US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

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

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Incident Code

CS1787

Incident date

August 3, 2018

Location

الشعفة, Al Sha'afa (possibly east of village), Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.57888, 40 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike near the village of al Sha’afa, local sources reported.

According to Sound and Picture, “vehicles carrying displaced civilians” were struck by Coalition aircraft, resulting in “a number of wounded”. This was reiterated by Marsad al Hassaka.

The Al Sha’afa Facebook page was the only source that identified the three harmed civilians as Ali al-Hihu, Musa al-Hihouh and “one of al-Fayadh’s sons“. The report stressed that “Thank God, no one died”.

One report named the ‘badia’ (desert) area as the location of the event – which would place it east of the village.

Step News reported that “Three members of the Islamic] State organization were killed in a coalition air strike targeting a car in the eastern town of Sousse # Deir al-Azur this morning.” It is not clear if this relates to the above event.

In the first of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali al-Hihu
Adult male injured
Musa al-Hihouh
Adult male injured
Son of al-Fayadh
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU774280
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 9, 2020

  • Aug. 3, 2018, in Al Sha’afa, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3176/CS1787 37SFU774280

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 3rd, the Coalition reported that “On August 3 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of six engagements against Daesh targets. Near Abu Kamal, four strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, and destroyed five Daesh vehicles."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1786a

Incident date

August 1, 2018

Location

near Ash Shajlah, Syria, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.47451, 40.95236 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident previously not tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later conceded the deaths of two civilians in an event near Ash Shajlah, Syria. The Pentagon later said this was a US action.

In its May 2019 civilian casualty report, the Coalition noted “Coalition aircraft conducted a strike against a Daesh staging area. Regrettably, two civilians were unintentionally killed due to the proximity of the strike.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

In its annual civilian harm report to Congress in May 2020, the Pentagon declared this as a US incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Table from DoD's annual civilian harm report to Congress, May 2020, listing additional US civilian harm events in Iraq and Syria conceded for 2018.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Other
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Previously unknown
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    2
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Ash Shajlah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU793165
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2019

  • Aug. 1, 2018, near Ash Shajlah, Syria, via self-report. Coalition aircraft conducted a strike against a Daesh staging area. Regrettably, two civilians were unintentionally killed due to the proximity of the strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

On August 1 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of three
engagements against Daesh targets.
- Near Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed one Daesh staging area and one Daesh
vehicle-borne IED factory.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Incident Code

CS1786

Incident date

July 27, 2018

Location

السوسة, Outskirts of Al Soussa, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.528889, 40.9675 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported the death of two or four civilians after missiles struck aid vehicles near the town of Al Soussa.

According to Smart News, Coalition raids struck “three trucks loaded with food”, killing four civilians. The media outlet noted that the four came from “Salba and Mkeymen the eastern suburb of Hama in the center of the country.” It added that the strike occured “as they were leaving the town, and the regime’s media reported that a number of them [civilians] were killed and wounded.”

Baladi News reported instead that two civilians were killed (possibly within the town and therefore a separate event), while adding that others were injured. However, the report stated that the civilians were harmed by “the fire of the regime forces and their artillery”. It said a further two civilians were shot dead by regime forces as they attempted to cross the river.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also noted that “two shells landed on areas in al-Susah town” but did not identify a culprit and stressed that there was “no information about casualties”.

In the first of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU805225
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 9, 2020

  • July 27, 2018, in Al Soussa, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3175/CS1786 37SFU805225

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition publicly reported at the time that “On July 27 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of seven engagements against Daesh targets. Near Abu Kamal, six strikes destroyed one Daesh fighting position and damaged three Daesh lines of communication."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1785

Incident date

July 27, 2018

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.528889, 40.9675 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources reported that two brothers were killed by alleged Coalition strikes on al Soussa.

Most local sources identified the two civilians as Saleh Khalif al-Hassan and Falih Khalif al-Hassan. Most sources also identified the Coalition as the culprit and noted that the airstrikes had struck the brothers’ house. Baladi News mentioned that other civilians were wounded in the attack, but was alone in saying this. Shahab al Sousse and Step News Agency detailed that the strike took place at dawn.

While the vast majority of the sources reported that the incident ook place on July 27th, some sources, like Euphrates Post and Deir Ezzor 24, stated that the airstrike took place “yesterday” while publishing their report on July 27th. However, this is likely due to the fact that the brothers were killed at dawn.

Both Step News and Masar Press reported that two unnamed Islamic State fighters were killed in a strike on the town that day – though it is unclear whether these reports relate to the above incident.

In what may be a related event, Step News reported the deaths of two ISIS fighters in the town in a Coalition strike on the same day.

In the first of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Saleh Khalif al-Hassan
Adult male killed
Falih Khalif al-Hassan
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The two brothers Saleh and Falih were killed in their home at dawn (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU805225
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 9, 2020

  • July 27, 2018, in Al Soussa, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3174/CS1785 37SFU805225

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 27th, the Coalition reported that “On July 27 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of seven engagements against Daesh targets. Near Abu Kamal, six strikes destroyed one Daesh fighting position and damaged three Daesh lines of communication."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1784

Incident date

July 26, 2018

Location

الشعفة, Al Sha'afa, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.57888, 40.93441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that alleged Coalition airstrikes hit the village of al Sha’afa, either killing two civilians or injuring “several”.

According to Al Haal shelling by the “International Air Force […] focused on the side of the river” and resulted in “several civilians injured, in addition to material damage.”

Step News also identified the US-led Coalition as the culprit and reported that a house in Al Sha’afa was shelled, killing two people.

Deir Ezzor24 tweeted a video, stating that it showed the “great destruction in the homes of # civilians caused by the bombing of warplanes on the town of # al Shaafa # Rural Deiralzur”. It did not however make mention of any casualties as a result of the bombardment.

The Coalition at the time publicly reported no strikes in Syria on this date.

In the first of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • ' #D24: Video shows # the great destruction in the homes of # civilians caused by the bombing of warplanes on the town of # al Shaafa # Rural Deiralzur'

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU774280
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 9, 2020

  • July 26, 2018, in Al Sha’afa, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3173/CS1784 37SFU774280

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 26th, the Coalition did not publicly report any airstrikes in Syria, asserting that "There were no reported strikes conducted in Syria on July 26, 2018."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1783

Incident date

July 24, 2018

Location

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.528889, 40.9675 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources three to four civilians were killed by artillery or airstrikes, injuring up to 18 others near the sheep market of al Soussa.

Al Soussa Youth reported “a very violent bombardment of rocket launchers” on the sheep market and nearby houses. According to the report, “more than ten missiles” resulted in large clouds of smoke, while drones were flying overhead.

In a later report, Al Soussa Youth identified a number of civilians that were killed in the attack: Sa’ad Hashim al-Khudair al-Suwa’yi (possibly killed as he left an internet shop) and two sons of Ali Khalif al-Hasan al-Shahani – according to Baladi, one of them was still a child.

In a video following these reports, Al Soussa Youth would note that the victims were sitting on a veranda when they were killed. According to the official Facebook page for al Soussa, rockets had struck Al A’liyat mill, near the house of Hussein al-A’kla and confirmed the death of the three civilians, adding that women and children were also injured.

Deir Ezzor 24 was the first source to note that “aircraft believed to be affiliated to the Coalition” were responsible for the civilian casualties. Al Haall also said that the Coalition was responsible for “killing four civilians and injuring more than 18 other, some of them critically”. The outlet quoted Faisal al-Sayyed, who noted that “most of the shells fell next to the Osman mosque”.

Euphrates Post however stated that the rockets originated from “forces of the Assad regime stationed in the city of Abu Kamal”, targeting the town of al Soussa “yesterday evening”. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also concluded that the “violent explosions” that shook al Soussa were caused by “targeting by the regime forces”.

Baladi made mention of a fourth “unidentified body” of a person killed in the bombardment. The report stated that it was not the Coalition or pro-regime forces, but the SDF’s artillery and missile fire which were responsible for the incident. According to the media outlet, “local media sources” had informed them that “sdf forces shelled dozens of rockets in the town of al-Sousse […], killing four civilians and injuring others, mostly women and children.” Sadaa al Sham and Al Araby al Jadid also identified the SDF as the culprit.

Al Ghad al Souri noted two separate strikes on the city. The first, by the US led Coalition, targeted and killed ISIS leader Abkhadijah al Jazairi [the Algerian] in a residential area of al Soussa it said, noting that three civilians also died. A second action by regime forces then killed and injured civilians near the sheep market.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Son of Ali Khalif al-Hasan al-Shahani
Adult male killed
Son of Ali Khalif al-Hasan al-Shahani
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Sa’ad Hashim al-Khudair al-Suwa’yi
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (0–1 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–18
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • #D24: Three civilians were killed and others wounded by the bombing of an aircraft believed to be affiliated to the coalition the town of # Sousse rural # Deiralzor east'

US-led Coalition Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 24th, the Coalition did not publicly report any air or artillery strike in Syria, asserting: "There were no reported strikes conducted in Syria on July 24, 2018."

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For July 18th – 24th, France report just two artillery shooting missions by Task Force Wagram in the Euphrates Valley. There have been a total of 197 missions since the offensive began on Maty 1st. French aircraft carried out 29 sorties in support of ground forces but there were no airstrikes.

‘IRAK – SYRIE – CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie En Syrie, l’offensive contre les deux dernières emprises territoriales de Daech se poursuit. La sécurisation de la poche de Dashisha est quasiment terminée mais la dépollution de la zone est toujours en cours. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak Les opérations de sécurisation se poursuivent. Une opération majeure dans le désert de Djézireh s’est terminée notamment le 18 juillet. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Formation au profit des forces de sécurité irakiennes Depuis début juillet, la Task Force Narvik conduit une formation de lutte contre les engins explosifs improvisés (C-IED) au profit de 40 soldats de l’Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (ICTS). Elle a pour objectif l’apprentissage de méthodes élémentaires de détection, de sécurisation et de destruction des engins explosifs improvisés à courte distance. Cette formation contribue à la montée en puissance des unités de sécurité nationales irakiennes. Elle s’inscrit, avec l’ensemble des instructions réalisées, dans le pilier «formation» de la contribution française à l’opération Inherent Resolve. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate Les artilleurs de la Task Force Wagram demeurent engagés en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech dans la vallée de l’Euphrate. Depuis le lancement de l’offensive le 1er mai, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 197 missions de tirs, dont 2 sur la semaine écoulée (bilan du 18 au 24 juillet inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 1856 missions de tirs. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des operations Sur la semaine écoulée, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 29 sorties aériennes en appui des forces locales engagées au sol (bilan du 18 au 24 juillet inclus). Aucune frappe n’a été réalisée. Bilan total de l’action du pilier appui aérien depuis le 19/09/14 : 8265 sorties / 1453 frappes / 2244 objectifs neutralisés.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 7
  • (0–1 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–18
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1782

Incident date

July 21, 2018

Location

بين بلدة السوسة والظهرة في البادية, Al Soussa/al Dahra, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.528889, 40.9675 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that up to thirty civilians were killed and injured when Coalition airstrikes allegedly targeted several locations between al Soussa and al Dahra.

Most sources stated that the civilians were struck when they were trying to escape the village of al Soussa and move towards the al Dahra area in al Badia, rural Deir Ezzor. ISIS had reportedly allowed some civilians to flee.

According to Deir Ezzor 24, this happened when Coalition aircraft were “targeting several locations for Daesh in the town of Al-Soussa”. All sources identified the Coalition as the culprit.

Baladi News later noted that “dozens of civilians, including women and children” were killed and injured in the attack. This was reiterated by Syrian state media SANA, which added that “scores of families from al-Soussa have been fleeing the airstrikes of the Coalition that have been targeting their homes for days.”

Al Soussa Youth reported that one of the civilians killed was identified as Hamid Al Zaidan from al Habatra, whose recovered body had been brought to his family. According to the report, the other bodies “can’t be reached.” Two days after the event, both al Soussa Youth and Step News Agency reported a tally of 30 civilians killed, while mentioning that these were still not recovered from the site.

Two days after the incident, Mena Monitor News stated that the SDF “found eight bodies of civilians in the town of Soussa in the eastern suburb of Deir al-Ghazur, which were killed by an air strike by the international coalition coalition two days ago”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hamid Al Zaidan
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    24 – 30
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of Hamid Al Zaidan (via al Soussa Youth)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the villages of Al Baghouz and Al Soussa, for which the coordinates are: 34,528889, 40,9675

  • The villages Al Soussa and Al Baghouz

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near al-Soussa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU805225
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 25, 2018

  • July 21, 2018, near al-Soussa, Syria, via Airwars. After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition publicly reported that on July 21st 2018: “Near Abu Kamal, three strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, and destroyed three
Daesh vehicles and one Daesh line of communication."

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    24 – 30
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1781

Incident date

July 16, 2018

Location

الباغوز, Al Baghouz Fawqani, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.4641667, 40.9452778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Ten or thirteen civilians, including women and children, were killed when the village of al Baghouz was targeted by alleged Coalition airstrikes, two local sources said.

According to Sound and Picture, Coalition aircraft targeted a “civilian gathering” on the morning of July 16th and reported an initial toll of “10 martyrs from one family, mostly children and women.”

Step News Agency also identified the Coalition as the culprit, but reported a higher tally of thirteen civilians killed and an unspecified number of civilians injured, “including serious cases”. A correspondent for the media outlet specifically noted that the incident took place “after the bombing of al Sousse” – referencing event CS1780.

In the first of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The incident occured between 7:00 am and 12:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 13
  • (3 children3 women)
  • 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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident (first reported at noon, July 16) mention that the alleged Coalition airstrike targeted a civilian gathering in the town of al Baghouz, for which the coordinates are: 34.4641667, 40.9452778

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU786153
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 9, 2020

  • July 16, 2018, in Baghouz, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3172/CS1781 37SFU786153

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition publicly reported at the time that: “On July 16 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of four engagements against Daesh targets. Near Abu Kamal, four strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, and destroyed one Daesh vehicle, two Daesh supply routes and one Daesh-held building."

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

From July 11th to 17th, France report that Task Force Wagram carried out six artillery ‘shooting missions’ in the Euphrates Valley. In total since the start of the offensive on May 1st, it’s conducted 195 shooting missions. Aircraft conducted 24 sorties but there were no airstrikes.

‘IRAK – SYRIE – CHAMMAL SITUATION MILITAIRE DU THEATRE Offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech en Syrie En Syrie, l’offensive contre les deux dernières emprises territoriales de Daech a marqué un temps d’arrêt durant quelques jours, afin de stabiliser les zones récemment libérées. L’objectif des forces démocratiques syriennes reste d’éviter que des éléments de Daech ne se laissent dépasser et tentent de conduire des actions sur leurs arrières. L’offensive a depuis repris. Poursuite des actions de sécurisation en Irak Pour contrer l’organisation terroriste, plusieurs opérations sont menées par les forces de sécurité irakienne en Ninive et dans le désert de l’Anbar. Elles ont permis cette semaine la destruction de plusieurs tunnels, la mise hors de combat de dizaines de terroristes et la neutralisation de nombreux engins explosifs improvisés. ACTIVITE DE LA FORCE Formation au profit des forces de sécurité irakiennes Élaboré à la demande de l’état-major de la 6e division irakienne, un stage « combat en zone urbaine » a été conduit par la Task Force Monsabert du 9 au 12 juillet. Le format retenu pour cette instruction résulte de l’analyse des retours d’expériences français et irakiens sur l’importance de la maîtrise des actes élémentaires du combat en zone urbaine. Cette formation couvre les techniques de progression, de sécurisation de bâtiment, ainsi que l’ensemble des savoir-faire caractéristiques du combat en zone urbaine. Ce stage, qui s’inscrit dans une dynamique de long terme, devrait contribuer chaque mois à la formation de quinze soldats des bataillons commando de la 24e brigade. La Task Force Wagram en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech présentes dans la vallée de l’Euphrate Les artilleurs de la Task Force Wagram demeurent engagés en appui de l’offensive contre les dernières poches de Daech dans la vallée de l’Euphrate. Depuis le lancement de l’offensive le 1er mai, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 195 missions de tirs, dont 6 sur la semaine écoulée (bilan du 11 au 17 juillet inclus). Depuis le début de son engagement, la Task Force Wagram a réalisé 1854 missions de tirs. Les bases aériennes en Jordanie et aux EAU en appui des operations Sur la semaine écoulée, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 24 sorties aériennes en appui des forces locales engagées au sol (bilan du 11 au 17 juillet inclus). Aucune frappe n’a été réalisée. Bilan total de l’action du pilier appui aérien depuis le 19/09/14 : 8238 sorties / 1453 frappes / 2244 objectifs neutralisés.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 13
  • (3 children3 women)
  • 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

Sources (2) [ collapse]