Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1837

Incident date

November 16, 2018

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

According to local media, an alleged Coalition airstrike killed ISIS member Yousuf Mahmoud al-Mohsen and his wife Furat Imad Awwad al-Hamad.

According to Euphrates Post and others, al-Mohsen was an early member and conspirator of the terrorist organisation ISIS in al Soussa: “Following the killing of Yousef Mahmoud al-Mohsen in addition to his wife Furat Imad Awwad al-Hamad from the city of Mohsen after an airstrike of the international Coalition targeted the town of Al Soussa yesterday, it is noteworthy that Yousef  is one of the first members of Daesh.”

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.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Furat Imad Awwad al-Hamad
Adult female From the family of Mohsin-Bahouri-Al Bou Azzam Al Khader. She was from al Bahhouri neighborhood in Mouhasan city. killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Soussa (السوسة), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.528889, 40.9675. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • According to Euphrates Post, ISIS member Yousef Mahmoud al-Mohsen was reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on November 16th, 2018.
  • Body of ISIS member Yousef Mahmoud al-Mohsen who was reported killed along with his wife by an alleged Coalition airstrike on November 16th 2018, according to Euphrates Post.
  • ISIS member Yousef Mahmoud al-Mohsen (via Akeel al Hamoud)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in al Soussa, Iraq [sic]
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU805225
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 29, 2020
  • 11.Nov. 16, 2018, in al Soussa, Iraq [sic], via Airwars report. This report contains insufficient information on time, location, or details to assess its credibility. 3204/CS1837 37SFU805225

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 16th, the Coalition publicly reported: On Nov. 16 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 22 strikes consisting of 41 engagements against ISIS targets.
Near Hajin, 22 strikes engaged 14 tactical units and destroyed 11 vehicles, eight supply routes, five buildings, three staging areas, one tunnel, one vehicle borne IED and one media cell.  

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Friday 16 November – Typhoons destroyed an armed truck and a concealed truck bomb in eastern Syria… The following day [Nov 16th], a Daesh armed truck was reported to be firing to the north of Hajin; Typhoons responded, and destroyed it with a direct hit from a Paveway IV. The Typhoons were then directed to a ruined building, next to a road, within which the terrorists had been spotted hiding a truck-bomb. A second Paveway was used against this target, producing a large explosion which confirmed that the truck-bomb had been successfully detonated before any civilians or SDF had been placed in danger.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

France report that from Nov 14th – 20th, Task Force Wagram conducted 64 firing missions – 47 ‘lighting’, 17 ‘destruction’. Aircraft carried out 18 sorties but there were no strikes.

‘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, marque actuellement un temps d’arrêt. Appuyées par la coalition, les forces démocratiques syriennes se réorganisent et consolident leurs positions avant de relancer leur offensive. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak En Irak, les opérations de sécurisation des forces de sécurité irakiennes (FSI) se poursuivent. Evitant le contact, Daech tente d’alimenter un sentiment d’insécurité par des actions clandestines ciblant indistinctement les FSI ou la population irakienne. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE 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 (TF) Wagram appuie l’offensive des forces démocratiques syriennes contre Daech dans la région d’Hajine. Elle a réalisé, depuis le territoire irakien, 64 missions de tir (47 éclairement, 17 destruction – bilan du 14 au 20 novembre inclus).’ Depuis le début de son engagement, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 2165 missions de tirs.

Dutch Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For November 14th-20th 2018, the Dutch MoD reported that Dutch F-16’s supported ground troops in the fight against IS during 10 missions. Weapons were deployed during 3 missions above Deir Ezzor in Syria, targeting IS warehouses and fighting positions.

‘In het weekoverzicht van 14 t/m 20 November laat MinDef weten F-16’s te hebben ingezet tijdens 10 missies ter ondersteuning van grondtroepen in de strijd tegen IS. Bij 3 werden wapens ingezet, boven Deir al Zour in Syrie. Opslagplaatsen en gevechtsposities van IS zijn vernietigd.’

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (9) [ collapse]