Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Between four to 20 civilians were reported killed and 12 or more injured after an alleged Coalition, Russian or Assad regime strike at al Basira, according to local media.
A photograph published by Euphrates Post showed what appeared to have been a major strike in a built up area of the town. And a video showed significant damage to a civilian neighbourhood, with a vegetable market also reportedly hit.
Most sources blamed the Assad regime, with Step News suggesting a far higher death toll: “Military regime aircraft today targeted a market in the town of al Basira resulting in a massacre of more than 20 people were killed.”
Ara news said 15 civilians were killed by Russia. Al Jazeera also pointed to Russia.
The Syrian Observatory said 10 died at al Basira in unidentified strikes. And Shaam News was also unable to blame the perpetrator.
Eldorar news made no mention of casualties – but said the Coalition had bombed al Basira bridge that day, “which is the last bridges in the eastern countryside linking the villages of the province, north of the Euphrates and villages south.”
In their May 2020 civilian casualty report, 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.
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention the town of al Basira (البصيرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.15618, 40.42716. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
Summary
Sources (19) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]
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Image of the contested airstrike targeting al-Basira, 30th September 2016. (via Euphrates)
Russian Military Assessment:
Original strike reports
Russia has not reported any strikes between September 1st – 30th 2016.
Syrian Regime Assessment:
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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Sept. 30, 2016, in Al Basira, 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. 3055/CS319 37SFU299912
Original strike reports
The Coalition reported from September 30 2016: ‘On Sept. 30, coalition military forces conducted 23 strikes against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 12 strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets'
Al-Basira however did not appear on the list of locations that it reportedly targeted.