Incident Code

CS1871

Location

الكشمة, Al Kashma, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.6205556, 40.9386111
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S1745)

An alleged Coalition airstrike on a house reportedly killed 15 civilians from one family on the night of December 11th, in Al-Kashma.

All sources said that the airstrike was conducted in Al-Kashma, except for Al-Shaafa Facebook page which reported that the event was in the adjacent village of Al-Shaafa.

Possibly explaining the confusion, Andolu News Agency reported that “sources pointed out that the bombing targeted the area of ​​al-Kashma adjacent to the town of Al-Shafa, which is controlled by the terrorist organization Daesh.”

According to one source, an unknown number of people were injured.

According to a Radio Al Kul correspondent “The 15 dead were in one house, most of them children and women from one family, and a number of young people were not known whether they were civilians or fighters in the Daesh district”.

Qasioun said all of those killed were from one family.

In their monthly civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition has indicated that the credibility of this civilian harm allegation is in the process of being assessed.

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Civilians reported killed
15
2–4 Children, 2–4 Women
Civilians reported injured
2–4

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Kashma (الكشمة), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.6205556, 40.9386111. 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
Open incident
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For December 11th, the Coalition reported: "On Dec. 11 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 21 strikes consisting of 43 engagements against ISIS targets. Near Hajin, 21 strikes [3 or more British] engaged 15 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 16 fighting positions, five staging areas, two supply routes, one improvised explosive device facility, one building, one piece of engineering equipment, one vehicle and suppressed one mortar."
Dutch Military Strike Report
In the fight against ISIS, Dutch F-16's supported ground troops during 9 missions. Weapons were deployed during 6 missions. The aircrafts were operational above Syrian provide Deir Al Zour near Abu Kamal and targeted vehicles, logistical places and IS-fighters.
UK Military Strike Report
Tuesday 11 December – a Reaper attacked three Daesh positions in and around Hajin, including a mortar team... Another Reaper continued to support the SDF on Tuesday 11 December; its crew identified a group of Daesh with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades, firing at the SDF, and engaged them with a Hellfire missile. The Reaper’s crew then observed another group of terrorists repositioning after a firefight with the SDF, and caught them in the open with a second Hellfire. Meanwhile, a coalition surveillance aircraft had identified a Daesh mortar team operating under cover of trees, and was able to direct the Reaper onto this target, which was successfully attacked with a GBU-12 guided bomb.
French Military Strike Report
For December 5th to 11th, France reports that it carried out 20 sorties and 7 strikes. Task Force Wagram carried out 38 firing missions (20 lighting, 18 destruction). Since November 21, 161 fire missions have been carried out and nearly 1,000 shells have been fired. Airwars reached out to French MoD to ask where the airstrikes were conducted and was told that all seven strikes were near Hajin