Incident Code

CS1821

Location

الشعفة, Al Sha'afa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.57888, 40.93441
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S1693)

Local sources reported on “two new massacres” resulting from alleged Coalition airstrikes targeting the towns of Al Sha’afa and al-Kushma in Deir al-Zour.  Media reported said that four civilians died in this particular event in Sha’fa, when a civilian’s home was allegedly struck by the Coalition.

According to The Al Sha’afa Facebook page on October 30th, “in the last three days, more than a dozen air strikes by Coalition aircraft were recorded on the city of Al-Sha’afa. Most of these raids targeted civilian homes and properties. More than seven houses and 20 people were killed, including children and women.”

Of the raids listed, it was unclear which one was specific to this event, though it could have been the following: “A raid on the house of Khalaf al-Homoud al-Furaiji at the Al-Farajat al-Juwani al-Muwaji hostel, where four members of the same family were killed and a child and a woman were rescued from under the rubble.”

According to the Step News Agency, “17 people killed in the town of al-Kushma and four were killed in the town of Sha’afa, including women and children of Iraqi nationality”.

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Sha’afa (الشعفة), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.57888, 40.93441. 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
Not yet assessed
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For October 29th-30th, the Coalition reported: “Near Hajin, eight strikes engaged 10 tactical units, and destroyed two weapons caches, one vehicle borne IED, one vehicle, one command and control center, and one fighting position.” For October 30th-31st: “Near Hajin, six strikes engaged six tactical units, and destroyed nine vehicles, seven supply routes, and one vehicle borne IED.”
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.
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.

Media From Sources (1)