Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Two or three children and an elderly woman died in an airstrike on a primary school at al Shaheel, according to local media – though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of the Syrian regime, Russia or the US-led Coalition.
Deir Ezzor 24, the Syrian Observatory and Euphrates Post reported only that unspecified warplanes had carried out the attack. The pro-regime site Al Ahed News instead said Assad’s forces had carried out the attack – as did Step News, Smart News, Syrian Press Center, and the Syrian Network (which said the attack was on a primary school.)
Masar Press and Deir Ezzor 24 instead blamed the Coalition.
In the most detailed report Syria News Desk – which blamed Russia – noted: “Media opposition activist Abu Wassim al-Dairi, quoting civilian sources said that ‘the air force targeted with two raids a secondary School in Al Shaheel which shelters displaced people from the village of Almrieih which is adjacent to the military airport at Deir Ezzor. The attack killed two children and an elderly woman and a man, and injured four others, all from one family. The bombing resulted in the destruction of the school building and extensive damage to nearby houses.”
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.
The victims were named as:
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Shaheel (الشحيل), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.0865, 40.45232. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
Summary
Sources (33) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]
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Malak Barhan Adel al Mushref, killed in alleged Russian, Syrian regime and Coalition raid on Al Shaheel, 30th September 2016. (via Euphrates Post)
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Image showing the aftermath of the alleged Russian, Syrian regime and Coalition raid on Al Shaheel, 30th September 2016. (via DeirEzzor24)
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Image showing the aftermath of the alleged Russian, Syrian regime and Coalition raid on Al Shaheel, 30th September 2016. (via DeirEzzor24)
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Image of the alleged location which was targeted by the Russian, Syrian regime and Coalition raid on Al Shaheel, 30th September 2016. (via DeirEzzor24)
Russian Military Assessment:
Original strike reports
Russia has not reported any strikes between September 1st – 30th 2016.
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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Sept. 30, 2016, in Al Shaheel, 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. 3056/CS320 37SFU323836
Original strike reports
Coalition strike reports mentions strike in the province of Deir Ezzor without mentioning the village in name.
"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. Near Abu Kamal, three strikes destroyed six oil tanker trucks, two vehicles, and an oil pump jack and damaged a vehicle and another oil tanker truck. Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed 24 oil tanker trucks and two oil well heads."