(Previous Incident Code: S1682)

In what several sources described as “a massacre”, at least 8 and as many as 70 civilians were alleged killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Osman Bin Affan Mosque in the village of Al-Sousse after Friday prayers.

The incident occurred after two other reported incidents on October 18th in and around al Soussa, targeting the home of Mohammed al-Obeid al-Hattab in Al-Soussa and the Ammar bin Yasser mosque in Al Boubadran village near al Soussa. Some reports confused elements of these separate events.

The lowest death count at the Osman Bin Affan Mosque was given at 8, by Smart News. It said that bombing caused the deaths of more than 40 people, “including eight civilians”. The source went on to say that the rest of those killed were “elements of Daesh, mostly Iraqis.” It should be noted, however, that “elements of Daesh” does not specifically refer to ISIS fighters and can also include ISIS family members, which may explain why other sources put the death toll higher.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “at least 16 civilians, including five children, were killed as International Coalition forces warplanes fired missiles on Othman Bin Affan Mosque, also known as Hajji Mohammad Mosque, in al Boubadran neighborhood in al Sousa town”.

Marsad Al Hasaka put the death toll higher at 23 civilians including 3 children, of whom it said 6 were overall reportedly Syrians and the rest of Iraqi nationality. It added that 11 members of ISIS also died, noting that the airstrike hit the mosque and surrounding houses.

The majority of sources put civilian deaths in the range of between 30-46, although some sources referred to the total while others refer to the number as civilian casualties.

For example, Euphrates Post said that a total of 37 people, including a large number “members of Daesh” died, whereas Sana News said that 37 civilians were killed.
Sana’s sources stated that the death toll was likely to rise as most of the wounded sustained serious injuries and many people remained trapped under the rubble of destroyed homes.

Al Jazeera quoted German medical sources of the opposition in Deir al-Zour, stating that in total more than 35 people were killed and 60 others wounded. In addition, “the sources pointed out that a number of bodies and wounded are still under the ruins of the mosque, which was completely destroyed…”

Sound and Picture put the death toll even higher, at 46 civilians with 100 wounded. In a subsequent post, this source posted a video reportedly showing F-16 international coalition planes flying over the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor just minutes before the airstrike.

A number of  sources, including Baladi, @saaraaa2011 and @NorsForStudies tweeted that as many as 70 civilians died in this event.