Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS1803

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.528889, 40.9675
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S1664)

Up to four civilians from the same family including a baby girl (named as the daughter of Hamad Mussah Shahab) died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on a civilian home on Al Soussa, according to sources on the ground.

Sources reported that the Coalition carried out several strikes on the area amid violent clashes between the SDF and ISIS. All reports attributed the civilian harm to Coalition aircraft.

According to the Smart News Agency, “a girl was killed in a bombardment by the international Coalition on Wednesday [Oct 3rd], on the village of al Soussa. Local sources said that coalition aircraft targeted the house of the civilian Hussein al-Ali with an airstrike, resulting in the death of the girl and destruction in a residential neighbourhood”.

Masar Press said that three people died, while Sound and Picture and Step News Agency reported the death of a woman.

The highest death count was give at four (from the same family) by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Smart News additionally reported that a senior ISIS figure was injured during airstrikes on the town that day: “Earlier on Wednesday, coalition aircraft targeted the town of ِAl Sousse (126 km southeast of Deir al-Zour), led to the injuring of an official of the Zakat Bureau (Diwan Al Zakat) in Daesh, a source said.”

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.”

Victims

Individuals

Daughter of Hamad Mussah Shahab
Child female Infant killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike
Strike Status
Likely strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Civilians reported killed
1–4
1 Child, 1 Woman

Geolocation Notes

Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 34.52889, 40.9675

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 Soussa, Syria
Location accuracy
1 m
MGRS coordinate
37SFU8057322558
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For October 3rd 2018, the US-led Coalition reported the following: “On Oct. 3 in Syria, coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes consisting of 12 engagements against ISIS targets. Near Abu Kamal, 11 strikes engaged 11 tactical units, and destroyed two fighting positions, two mortars, one compound, four supply routes and suppressed one staging area.”
UK Military Strike Report
Wednesday 3 October – Tornados, working with a Reaper, destroyed a mortar position in eastern Syria…With the Syrian Democratic Forces continuing their offensive against the last major pocket of Deash-held territory in eastern Syria, centred on Hajin, Royal Air Force aircraft have provided further intensive support. As in the previous month, a particular focus has been on terrorist positions north-east of Abu Kamal. On Wednesday 3 October, an RAF Reaper detected a Daesh mortar which was firing on SDF forces a short distance away. Two RAF Tornado GR4s were also on task in the area, and they struck the mortar position with a single Paveway IV guided bomb.
Dutch Military Strike Report
For Sept 26th – Oct 3rd, Dutch F-16s supported ground troops during nine missions over Syria and Iraq. Weapons were deployed during four missions – in Deir Ezzor governorate, in the vicinity of Abu Kamal. ISIS weapons, a logistics warehouse and ISIS fighters were targeted.
French Military Strike Report
For October 3rd-9th, France report that the three CAESAR guns of TF Wagram carried out 18 shooting missions from Iraq. In the same week, aircraft conducted three strikes north of Abu Kamal in Syria.
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2022-03-10
Original Source
Oct. 3, 2018, near al Soussa, 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. 3192/CS1803 37SFU8057322558

Media From Sources (1)