Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1814a

Incident date

October 22, 2018

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa: Mosque and internet cafe, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.528889, 40.9675 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were killed and injured in alleged Coalition air and/or artillery strikes on a mosque and internet café in Al Soussa, according to a single source – though a number of other reports said that the victims were members of ISIS.

Euphrates Post reported that “a number of members of the Islamic State organization were killed and wounded following  an air strike by the international coalition targeted an Internet lounge in the town of al Sousse.”

Smart also reported deaths and injuries of “a number” of people “likely” to have been members of ISIS –  “in addition to material damage in a number of houses, a mosque, and an Internet place.”

However, in two posts Free Deir Ezzor media said that the alleged Coalition strikes had resulted in “dead and wounded civilians”.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported no civilian harm, but said that the Coalition had “fired missiles on al Ghannam Mosque in al Sousa town…severely damaging the building and rendering it inoperable, on October 22, 2018.”

An October 22nd Centcom press release confirmed that the Coalition had carried out a strike on a mosque in Al Soussa on this day, which it said was being used by ISIS as a “defensive fighting position and command center”. It added that the strike had killed “several Daesh”.

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.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (14) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Open incident
  • Stated location
    near al Soussa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU8057322558
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 10, 2022
  • Oct. 22, 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. 3208/CS1814a 37SFU8057322558

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 21st-22nd, the Coalition reported: “Near Abu Kamal and Hajin, 13 strikes engaged 13 tactical units, and destroyed three supply routes, two bridges, two vehicles, one command and control center, one fighting position, one firing position, one compound and two staging areas.”
For October 22nd-23rd: “Near Abu Kamal and Hajin, 33 strikes [1 British] engaged 16 tactical units, and destroyed 13 fighting positions, 10 supply routes, two firing positions, two compounds, one piece of heavy equipment, one IED facility, and one staging area.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Monday 22 October – Tornados bombed a base for a terrorist improvised explosive device team in eastern Syria…Intelligence identified a small building north-east of Abu Kamal as a base for terrorists planting improvised explosive devices. Two Tornados carried out an attack with a Paveway IV on Monday 22 October, which destroyed the target and caused a number of secondary blasts as the explosives inside detonated.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

France report that between Oct 17th-23rd, the three CAESAR guns of Task Force Wagram conducted 17 firing missions, from Iraqi territory. Aircraft carried out 18 sorties and conducted eight strikes north of Abu Kamal in Syria.

'OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie L’opération pour reprendre la poche d’Hajine dans la moyenne vallée de l’Euphrate, lancée le 10 septembre, se poursuit. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak En Irak, les opérations de sécurisation des forces de sécurité irakiennes (FSI) se poursuivent sans évènement particulier relevé cette semaine. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Le dispositif français déployé au Levant n’a pas évolué en volume. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate. La Task Force Wagram appuie l’offensive des forces démocratiques syriennes contre Daech dans la région d’Hajine. Les trois canons CAESAR ont ainsi réalisé, depuis le territoire irakien, 17 missions de tir (éclairement, harcèlement, destruction – bilan du 17 au 23 octobre inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 1992 missions de tirs. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des opérations. Au sein de la coalition, les aéronefs français basés en Jordanie et aux Émirats arabes unis poursuivent leurs actions contre Daech. Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 18 sorties aériennes (bilan du 17 au 23 octobre inclus) et conduit 8 frappes, en appui des FDS au nord d’Abou Kamal en Syrie. Bilan total de l’action du pilier appui aérien depuis le 19/09/14 : 8582 sorties / 1472 frappes / 2271 objectifs neutralises.'

Dutch Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For Oct 17th-24th, Dutch MoD reports that Dutch F-16s supported ground troops during nine missions. Weapons were deployed in six of these missions – against ISIS fighters and vehicles near Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor.

Midden-Oosten In de strijd tegen terreurorganisatie ISIS ondersteunden Nederlandse F-16’s grondtroepen tijdens 9 missies. Bij 6 zijn wapens ingezet tegen ISIS-strijders en voertuigen. Dat gebeurde in de provincie Deir al Zour, in de omgeving van Abu Kamal.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (14) [ collapse]