m
MGRS coordinate
37SFU7867215341
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
The Coalition reported the following: “On September 13 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 12 strikes consisting of 15 engagements against ISIS targets. Near Abu Kamal, 12 strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units, and destroyed nine ISIS supply routes, four ISIS fighting positions, one ISIS compound, one ISIS sentry location, one ISIS staging area and one ISIS counter battery fire and damaged one ISIS compound and suppressed two ISIS mortar firing points."
Dutch Military Strike Report
For the third consecutive week Dutch jets deployed weapons. Aircraft targeted ISIS storage units during 2 missions in Deir Ezzor governorate and near Abu Kamal. Between September 13th-18th, F-16s supported ground troops during 9 missions in DE and Iraq.
French Military Strike Report
For Sept 12th-17th, France report that Task Force Wagram has carried out 22 artillery ‘firefights’ from Iraq this week. Aircraft conducted 19 sorties but there were no airstrikes.
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2022-03-10
Original Source
Sept. 13, 2018, near al Baghouz Fawqani, Syria, via Airwars report. After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike. 3187/SCS1797 37SFU7867215341