A major civilian casualty incident took place at Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor Governorate, at dawn September 29th – 30th, killing up to 25 civilians with 24 to 40 more wounded, local sources said.
According to numerous reports “mostly women and children died”. An initial report by Euphrates Post documented four dead and 30 wounded, though this rose to nine fatalities in a second report. It listed the following victims in addition to those named below:
Two displaced family members from Deir al-Zour
Three people from a displaced family from Raqqa and Iraq
Subsequent reporting from Euphrates Post described the site of destruction following the raids “as the house of Firas Moussalli near the mosque of Rahman” (pictured). A sixth report identified 11 victims, including a whole family displaced from Deir Ezzor.
Free Deir Ezzor Radio initially reported seven dead and 40 wounded following “targeting of military aircraft” on “several residential sites” of the city, “which led to the destruction of a number of houses and apartment and some shops”. It listed areas affected as:
A house near the Rahman Mosque
Dr. Jamal Al Farhan Building in Al Fayhaa Square
A market in the Center of Fayhaa Square
Baath Preparatory School in the Associations neighborhood
The perimeter of the starting position, in the vicinity of Aisha Hospital
Roundabout of Martyrs, near the cemetery of martyrs
The number killed was expected to rise according to the DeirEzzor24 correspondent who predicted “high number of martyrs due to the presence of wounded in critical condition” reportedly they “were transferred to hospitals nearby”.
According to a later report by Free Deir Ezzor Radio, the death toll did rise significantly. It alleged 20 died on September 30th in Abu Kamal.
Smart was one of the few sources that blamed the US-led Coalition, asserting that nine were killed and dozens injured, “by an airstrike likely by the international coalition”. Local activists quoted by Smart alleged 40 wounded and reiterated the list of neighbourhoods affected. The activists added that “the wounded had sought shelter in the field in the town”. Baladi also blamed the Coalition and reported 11 dead including a whole family, the account correlates with earlier reports of an entire family displaced from Deir Ezzor allegedly killed in the offensive.
Two daughters of Laith Bassam Alawi, also mentioned by the Euphrates Post, were later documented by Sharqiya Voice as Genie Laith Alawi and Rehab Laith Alawi. The report did not specify a culprit.
Euphrates Post reported the death of the girl Zamzal al Zahri Jamal al Zahri (pictured) and latterly reported the death of Mrs. Wala’a Liwaa al Said Hibet and her children: her son Othman Al-Rawi and her daughter Lian Al-Rawi.
Jisirtv blamed Russia for the strikes, as did Euphrates Post and the Syrian Network for Human Rights amongst other sources. Euphrates Post, however, were not certain and said the strikes “were likely Russia”. Alrafiden and Smart blamed the Coalition. Many sources did not apportion blame. Free Deir Ezzor Radio referred to “military aircraft”. The majority of sources blamed Russia.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
