(Previous Incident Code: S278)

Heavy airstrikes were reported, with Step News noting that “Coalition planes bombed al Salhiya near al Bukamal, targeting a bridge that links the area of al Duweir with other areas of Deir Ezzor. They also targeted al Ashayer village east of Deir Ezzor.” No mention was made of casualties.

Beloved Al Salhiya also posted a video showing damage to the bridge – while reporting “no casualties.” A description accompanying a second video said “One of the places hit by the planes under the mountain on the road leading to al Shaeb left a crater 7 meters wide and 4 meters deep.“

However Step News, Ara News and others insisted that four civilians died, noting: “The international coalition aircraft bombed the village of al Salhiya targeting a bridge in al Dweir which links it with all areas in all of Deir al-Zour area, killing four civilians.”

In a report published the following month, the Syrian Network noted: “Fixed-wing international coalition forces warplanes fired missiles that targeted the international road in Al Salihiya village, located in the eastern suburbs of Deir Ez-Zour and is under the control of ISIS. The road connects between Deir Ez-Zour and Homs governorate through Al Bokamal city. The bombardment resulted in the killing of two children.

In their August 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that after a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.