Incident Code

CS1882

Location

الشعفة, Al Shaafa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.592522, 40.93441
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S1757)

Alleged Coalition airstrike and artillery shelling targeted a residential area in Al Shaafa town, reportedly killing a total of six civilians.

Among the declared victims were a family of four civilians that were killed when artillery shelling targeted their house.

In addition, Sputnik reported the death of a Chechen civilian woman. Citing Khida Saratov, a member of the Human Rights Council of the Chechen President and the Working Group on the Return of Russian Women and Children from the Middle East Conflict Zone, it announced that a Russian woman and child were killed during the bombing. “Khava Akihadova, a 35-year-old woman from the district of Nadeterechi in Chechnya, was killed by the international coalition air attack on the village of Shaaf in Deir al-Zour province and has five daughters aged between a month and a half to 12 years old, who temporarily sought refuge in a Kurdish family.” The daughters survived.

However, Sputnik added that “As a result of a missile fired at a house in the same area, Khalid 4-year-old, the grandson of Rosa Yuzbekova of Dagestan, was seriously injured and could not move.” The other son Omar survived.

In its December 2020 monthly civilian casualty report, the Coalition assessed this event as ‘non credible’, claiming that ” The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to assess its credibility.”

Victims

Family members (4)

Ali Al-Farhoud
Adult male killed
Wife of Ali Al-Farhoud
Adult female killed
Child of Ali Al-Farhoud
Child killed
Child of Ali Al-Farhoud
Child killed

Invidivuals

Khava Akihadova
Adult female killed
Khalid
Child male Grandson of Rosa Yuzbek from Dagestanova of Dagestan killed
Omar
Child male Brother of Khalid injured

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Strike Status
Likely strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Civilians reported killed
6
3 Children, 2 Women, 1 Man
Civilians reported injured
1

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Shaafa (الشعفة), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.592522, 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
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 Shaafa, Syria
MGRS coordinate
37SFU774295
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
Between Dec. 30, 2018 and Jan. 12, 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted 575 strikes consisting of 1,147 engagements in Syria. In Syria, 575 strikes engaged 485 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 308 staging areas, 220 fighting positions, 105 mortar, rocket and artillery systems, 57 supply routes, 50 manufacturing facilities for improvised explosive device and vehicle borne improvised explosive device, 31 command and control nodes, 26 vehicles, 19 weapons caches, 18 mortar launching sites, 18 petroleum oil and lubricant storage facilities, 11 heavy and light weapon systems, eight reservoirs and tankers for petroleum oil and lubricants, eight pieces of heavy equipment, seven vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, six tunnels and caves, four buildings, two unmanned aircraft systems, one weapons facility, one logistics hub and one fuel storage.
French Military Strike Report
For Jan 2-8, France report that task Force Wagram carried out 28 missions of which 12 were strikes. Meanwhile aircraft conducted two strikes in support of the SDF.
Dutch Military Strike Report
In the last 10 days of the year, 15 missions were flown. Weapons were deployed ten times and targeted ISIS fighting positions and warehouses.
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2020-12-15
Original Source
Jan. 4, 2019, in al Shaafa, Syria, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to assess its credibility. 3260/CS1882 37SFU774295