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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US-led Coalition
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Incident Code

CI847

Incident date

September 14, 2017

Location

عنه, Anah, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.372699, 41.986442 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported on the death of a family following an aerial bombardment on the residential areas of Anah, west of Anbar province.

The source said a woman and a girl died. However, the exact number of the family member was unclear. The US-led Coalition was not identified as a possible culprit, nor was any other actor. Airwars will add to this entry should any new pieces of information arise.

Al Rafidain also reported Anah Council as reporting the killing and wounding of 13 civilians, including children and women, with unidentified shelling.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 11
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A video captures the bloody aftermath of an aerial bombardment on the residential areas of Anah, west of Anbar province (Via Alrafidain Channel)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Anah (عنه), for which the coordinates are: 34.372699, 41.986442. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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 Anah, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SGU746075
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018

  • 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

For September 13th-14th, the Coalition reported: “Near Al Qaim, one strike destroyed an ISIS staging area. Near Rawah, one strike destroyed an IED facility.“

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 11
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–11
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1509

Incident date

September 18, 2017

Location

قریة السیال, Al Sayyal, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.5713889, 40.9066667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on al Sayyal village, according to local media – though there was uncertainty regarding two of the victims’ combatant status.

According to Jalaa, on man “of the village of Sayyal died after leaving Abu Kamal for Damascus. His family lost contact with him five days previously”. The source did not say how the victim died.

Two of the named civilians were allegedly killed  “by a raid targeting their vehicle near Sayyal”. However, published images of these men holding guns suggested that they may not have been civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Haj Hamid Ahmed al-Hattroush
Adult male killed
Mohammed Rajab al-Hanashul – aka Abu Zeid
Adult male killed
Khalaf al Dawas
Adult male reportedly Mohammed Rajab al-Hanashul’s “guard” killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (3 men)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Haj Hamid Ahmed al-Hattroush died in alleged Coalition strikes on Al Sayyal, September 18th (via Jalaa)
  • Mohammed al-Rajab al-Hanashul, aka Abu Zeid and his guard Khalaf Ahmed al-Dawas, nicknamed Abu Abdullah, were killed by suspected Coalition airstrikes which hit their vehicle near Al Sayyal, September 18th (via Lawhat Bukmalna)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Sayyal (قریة السیال), Al Boukamal countryside, Deir ez-Zor governorate. The coordinates for this village are: 34.5713889, 40.9066667.

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

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.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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 Sayyal, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018

  • 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

For September 17th - 18th, the Coalition reported: "Near Abu Kamal, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a logistics node and an ISIS headquarters" and "Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a VBIED and an ISIS headquarters"

For September 18th - 19th the Coalition reported: "On Sept. 18, near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and damaged three supply routes"

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Sunday 17 September – a Reaper eliminated a truck-bomb near Dayr az Zawr, while Tornados bombed a weapons store near Abu Kamal in eastern Syria…The next day, a Reaper conducted yet another successful attack north-east of Dayr az Zawr, eliminating a truck-bomb with a Hellfire, whilst to the south-east, close to the border with Iraq, two Tornados bombed a weapons store near Abu Kamal.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (3 men)
  • 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

CS1535

Incident date

September 27, 2017

Location

الرقة, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilian males died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqah, according to local sources.

Few additional details are presently known, though Mr Habal was said to have died in his home.

Ismail Akkush was, according to extensive Amnesty field research, killed alongside three other men, as reported in Airwars incident CS1536. We have therefore removed him from this incident despite sources reporting he died in this raid.

According to the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality” (https://raqqa.amnesty.org/), “An air strike killed four men who were burying their neighbour, Mohammed al-Wadi (47), who had been killed by Islamic State fighters the previous day, in another neighbour’s garden. During the war the dead were buried in parks and gardens, as it was impossible to reach the cemetery, which was outside Raqqa.” The garden belonged to Abdul Rahman al-Qantar. Ismail Akkush was one of those four men, according to a victims relative.

The relative (father) of Abdallah al-Wadi gave a testimony to Amnesty International stating that, “My son was shot dead by Daesh (IS) fighters and the following morning four neighbours were burying him in the garden of a nearby house when an air strike killed all four of them.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Osama Mar'i Juha
Adult male Known as Hamwi killed
Mohammed Walid Habal
Adult male Also known as Abu Alaa killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • Osama Merai Juha (right), killed in a strike on Raqqah, Sept 27th (via Waleed Matar)
  • Mohammed Walid Habal
  • Osama Mar'i Juha

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incidents mention the city of Raqqa (الرقة), for which the coordinates are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148. 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
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018

  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For September 26th-27th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 35 strikes engaged 15 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 26 fighting positions, four vehicles, four ISIS supply routes, a heavy machine gun and suppressed five ISIS tactical units.” It additionally reported that “On Sept. 26, near Raqqah, Syria, seven strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed 16 VBIEDs, three vehicles, two ISIS supply routes, a fighting position and suppressed two fighting positions.”

Summary

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

CS1563 RS2588

Incident date

October 2, 2017

Location

بقرص فوقاني, Bokros Foqani, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

35.090833, 40.398056 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 12 civilians, including an entire family, died in an airstrike on Bokros Foqani, local media reported. The culprit is currently unclear, though Airwars understands that the Coalition was not bombing in this territory at the time, while Russia reportedly was. Some sources also attributed the blame to the Syrian regime. 

According to Yasser Al-Zatra, “12 civilians, mostly children and women, died as a result of bombing by the American air force to the village of Buqrs Foqani”.

Euphrates Post put the death toll at 10 but didn’t identify the warplanes responsible. In addition to those listed below said that Zuhair al-Ayed’s entire family had died.

However, Step News Agency attributed the event to Russia, putting the death count at 10, “mostly women and children”.

One source reported that the raids struck “Hussein al-Ghandour house, Khader al-Rahil house, Samir al-Karim house, Al-Farabi secondary school, Post office centre, mosque (Issa al Mulla)” as well as some other unknown civilian homes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Zuhair al-Ayed
Adult male killed
Mahran Al-Shatti
Age unknown male killed
Wife of Ammar Al Asmar
Adult female daughter of Mohammed Al Hamdan killed
Mrs. Malikah Al-Ali Al-Thiab
Adult female killed
Hussein Al-Hassan Al-Mallah
Adult male killed
Son of Khaled Al-Hassan Al-Mallah
Age unknown male killed
Asaad Al-Hussein Al-Mallah
Age unknown male killed
Saad Hussein Al-Mallah
Adult male
Daughter of Khaled Hussein Hasan al-Mallah
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 12
  • (3 children1–4 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (31) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Bokros Foqani, 2nd October 2017. (via Al Habiba Bokros Abu Almais)
  • The aftermath of airstrikes in Bokros Foqani, 2nd October 2017. (via @MousaAlomar)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Buqrus Fawqani (بقرص فوقاني), eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, for which the coordinates are: 35.090833,40.398056. Note that Buqrus Fawqani (فوقاني بقرص, upper Bokros) and Buqrus, or Buqrus Tahtani (تحتاني بقرص, lower Buqrus) are neighbouring towns

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 October 1st-2nd the Coalition reporetd: “Near Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed two ISIS well heads and a fighting position.Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two headquarters.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 12
  • (3 children1–4 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (31) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1595

Incident date

October 6, 2017

Location

حديقة المرورية, الجميلي, Ar Raqqah: Between Hadika Al Mororia (Traffic Park) and Jumaili neighbourhood, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.958993, 39.001561 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four to five civilians were reported killed following alleged US-led Coalition airstrikes on the area between Al Hadika Al Mororia and Al Jumaili, Raqqah city.

According to Syrian Press Center, the “the International Coalition targeted more than 10 air strikes in the northern neighbourhoods of Raqqah” during this time.

Later reports from Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently referred to the area near Mosque al-Ansar as the location of the incident.

All sources alleged the US-led Coalition responsible.

Further field research done by Amnesty International reported that “Yasser Yusef al-Bakkur, Hsein Abdallah, 55, Khaled al-Hussein and Subhi Hamsho were killed with several others while fetching water from a water well.”

In addition to this, a cousin “Walid” of a victim reported in a testimony that “Wells were the only source of drinking water because the Coalition’s bombardments had destroyed the water network pipes. But the Coalition often bombed residents assembled at wells to get water. Many residents were killed in such strikes.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Subhi Hashmo
50 years old male owner of the Furat Tun lounge, a judge killed
Ahmed Al Hussein
Adult male not on the Amnesty dataset killed
Cousin of Yasser Yusef Bakkur
33 years old killed
Husein Abdallah
55 years old male killed
Khaled al-Hussein,
60 years old male father-in-law of Ousama al-Khabour killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (4–5 men)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

  • Building seen on satellite imagery before the strike (September 29, 2017)

    Imagery:
    Amnesty International

  • Building seen on satellite imagery after the strike (October 10, 2017)

    Imagery:
    Amnesty International

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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018

  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 5th-6th, the Coalition reported that “Near Raqqah, 29 strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed 23 fighting positions, two vehicles, a supply route, an IED, damaged a vehicle and suppressed three fighting positions.” It additionally reported that “On Oct. 5, near Raqqah, Syria, 10 strikes disrupted three ISIS supply routes, damaged five fighting positions, destroyed one fighting position, and suppressed one fighting position and one ISIS tactical unit.” And that “On Oct 5, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike damaged an ISIS fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (4–5 men)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI870

Incident date

October 16, 2017

Location

Al Qaim, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.3957715, 40.9943684 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to a single source, different areas of Al Qaim were targeted, resulting in possible civilian harm. The vague report noted Victims of aerial bombing of the international coalition aircraft in various areas of Qaim, west of Anbar.

At the moment there is limited information on the incident, Airwars will amend the entry when any new information arises.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention subdistricts being struck in the city of Al Qaim (القائم). Due to limited information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location of these areas. The generic coordinates for the city of Al Qaim (القائم) are: 34.3957715, 40.9943684.

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-Qaem, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • fter 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

For October 15th – 16th the Coalition reported that “Near Al Qaim, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed five supply routes, two VBIED factories and an ISIS-held building.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1655

Incident date

November 1, 2017

Location

سويعية, Al Suwei'iya village, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.4338889, 40.9333333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died in an airstrike on al Suwei’yia village, according to local media. A number of parties were blamed.

Euphrates Post didn’t say who was responsible for the airstrike, though Al Araby and Syrian Press Center blamed shelling by Iraqi forces.

According to Alaraby, “three civilians, including two women, were killed and three others were killed by an Iraqi air strike”. 7al added that 12 were also wounded in the incident.

Eldorar said that it was unknown whether the warplanes belonged to the Iraqi army or to the Coalition. It also put the death toll at three. Baladi News along with 7al said that Russian/ Assad regime aircraft may instead have been responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Suwayyah (سويعية) just South of Abu Kamal, for which the coordinates are: 34.4338889, 40.9333333

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 26, 2018

  • 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

For November 1st-2nd: “Near Abu Kamal, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS vehicle. Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units, destroying a fighting position and damaging a line of communication.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1686

Incident date

November 26, 2017

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

Up to 65 civilians including 20 or 21 children and nine women died in a major casualty event in al Sha’afa, local media reported. There was one allegation against the US-led Coalition, and also Egypt.

The majority of sources blamed Russia, with @7UFCmSxd0IUBffH saying that a family of 10 were among those killed.

Euphrates Post, also blaming Russia, said that the strike targeted the house of Antar ِAl Salama and Mujama’a Al Fendi. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that of the 44 who died 20 were children and 9 were women.

Sharqiya Voice reported several raids by unidentified warplanes, which struck the following locations: Antar Alsamal’s house, the house of Zubair, the Al-Fandi Commercial Complex.

Euphrates Post later reported that the death toll had risen to 51, while the Syrian Observatory put it at 53 including 21 children. It named the following victims. Names have identified 42 and 8 were unidentified.

However, Raqqa Post, also attributing the event to Russia, said that as many as 65 had died.

According to a BBC report, Russia denied responsibility for the event, with the defence ministry noting: “The Russian Aerospace Forces’ strikes in Syria target areas outside population centres, and only facilities of the international terrorist groups… The reports by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which is based in Great Britain, about the alleged strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces’ planes on the village of al-Shafah, are yet another fake.

Only one source pointed towards the Coalition. According to Zamanalwasl, Salama al Hussein from Euphrates Post told Zaman al-Wasl that an air strike carried out by aircraft believed to belong to the international coalition forces or Egyptian aircraft took place at dawn today on the compound of Alfandi in the town of Deir al-Zour. It claimed the lives of about 30 civilians and wounded dozens. The source said that the death toll was expected to rise due to the numbers of people trapped under the rubble.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Daugter of Joseph Nader Al Shaaban
female via Euphrates Post killed
Abdullah Nader Al Shaab
male via Euphrates Post killed
The wife of Abdullah Nader Shaaban
Adult female via Euphrates Post killed
The son of Abdullah Nader Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Ibrahim Nader Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Hussein Nader Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (4)

Alaa Ahmed Al-Zubair
female via Euphrates Post killed
The daughter of Alaa Khalid Al – Zubair
female via Euphrates Post killed
The mother of Alaa Khalid Al Zubair
female via Euphrates Post killed
Ahmed Khaled Al-Zubair
male via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (10)

Maouloud Abdul Razzaq al-Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Bashir Maouloud Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Bara’aa Nader al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Jarir Maouloud al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Nour Adel Al Sahab
via Euphrates Post killed
Ismail Jareer Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Maouloud Jarir Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Ammar Maouloud Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Abdul Razzaq Maouloud Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Muntaha Maouloud al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (2)

Daughter of Nadir Nasser al-Jubeir
female via Euphrates Post killed
The second daughter of Nader Nasser Al-Jubeir
female via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (7)

Nader Abdul Razzaq Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Nusra A’nan al Shaaban
via Euphrates Post killed
Mohamed Nader Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Kafaa Maouloud al Shaaban
via Euphrates Post killed
Anas Mohammed Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Nader Mohammed Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post killed
Yousef Nader Al Shaaban
male via Euphrates Post injured

Family members (4)

Khaled Matloub Al-Zaher
male via Euphrates Post killed
Khaled Matloub al Zaher’s wife
female via Euphrates Post killed
Khaled Matloub al Zaher’s daughter
female via Euphrates Post killed
Khaled Matloub al Zaher’s son
male via Euphrates Post killed

Family members (6)

Ammar Fakhri Bashir Al-Issa
male via Euphrates Post killed
Omar Fakhri Bashir Al-Issa
male via Euphrates Post killed
Bakr Fakhri Bashir Al-Issa
male via Euphrates Post killed
Osman Fakhri Bashir Al-Issa
male via Euphrates Post killed
Ahmed Nawar Marwah Al-Issa
male via Euphrates Post killed
Bashir Fakhri Al-Issa
male via Euphrates Post killed

The victims were named as:

Daughter of Khader Al-A’ntar
Age unknown female via Euphrates Post killed
Nader Nasser Al-Jubeir
Age unknown male via Euphrates Post
Hana Rachid Aldibs
Age unknown female via Euphrates Post

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42 – 65
  • (20–21 children9 women9–12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A tweet contains an image shows the aftermath of the air strike on al Sha'afa, on November 26, 2017 (via @7UFCmSxd0IUBffH)
  • A picture of one of the victim, who killed following strikes on al Sha'afa, Deir Ez-Zor, on November 26, 2017
  • A picture of one of the victims, who were killed following strikes on al Sha'afa, Deir Ez-Zor, on November 26, 2017

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Sha’afa (الشعفة), for which the coordinates are: 34.57888, 40.93441. The alleged Coalition strike targeted the Al Fandi (الفندي) residential complex, the location of which is unknown.

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
    al Sha'afa, Deir Ez-Zor
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU774280
    Military Grid Reference System

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For November 25th-26th, the Coalition reported: “Near Abu Kamal, five strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed four ISIS vehicles and a headquarters.”

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    42 – 65
  • (20–21 children9 women9–12 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]