Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Between 9 and 10 civilians died in an airstrike on a van or small bus near the Al Sadda road, Al Quriya, Deir Ezzor, according to local media. While most sources blamed the Coalition (which confirmed targeting a vehicle in the province on the day), one outlet alleged that Russia was responsible.
Sound and Picture, also blaming the Coalition, put the death toll at nine, while Ahmad al Shibli said as many as 10 died.
Syria Mirror said that in addition to the nine civilians killed, “many more were wounded”.
However, according to Zaman Alwasl, Russia may have been responsible. It reported: “The page ‘heritage and news of the city of Qurya’ on the site Facebook said that the air bombardment targeted the van on the road to Sada.
The page listed the names of eight people who died in the raid without specifying the identity of any culprit, but according to the local network Eastern 24 “it is likely to be Russia.”
Syrian News Desk added that the civilians died “on their way back from paying condolences in the village of al-Tayana in the eastern countryside”.
On March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report, the Coalition reported this incident to be “non-credible”, stating that “After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Summary
Sources (31) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]
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A bus carrying civilians burns following an alleged Coalition raid on Al Sadda road, June 7th 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
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Samer Muhammad al-Idris (rear), killed in an alleged Coalition strike on Al Sadda road,, June 7th 2017. (via Euphrates Post)
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A bus carrying civilians burns following an alleged Coalition raid on Al Sadda road, June 7th 2017. (via Free Deir Ezzor facebook)
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A photo of some of the victims of the alleged Coalition and Russian airstrike on Deir Ezzor, 7th June 2017. (via Asharqiya voice facebook)
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Nouri al Fallah, killed in the alleged Coalition and Russian airstrike on Deir Ezzor, 7th June 2017. (via Asharqiya voice facebook)
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Salem al-Badawi, killed in the alleged Coalition and Russian airstrike on Deir Ezzor, 7th June 2017. (via Asharqiya voice facebook)
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Haji Elias Mohammed al-Khater, killed in an alleged Coalition and Russian airstrike on Deir Ezzor, 7th June 2017. (via Euphrates post)
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Aftermath of the alleged Coalition and Russian airstrike on Deir Ezzor, 7th June 2017. (via Asharqiya voice facebook)
Geolocation notes
Coordinates released by the Coalition place the event at 34.96514, 40.5133
Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.
The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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Jun. 7, 2017, near al Sadda road, Syria, via Airwars report. After review of all available evidence it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike. 3104/CS928 37SFU3815570223
Original strike reports
For June 7th-8th, the Coalition reported: “Near Abu Kamal, three strikes destroyed two ISIS front-end loaders, two ISIS backhoes, two ISIS fuel storage trailers, an ISIS excavator and a vehicle. Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed a vehicle.”
‘Wednesday 7 June – a Reaper killed two terrorists planting booby-traps in Raqqa, while a Tornado and a Typhoon attacked two Daesh-held buildings south-west of the city… The RAF is continuing to support Iraqi forces in their effort to liberate western Mosul. While the operating environment in the city is very challenging, particularly given the closely-packed buildings, very narrow streets, and the density of the urban population, our aircrew have continued to deliver precision strikes in close support of Iraqi troops on the ground. Daesh’s current tactics, including the illegal use of civilians as human shields, and fighting from sites such as schools, hospitals, religious sites and civilian neighbourhoods, increases the risk to innocent life. While no military operations come without risk, particularly in dense urban environments and against such inhuman Daesh tactics, the RAF continues to take all steps necessary to minimise civilian casualties. Royal Air Force aircraft have provided close air support to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) who are now fighting Daesh on the outskirts of Raqqa. In Mosul, our aircraft are continuing to assist Iraqi troops in clearing remaining Daesh positions in and around the city. A Reaper remotely piloted aircraft flew an armed reconnaissance patrol over northern Raqqa on Wednesday 7 June. It observed two extremists burying booby-traps along routes into the city. Hellfire missiles were deployed, killing both. Some 45 miles south-west of Raqqa, a mixed pair of Tornado and Typhoon fast jets used a Brimstone missile to hit one Daesh-held building. A Paveway IV guided bomb left a second target on fire.’