US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Civilians in the ruins of Mosul city. (Maranie R. Staab)

Belligerent
US-led Coalition
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

CS1961

Incident date

July 16, 2021

Location

ذيبان, Thiban, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.0162094, 40.5101418 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man and his son were reportedly killed in a raid in Deir Ezzor’s Thiban town carried out by Syrian Democratic Forces with support of the US-led coalition at dawn on July 16, 2021.

The dead were identified as Miteb Sherida Al-Ghadir and his son Ahmed.

@Sada_AlSharqieh said they had been grazing their sheep at the time of the incident and “had no links with the terrorist organization ISIS or any other party”. NPA Syria meanwhile reported that two members of Islamic State had been killed, quoting a military source in the Syrian Democratic Forces. However, the ISIS members they were referring to were not named.

The Syrian Democratic Forces shot the two men dead, according to Jesr Press, when “a number of people fled for fear of arbitrary arrests” and “the patrol members opened fire directly on these people”. NPA Syria reported that a military source told them that the forces, “with the support of the International Coalition, carried out a landing operation on the Al-Latwa neighborhood in the town of Thiban, where clashes took place with ISIS members.”

Eyewitnesses told Furat SY that a “force consisting of several cars raided civilian homes, without warning, accompanied by indiscriminate shooting between the houses with the aim of terrorizing the ‘wanted’”. The two men were shot in front of their house, according to its reporting. “This incident sparked a wave of panic among the civilians and generated a state of anger and frustration among the relatives of the victims, forcing the SDF to withdraw from the town,” it added.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    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 attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of Mutaib Sherida Al-Ghadeer, who was killed in a raid in the town of Thiban on July 16, 2021. (Image posted by @YusufAd76532779)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of Ahmed Sherida Al-Ghadeer, who was killed in a raid in the town of Thiban on July 16, 2021. (Image posted by @YusufAd76532779)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a strike within the Latwa neighbourhood (حي اللطوة) in the village of Diban (ذيبان). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Dhiban are: 35.0162094, 40.5101418.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    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 attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1962

Incident date

July 21, 2021

Location

خربة الجاموس, Kharbet Al Janous, Al Hassaka, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between one and three people, including a child, were killed and others were injured in Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) strikes on Kharbet Al Janous on July 21, 2021. Various sources report that a child was killed in the operation while other sources report that between one and three members of ISIS were killed.

The Syrian Arab News Agency reported that “Three persons were killed and many others were injured in an attack by US occupation warplanes in Jamous village, east Hasaka” and that the helicopters launched missiles at a house for several hours, killing and injuring all who were inside. Various other sources also referred to “three people” as being killed in the strikes.

Al Khabour posted on Facebook that three people, including a child, were killed “on the pretext of the presence of ISIS cells inside it”.

@modar28 tweeted that the SDF had raided a home and killed the child Osama Adnan Al-Hamid and “to hide the crime, they gave his coordinates to the American planes that the house contained ISIS cells, so the coalition aircraft destroyed the house in Karbet Al Jamous (Tal Hamis) village in Al Hassaka.” Haskaka News reported a similar story that ” the child “Osama Adnan Al-Hamid” was inside the house, and when he saw them, he fled outside the house, so [the Kurdish forces] shot him, killing him instantly.”

Jisr’s correspondent in Hasaka countryside reported that “two people were killed as a result of the attack, in addition to the death of a child who was close to the scene, after he was hit by a stray bullet”.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “the security operation targeted a house after the troops cordoned it off and calls the people inside the house to surrender, but the suspects resisted, as exchange of fire erupted between the two sides. Meanwhile, International Coalitions fighter jets intervened and bombarded the house, which caused the death of three suspects believed to be ISIS members who were inside the house.” Baladi News also quoted “sites close to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said that the latter had raided a house containing three members of the “ISIS” organization.”

Tweets from @OIRSpox, the US Coalition spokesman, stated that “Today the Syrian Democratic Forces conducted a raid in the vicinity of Hasakah, Syria which resulted in the death of one Daesh terrorist. Coalition forces conducted two airstrikes on the building in support of our partner forces in contact and to ensure the terrorist threat was eliminated. The Coalition has the inherent right to defend our partner forces. No civilians were killed as a result of #SDF operations or  airstrikes. #Syria #Hasaka”

A day later, the @OIRSpox released a revised statement: ” Update: The SDF spokesman has provided an update to #SDF raid on a Daesh hideout on July 21, 2021. SDF reports that 2 Daesh gang members were KIA & 2 were arrested. The SDF requested air support after finding & removing a wounded child from the Daesh hideout. Believing that Daesh gang members were still hiding out in the house; an air strike was conducted. The child subsequently died from his wounds despite @Coalition medical efforts to save his life. The SDF is investigating the death of the child who was being held captive by Daesh during the attack. See below for more information or contact @Farhad_Shami SDF spokesman.”

However, the SDF statement recounts the events as “In order to support, coalition aircraft targeted the cell’s sites with two missiles eliminating two mercenaries while two other members were arrested. By searching the house, our special units discovered the body of a murdered child.” indicating that the child was killed in the strike.

Watan Radio’s correspondent indicated that “the SDF moved the bodies to an unknown location, without revealing the identity of their owners, while the US helicopters hovered for more than half an hour at the site of the operation after it ended.” Syria TV sources added that “a member of the “SDF” was injured during the clashes that took place, after which he was transferred to the mobile medical center of the SDF, and then he was transferred to Al-Hasakah Military Hospital.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Image of alleged US coalition strikes on a home in Kharbet Al Janous on July 21, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • #Khabour #Al-Hasakah Three people, including a child, were killed as international coalition aircraft targeted a house in the village of Khirbet al-Jamous in the Hasaka countryside on the pretext of the presence of ISIS cells inside it
  • Damage caused by alleged US coalition strikes on a home in Kharbet Al Janous on July 21, 2021. (Image posted by RT Arabic)
  • Damage caused by alleged US coalition strikes on a home in Kharbet Al Janous on July 21, 2021. (Image posted by RT Arabic)
  • Image of Osama Adnan Al-Hamid, who was killed in an alleged US Coalition-SDF raid on Karbet Al Jamous on July 21, 2021. (Image posted by @modar28)
  • Image of the damage caused by Coalition and SDF strikes on a home in Kharbet Al Janous on July 21, 2021. (Image posted by SDF)

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Syrian Democratic Forces

After a close monitoring and detecting process, the (SDF) counter-terrorism units dismantled, with a joint security operation on Wednesday, a dangerous terrorist cell affiliated with Daesh in Khirbet al-Jamous village, the eastern countryside of al-Hasakah.
The operation was supported by the coalition ISR and targeted a house that was used by the terrorists to hide. Among them are those responsible for committing assassinations against civilians and the security and military forces.
During the raid, one of our fighters was martyred due to clashes with the terrorists who opened fire on our forces in an attempt to escape. In order to support, coalition aircraft targeted the cell’s sites with two missiles eliminating two mercenaries while two other members were arrested.
By searching the house, our special units discovered the body of a murdered child, however; our forces will open an investigation into the detained mercenaries to find out why the child was there and the circumstances that led to his death.

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • Image of the damage caused by Coalition and SDF strikes on a home in Kharbet Al Janous on July 21, 2021. (Image posted by SDF)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

"Today the Syrian Democratic Forces conducted a raid in the vicinity of Hasakah, Syria which resulted in the death of one Daesh terrorist. Coalition forces conducted two airstrikes on the building in support of our partner forces in contact and to ensure the terrorist threat was eliminated. The Coalition has the inherent right to defend our partner forces. No civilians were killed as a result of #SDF operations or  airstrikes. #Syria #Hasaka"

A day later, the @OIRSpox released a revised statement: " Update: The SDF spokesman has provided an update to #SDF raid on a Daesh hideout on July 21, 2021. SDF reports that 2 Daesh gang members were KIA & 2 were arrested. The SDF requested air support after finding & removing a wounded child from the Daesh hideout. Believing that Daesh gang members were still hiding out in the house; an air strike was conducted. The child subsequently died from his wounds despite @Coalition medical efforts to save his life. The SDF is investigating the death of the child who was being held captive by Daesh during the attack. See below for more information or contact @Farhad_Shami SDF spokesman."

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1963

Incident date

September 26, 2021

Location

الشحيل, Al Shahil, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.096944, 40.456111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three men were killed and civilians were injured in a Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces operation in the city of Al Shahil on September 26, 2021. Sources were conflicted as to whether those killed were civilians or members or ISIS, with one source reporting on civilian injuries.

According to Euphrates Post, Syrian Democratic Forces and Coalition forces carried out a ground raid of a house in the city of Al Shahil. The operation lasted for two hours and resulted in the death of three unidentified people who were killed on the outskirts of the Shabakah neighborhood. The three people killed allegedly “resisted the patrol with machine guns”, North Press Agency reported.

Euphrates Eye identified those killed as being “suspected of affiliation with ISIS” but added that other civilians were injured in the operation. Deir Ezzor 24 added that the three person who were believed to be members of ISIS were killed during the confrontation and were known to be internally displaced persons from Suweidan Jazeera town.

Sputnik News and Juhayna News were the only sources to refer to those killed as “civilians” and Sputnik also reported that “the American occupation forces and the gunmen loyal to them also arrested a number of Arab tribesmen in the town and took them to an unknown destination without knowing the reasons for the arrest.”

Following the operation, the Coalition spokesman Col. Wayne Marotto tweeted that “.@Coalition successfully conducted another raid in the vicinity of Dayr az Zawr Province, Syria today resulting in the death of 3 Daesh terrorists, & the detention of 2 associates.” The “3 Daesh terrorists” seems to refer to this incident.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified the location of the operation as being near a checkpoint for the “Special Forces” in Shabakah neighborhood.

Zaman Al Wasl pointed out that this was an air landing operation in which warplanes and helicopters participated and all of the sources attributed the operation to the Syrian Democratic Forces and/or the Coalition.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • (0–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    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 attackers
    Syrian Democratic Forces, US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–3

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bodies of men killed in alleged Syrian Democratic Forces and Coalition raid carried out in the city of Al Shahil on September 26, 2021. (Image posted by Euphrates Post)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bodies of men killed in alleged Syrian Democratic Forces and Coalition raid carried out in the city of Al Shahil on September 26, 2021. (Image posted by Euphrates Post)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Bodies of men killed in alleged Syrian Democratic Forces and Coalition raid carried out in the city of Al Shahil on September 26, 2021. (Image posted by Euphrates Post)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Shabaka (الشحيل), allegedly in the centre of the village of Al Shuhail (الشبكة), for which, due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Shuhail are: 35.096944, 40.456111.

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

.@Coalition successfully conducted another raid in the vicinity of Dayr az Zawr Province, Syria today resulting in the death of 3 Daesh terrorists, & the detention of 2 associates. We will continue to hunt them down, prevent acts of violence & derail their efforts to regroup.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • (0–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    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 attackers
    Syrian Democratic Forces, US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–3

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1964

Incident date

September 26, 2021

Location

الزر, Al Zir, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.125270, 40.428640 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one young man, a civilian, was killed and two to three other civilians were injured in alleged Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces raids on the village of Al Zir on September 26, 2021. Two to three others were arrested in the raids but it is unclear if they were civilians or members of ISIS.

Euphrates Post reported that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Coalition forces “raided Mishaal al-Qubba’s house in al-Mankar neighborhood in the center of al-Zar village and arrested Malik Khalil al-Munkar and Anas Hamidi al-Munkar, in addition to injuring two other civilians who were near the place”. The home of the al-Qubba family was burned down before the forces withdrew.

Deir Ezzor 24 added that the attacking forces first called through the loudspeaker for the targets in the house to surrender themselves but when they refused, clashes broke out. The wanted persons were allegedly members of ISIS.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified the house targeted as “hosting ISIS affiliated members” and added that “three people in the house were wounded” but did not specify if those wounded were members of ISIS.

According to Euphrates Eye, Muhammad Abadi Al-Saleh Al-Mankar, “a civilian who does not belong to any military faction,” died from his injuries sustained during the operation and the SDF handed over his body to his family.

A “Jisr” correspondent also identified Ali Basil Abadi Al-Saleh (likely the same man as mentioned above) as being shot and then arrested by the SDF, and he later died. The family of the young man reported that he was only 18 years old, worked with his brothers raising livestock and had no connections with ISIS.

Euphrates Eye published the identities of men arrested in the raid, referring to them as the “village’s civilians”: Mazen Jassim Al-Mankar (a civilian with a neurological disease) ), Faris Al-Huwaili (a civilian driver of a private car) and Ibn Hijab.

The Coalition spokesperson Col. Wayne Marotto tweeted that “.@Coalition successfully conducted another raid in the vicinity of Dayr az Zawr Province, Syria today resulting in the death of 3 Daesh terrorists, & the detention of 2 associates.” It is possible that the “detention of 2 associates” refers to this incident.

A correspondent for Furat Network pointed out that the operation “involved several helicopters and a warplane that opened the sound barrier, causing panic and fear among the people, while targeting the landing area with heavy machine guns” and Euphrates Eye put the specific count at five coalition helicopters, accompanied by drones. All of the sources attributed the strikes to the Coalition and/or SDF.

The incident occured at approximately 2:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

18 years old male Also referred to as Ali Basil Abadi Al-Saleh killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    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 attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The young man, Muhammad Abadi Al-Saleh Al-Munkar, allegedly killed by SDF and Coalition forces in a raid on Al Zir on September 26, 2021. (Image posted by Euphrates Post)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Zir (الزر), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.125270, 40.428640. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

@Coalition successfully conducted another raid in the vicinity of Dayr az Zawr Province, Syria today resulting in the death of 3 Daesh terrorists, & the detention of 2 associates. We will continue to hunt them down, prevent acts of violence & derail their efforts to regroup.

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    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 attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1965

Incident date

October 2, 2021

Location

مزرعة تشرين, Mazra'a Tishreen, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.132398, 38.869372 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a “young” man, Abboud Al-Akeeb, was allegedly killed by US-led Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces’ raid on Tishreen Farm, north of Raqqa in Syria on 2nd October 2021, according to multiple sources. The attack was reported to have happened at dawn.

Athar Press reported that “American forces and “SDF” carried out raids in the Tishreen farm in the north of Raqqa governate, where the sounds of clashes and strong explosions were heard in the vicinity of the farm.”

Dostor, Al Araby News, and Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the campaign was “to search for ISIS cells.”  According to the the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the US-led Coalition “carried out an airdrop operation” which resulted in the “arrest of two of ISIS leaders and several women, where a civilian was killed near the site coinciding with the airdrop operation.”  Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS) reported that after raiding Mr. Al-Akeeb’s house, the military forces had “his parents tied up, and then the body was transferred to an unknown location. It later became clear that the operation was carried out by mistake and that the targeted persons are a family from the town of Sfira who lives next to the house of the slain “Abboud Al-Akeeb.”” RBSS also put the date of the strike on 1st October, although all other sources indicate this happened on 2nd October.

Local sources indicated that this operation coincided with another operation in Shanina. Watan reported that this raid shows an example of how the “US army and its affiliated militias have significantly increased the pace of raids and incursions into eastern Syria, targeting a large number of Syrian Arab tribesmen.”

It has been more than two years since Airwars has documented any alleged civilian casualties in Raqqa attributed to US-led Coalition and the SDF.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Abboud Al-Akeeb
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Abboud Al-Akeeb, allegedly killed by US-led Coalition and SDF raid on Tishreen Farm, Raqqa on 26th September 2021. (Image via @SOHEB2019 / Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Mazra’a Tishreen (مزرعة تشرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.132398, 38.869372. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1966

Incident date

October 16, 2021

Location

الزر, Al Zir, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.12527, 40.42864 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one young man was killed in a Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces operation in the village of Al Zir on October 16, 2021.

According to Euphrates Post, five people were arrested in a security operation carried out by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) with the support of the Coalition: Muhammad Khader Al-Rathi, Ayman Khader Al-Rathi, Moamen Khidr Al-Rathi, Jawad Ali Al-Ahmad Al-Khalaf, Moaz Ali Al-Ahmad Al-Khalaf. A man named Abdullah Ayad al-Khater, 25 years old, was also killed during the raid.

Step News Agency identified two young men as being killed in the raid after being shot by SDF forces.

Al Khabour News added the name Abdelwahab Ghanem Al-Rudaini to the list of people that were arrested during the raid and @humam_isa added the name Thaer Ghanem Al-Rudaini.

Zaytoun Agency reported that the SDF and Coalition forces raided the village of Al Zir “under the pretext of pursuing ISIS cells”, entering the village with a convoy of more than 20 armored vehicles with air cover from the Coalition. Civilian Abdullah Ayad al-Khater was said to be killed for violating the curfew that was imposed on residents and overall, 120 people were arrested and some of them were arrested while others were held for interrogation.

Syrian Documentation Center detailed that the “SDF gunmen deliberately shot a person who was standing near the house, which led to his death instantly”, adding that the SDF did not comment or explain why they killed the civilian who was not trying to escape or resist arrest.

Syrian Arab News Agency identified the man that was killed as being a civilian and added that 10 of the village’s locals were arrested and taken to a nearby location. Al-Tariq News put the number of people arrested in the raids at eight while Step News Agency added that 10 minors under the age of 18 were among those arrested and that the detainees were severely beaten before they were tied up and transported by the Coalition helicopters.

The Coalition has not released a statement on this incident.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 men)
  • 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 attackers
    Syrian Democratic Forces, US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Image of Abdullah Ayad al-Khater, killed during a raid by Coalition and SDF forces on October 16, 2021. (Image posted by the Syrian Network for Human Rights)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Zir (الزر), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.12527, 40.42864. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

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
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 men)
  • 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 attackers
    Syrian Democratic Forces, US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS477 CS1967

Incident date

October 25, 2021

Location

العدوانية, Al Adwania, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.711861, 39.624167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (other) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four men were killed in Coalition airstrikes or shootings with the alleged assistance of Turkish forces in the village of Al Adwania on October 25, 2021. One of the men, Abu Hamza Al-Shuhail, was identified as an arms dealer while sources were conflicted as to whether the other men were civilians or militants.

The Euphrates Post reported that Turkish forces entered the village of Al Adwania and shot the young man Abdul Rahman Salem Al-Hammad, who died instantly from his gunshot wound. They also pointed out that Abdul had been armed and was killed instantly. Private sources contested that the forces that entered the area were Turkish, reporting that they “spoke English and not Turkish”, making it likely that the forces belonged to the Coalition.

According to Euphrates Post, this incident occurred shortly after an alleged Coalition drone killed Sabahi Al-Musleh “Abu Hamza Al-Shuhail”, identified as being a former arms dealer close to ISIS. A tweet from @DeirEzzorNow disputed this, stating that “Sabahi is not closely associated with the terrorist organization ISIS but the man was an old arms dealer… he joined the 20th Division – and sometimes he works as a smuggler towards Turkey.”

The Syrians for Truth and Justice released a report where they identified Abu Hamza as being a “a famous arms dealer in the region” who “supplied and sold massive quantities of various types of firearms to several parties in the Syrian conflict, chiefly IS”. Al-Shuhail worked with the factions of the former Free Syrian Army (FSA), Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Nusra Front)/Qaeda, and later with both IS and the SDF. He rented the farmhouse in al-Adwaniya—which is under the military control of SNA-affiliated 20th Division—and made it a headquarters for administrating his business, which included people smuggling “in coordination with SNA commanders”.

Additionally, two other people were killed by “unknown fire” when they rode a motorcycle to inspect the location of the drone strike, identified as being Sami Khalil Al-Khuzam, an electrician who worked in an agricultural vehicle repair shop from the village of Al-Marayeh in the eastern Deir Ezzor countryside, and Nawaf Khalaf Al-Hawas, a shepherd from the village of Al-Tabiya. Orient News attributed the death of Sami and Nawaf to the Turkish forces that entered the area following the airstrikes.

Eye of Euphrates referred to “at least three” people killed in addition to Abu Hamza Al-Shuhail as being his “companions” but did not specifically identify if they were militants or civilians and their reporting also seems to indicate that the drone strike killed all four victims. However, a tweet from @DeirEzzorNow specifically identifies Abu Hamza Al-Shuhail, Abdul, and Nawaf as all being from Deir Ezzor and as all being members of the 20th National Army Division (they did not mention Sami Khalil).

The report by the Syrians for Truth and Justice identified the location as being a newly constructed farm adjacent to the Syria-Turkey border in al-Adwaniya village. Following the drone strike that killed Abu Hamza, Turkish ground troops came from Turkey and encircled the area, exchanging fire and killing a gunman in the farmhouse named Abdulrahman Salem al-Hammad, who “used to work with al-Shuhail and visited the farmhouse frequently”. In addition, two other civilians “arrived in the target area about an hour and a half after the assassination operation started” and were killed. Sami al-Khuzami died when he was shot in the chest, and Nawaf al-Khalaf died when he was shot in the head, possibly by sniper fire due to the location. Both were “killed on the main street leading to the farm, about 150 meters away from the farmhouse”. Overall, the incident resulted in the death of three civilians “who maintained no relations with the arms dealer”.

On November 27th 2021, the UK government announced that they had conducted strikes in this location without giving details about who was killed: “The crew of a remotely piloted Reaper, armed with Hellfire missiles, tracked a known terrorist in northern Syria, near the city of Ras al Ayn, and at a safe moment, when the individual was alone in a field, carried out a successful attack.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Rahman Salem Al-Hammad
Adult male killed
Sami Khalil Al-Khuzam
Adult male killed
Nawaf Khalaf Al-Hawas
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground), Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–3 men)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, US-led Coalition
  • Known targets
    Assad regime, ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–3

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • Sabahi Al-Musleh "Abu Hamza Al-Shuhail", an alleged arms dealer killed in strikes on October 25, 2021. (Image posted by @DeirEzzorNow)
  • Sami al-Khuzami , killed in Al Adwania on October 25, 2021. (Image posted by Euphrates Post)
  • Nawaf al-Khalaf, killed in Al Adwania on October 25, 2021. (Image posted by Euphrates Post)
  • One of the men killed in strikes or a shooting in Al Adwania on October 25, 2021. (Image posted by Euphrates Post)
  • Two photos taken at different intervals of the farmhouse built sometime in 2021, and where al-Shuhail was killed. The farmhouse is adjacent to Syria-Turkey borders and is farmed in red. Credits: Planet Labs Inc.
  • Satellite image taken by Planet Labs Inc. 7 November 2021. The photo locates the farmhouse—the black square—where al-Shuhail was killed, compared to the location of the Turkish base—the red square—from where the ground forces raided the farmhouse. Additionally, the photo shows the border wall between Syria and Turkey. Credit: Planet Labs Inc.
  • Footage from the video, showing the farmhouse, in the black square. Credit: STJ.
  • Satellite image linked with the live footage from the video. Credit: Planet Labs Inc.
  • Satellite image linked with the live footage from the video. Credit: Planet Labs Inc.
  • Footage from the video. Credit: STJ.
  • Footage circulated on social media of what is believed al-Shuhail’s body parts and the location where the drone hit.
  • The footage from social media linked with satellite images. Credit: Planet Labs Inc.
  • Footage circulated on social media of what is believed to be al-Shuhail’s body parts and the location where the drone hit.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of victim Nawaf al-Khalaf, shot in the forehead by alleged Turkish forces on October 25, 2021. (Image posted by Syrians for Truth and Justice)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of victim Sami al-Khuzami, who was targeted just in the heart by alleged Turkish forces on October 25, 2021. (Image posted by Syrians for Truth and Justice)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the strike mention the village of Al Adwania (العدوانية). According to research conducted by Syrians for Truth and Justice, the exact coordinates for this strike are: 36.711861, 39.624167. Cross referencing source material, we can confirm the accuracy of this location.  

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The crew of a remotely piloted Reaper, armed with Hellfire missiles, tracked a known terrorist in northern Syria, near the city of Ras al Ayn, and at a safe moment, when the individual was alone in a field, carried out a successful attack.

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Monday 25 October – An RAF Reaper killed a Daesh terrorist in northern Syria. Royal Air Force aircraft have continued to fly missions over Iraq and Syria in support of the global coalition against the Daesh terrorist movement. On Monday 25 October, the crew of a remotely piloted Reaper, armed with Hellfire missiles, tracked a known terrorist in northern Syria, near the city of Ras al Ayn, and at a safe moment, when the individual was alone in a field, carried out a successful strike.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground), Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–3 men)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, US-led Coalition
  • Known targets
    Assad regime, ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–3

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1968

Incident date

October 27, 2021

Location

الصبحة, Al Sabha, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.896421, 39.904919 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A male civilian, co-chair of the Deir Ezzor Civil Council, was shot and killed by alleged Coalition forces and/or Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in on October 27, 2021.

According to a tweet from @Sada_AlSharqieh, a media organization covering Eastern Syria, Samer Al-Abdullah, the co-chair of the Deir Ezzor Civil Council, in charge of running the affairs of the Health Committee in the Council, was killed in an airdrop operation carried out by the Coalition forces and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

@DeirEzzor24 reported that Samer Al-Abdullah was killed by mistake when SDF forces were searching for a wanted person, adding that Samer was a member of the Future Syria Party affiliated with the administration.

The correspondent of the “Ein al-Furat” network said that the SDF Asayish carried out a landing operation to arrest a person named Shayesh al-Hassan. “When al-Hassan fled, the deputy co-presidency of the Deir Ezzor Civil Council, in charge of the affairs of the Health Committee, left his house, thinking that the shooting was on his house and that he should flee from it, which prompted the Asayish forces to shoot him, killing him instantly.” @baznewz named the target of the operation to be the sons of “Salem al-Baghdeh,” Abu Younis, a leader in the Islamic State.

However, @humam_isa reported that the shooting came after misleading information reached the Coalition forces. @Sada_AlSharqieh tweeted that Samer Al-Abdullah had been threatened by several parties who wanted him to leave work in the Civil Council and Nedaa Post stated that the SDF had arrested other members of the council. Ida2at even added that there were accusations that the SDF intended to kill Samer and it was part of an “assassination operation”. The “Al-Shaitat official” page quoted a source as saying that “Al-Abdullah is an educated person who knows that anyone who goes out during a raid or landing operation is targeted, and therefore he will not put himself at risk to look at the raid, which makes it likely that the cadres will arrange the operation to get rid of him.”

Sources were conflicted as to what time the event occurred, with @EuphratesPost pinpointing the raid to dawn while Jisr TV reported that the shooting occurred in the evening.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Samer Al-Abdullah سامر العبد الله
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    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 attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Samer Al-Abdullah, the co-chair of the Deir Ezzor Civil Council, killed in an alleged Coalition airdrop operation on October 27, 2021. (Image posted by @Sada_AlSharqieh)
  • Samer Al-Abdullah, the co-chair of the Deir Ezzor Civil Council, killed in an alleged Coalition airdrop operation on October 27, 2021. (Image posted by @DeirEzzorNow)
  • The official in the Civil Council of the "Self-Administration", Samer Al-Abdullah, was killed "by mistake", during a raid carried out by the international coalition forces and "SDF" near his house in a town in Deir ez-Zor governorate, targeting ISIS cells. (Image posted by @AsharqNewsSYR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of Samer Al-Abdullah, the co-chair of the Deir Ezzor Civil Council, killed in an alleged Coalition airdrop operation on October 27, 2021. (Image posted by @baznewz)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Sabha (الصبحة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.896421, 39.904919. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    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 attackers
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (28) [ collapse]