Incident Code

CS1875

Location

الشعفة, Al Shaafa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.57888, 40.93440
Accuracy: Exact location (via Coalition)

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S1750)

A number of civilians, including women and children, were reported killed and wounded by an alleged Coalition airstrike on a “civilian house” in the town of Al-Shaafa on the morning of December 20th. The Coalition later admitted that two civilians were killed in the incident in Al-Shaafa.

According to sources on the ground, between 6 and 24 civilians were killed in what was described as “a massacre”. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that at least six people were killed, including four children and “a citizen”. It is unclear whether this means an ISIS combatant was killed as well.

On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition deemed this incident credible and assessed that “Coalition aircraft conducted a strike on ISIS terrorists in a building. Regrettably, two civilians were unintentionally killed due to their proximity to the strike.”

Other sources reported that dozens of civilians were killed. According to @NorsForStudies, the Coalition bombed a house where a number of civilian families lived. One family was killed according to Marsad Al Hasaka.

Dozens were reported injured, mostly women and children.

Daesh’s al A’maq propaganda agency broadcast a video that was retweeted by various sources, showing the recovery of victims from the rubble, the majority of them children, allegedly killed in this airstrike.

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike
Strike Status
Declared strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Civilians reported killed
6–24
4 Children, 1–2 Women, 1–2 Men
Civilians reported injured
12–24

Geolocation Notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to 34.57888, 40.93441 to the nearest village.

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Known belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Not yet assessed
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
NOTE: In late December 2019 the US-led Coalition ceased after 52 months the reporting of dates and locations of its air and artillery strikes. Between Dec. 16 and Dec. 29, CJTF-OIR conducted 469 strikes consisting of 1,001 engagements in Syria, and conducted nine strikes consisting of 14 engagements in Iraq. In Syria, 469 strikes engaged 666 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 291 fighting positions, 153 staging areas, 67 supply routes, 27 command and control nodes, 27 petroleum oil lubricant storage facilities, 25 vehicles, 14 tunnels, 14 weapons cache, 13 improvised explosive device facilities, seven heavy weapons systems, six pieces of heavy equipment, seven buildings, five petroleum oil and lubricant tankers, five bridges, four armored vehicles, two caves, two vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, two motorcycles, two vehicle borne improvised explosive device facilities, three mortar launching sites, one boat, one barge, and one unmanned aircraft system; and damaged seven fighting positions, four staging areas, two vehicles, one armored vehicle, one command and control node and one heavy weapon system; and suppressed 70 fighting positions, 12 vehicles, 10 staging areas and one armored vehicles.
French Military Strike Report
For Dec 19th-25th, France reports 13 airstrikes in Syria and 18 artillery strikes in the Euphrates Valley.
Dutch Military Strike Report
In de laatste 10 dagen van het jaar zijn er nog 15 missies gevlogen. Hierbij zijn 10 keer wapens ingezet, tegen gevechtsopstellingen en opslagplaatsen van Islamitische Staat.

Media From Sources (3)