Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1995

Incident date

July 19, 2023

Location

تل الذهب, Tal Al Thahb in Al Dashisha, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two brothers were killed by an operation declared by the SDF and involving the US-led Coalition in Tal Al Thahb, Al Dashisha on July 19, 2023. Sources are conflicted as to whether the men killed were civilians or members of ISIS.

Euphrates Post reported that two people, Muhammad Salem Al-Nazal (28 years old) and his brother Hammoud (25 years old), were killed during a raid carried out by the SDF and Coalition and their cousin Saleh Ahmed Al-Nazal was arrested.

Syria News quoted the local “Al-Khabour” website which stated that an SDF military force consisting of 20 vehicles raided a house in the the village of Abu Hamda in the Dashisha area, with the support of the international coalition aircraft, and clashed with a number of the villagers as well as damaging items in the house. Euphrates post gave an account that about 30 SDF vehicles participated in the operation which lasted for three areas and included drones.

The SDF announced that “On July 19, the Anti-Terrorism Units (YAT) of the Syrian Democratic Forces, with the support and participation of the Anti-Terrorism Forces in Southern Kurdistan (CTG) and the International Coalition, carried out an effective operation against a cell belonging to the terrorist organization ISIS in the town of Al-Dashisha, affiliated to Al-Shadada, where the cell was dismantled…The operation resulted in the killing of 2 members of the cell, the arrest of one of its members alive, and the seizure of a quantity of weapons and ammunition, which are as follows: 2 AK-47 weapons, 2 phones, 1 pistol, 1 bomb, 8 AK-47 magazines, 3 pistol stores, 1 quiver, 1 hunting rifle.” The US has not released a statement acknowledging their role in the operation.

Al Jazeera referred to both of the brothers, Hamoud and Muhammad, as civilians and Syria News, quoting Al-Khabour, reported that the two brothers killed worked in sheep rearing.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground), Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Muhammad Salem Al-Nazal (28 years old) and his brother Hammoud (25 years old), killed by SDF/Coalition operations in Deir Ezzor on July 19, 2023. (Image posted by Rasd News)
  • One of the victims killed by SDF/Coalition operations in Deir Ezzor on July 19, 2023. (Image posted by @Sharqya_reporte)
  • One of the victims killed by SDF/Coalition operations in Deir Ezzor on July 19, 2023. (Image posted by @Sharqya_reporte)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground), Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2

Sources (14) [ collapse]