Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS1816

Location

البوبدران, Al Boubadran, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.554073, 40.950336
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S1688)

In what local media referred to as a “massacre”five civilians including a woman and two or three children were reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the house of Rajab al-Hassan in the area of Al Boubadran, a village near al Soussa said to be under ISIS control.

The victims were named by multiple sources as Rajan al Hassan, his wife, their two children, and another man named as Zidan Atiyya al-Salbi.

Baladi News and Horrya joined the majority of sources in putting the death toll at five, noting that four of these people were from the same family.

But while @DeirEzzor24 also said five had died, it reported that three of these were children. All other sources, however, said that two children had died.

Free Deir Ezour Radio was alone in saying that the two children killed were Mr Rajab’s grandchildren; all other sources said that they were his children.

In its October 2020 monthly civilian casualty review, the US-led Coalition classed this event as ‘non credible’, asserting that “This report contains insufficient information on time, location, or details to assess its credibility.”

Victims

Family members (4)

Rajan al Hassan
Adult male killed
Wife of Rajan al Hassan
Adult female killed
Child of Rajan al Hassan
Child Free Deir Ezzor radio claimed the child victims were the granchildren of Rajan al Hassan killed
Child of Rajan al Hassan
Child Free Deir Ezzor radio claimed the child victims were the granchildren of Rajan al Hassan killed

Individuals

Zidan Atiyya al-Salbi
Adult male killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Civilians reported killed
5
2–3 Children, 1 Woman, 2 Men

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Boubadran (البوبدران), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.554073, 40.950336. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Non credible / Unsubstantiated
Reason for non-credible assessment
Insufficient information on the time and location
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
Stated location
in al Boubadran, Syria
Location accuracy
100 m
MGRS coordinate
37SFU693238
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For October 27th – October 28th 2018 the Coalition reported “Near Hajin, 24 strikes engaged 12 tactical units, and destroyed three headquarters buildings, five command and control centers, four supply routes, three weapons caches, two IED facilities, and one mortar.
French Military Strike Report
For Oct 24th-30th, France report that the three CAESAR guns of Task Force Wagram have conducted 6 firing missions from Iraqi territory. Aircraft carried out 18 sorties and four strikes north of Abu Kamal, Syria.
Dutch Military Strike Report
For October 24th – 31st, Dutch MoD reports that Dutch F-16s supported ground troops during nine missions. Weapons were deployed in four: near Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor governorate, Syria and near Mosul, Nineveh province, Iraq. Targets were ISIS warehouses and vehicles.
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2020-10-29
Original Source
2. Oct. 27, 2018, in al Boubadran, Syria, via Airwars report. This report contains insufficient information on time, location, or details to assess its credibility. 3210/CS1816 37SFU693238

Media from Sources (1)