Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Multiple sources reported on the death of one civilian as a result of an airstrike on Al Soussa.
Euphrates Post and Masar Press both stated that the civilian casualty was a result of a drone strike. Euphrates Post went on to say that the drone had targeted an ISIS vehicle – and that shrapnel from the car had caused the death of the civilian. The report also identified the non combatant victim as Awad Al-Hamid Al-Fahad.
Damascus Now and a tweet by Samidoun Press mentioned the Coalition as the culprit.
In May 2019 the Coalition announced that it had assessed this allegation of civilian harm to be non-credible, noting “After a review of all available strike records 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 (4) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention the alleged Coalition airstrike (possibly a drone) targeted a car in the village of al Soussa (السوسة), for which the coordinates are: 34.528889, 40.9675
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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May 31, 2018, near al-Susah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available strike records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.
Original strike reports
For May 31st, the Coalition reported that “On May 31 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of seven engagements against Daesh targets. Near Abu Kamal, four strikes engaged one Daesh tactical unit, destroyed three Daesh vehicles, one Daesh command and control center and one Daesh fighting position.”
Thursday 31 May – Typhoons and Tornados destroyed two compounds in eastern Syria, used by the terrorists as a headquarters and equipment store…The focus for RAF attacks for the remainder of the week were terrorist facilities in eastern Syria towards the border with Iraq. On Thursday 31 May, flights of Tornados and Typhoons joined forces to deliver an attack with twelve Paveway IVs against two large adjoining compounds, which were being used by Daesh as a headquarters, weapons store and muster point. All twelve weapons hit and destroyed their intended targets.
For the 2nd straight week, Dutch F-16s fired weapons near Abu Kamal and Hajin in Deir Ezzor. The Dutch MoD reported that between May 30th-June 5th, aircraft targeted ISIS fighters and logistics centers in three missions. Jets supported ground troops in 9 missions, including in Nineveh, Iraq.
‘Weekoverzicht Defensieoperaties Nieuwsbericht | 06-06-2018 | 12:00 In de strijd tegen terreurorganisatie ISIS ondersteunden Nederlandse F-16’s grondtroepen tijdens 9 missies. Bij 3 daarvan zijn wapens ingezet. Dat gebeurde in de omgeving van Abu Kamal en Hajin in de provincie Deir Al Zour in Oost-Syrië. Hierbij zijn onder andere ISIS-strijders en logistieke opslagplaatsen aangevallen. Ook is gevlogen boven de Irakese provincie Ninawa. Een overzicht van Defensieoperaties in de week van 30 mei tot en met 5 juni 2018. Militaire instructeurs in Irak leren Koerdische strijders gebieden te beveiligen. Daarbij staan onder meer wapenhandelingen, medische verzorging, oorlogsrecht en civiel-militaire samenwerking op het programma. De door de coalitie opgeleide instructeurs verzorgen een deel van de opleiding. Een Nederlands chirurgisch team opereert in een Amerikaans role 2-hospitaal in westelijk Irak. Het team werkt nauw samen met Noorse medici.’