Dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed and injured in airstrikes and heavy artillery shelling by the US-led coalition on ISIS’s last remaining foothold east of Deir Ezzor on Monday.
Local news networks quoted local sources as saying that 10 civilians were killed and dozens more, mostly women and children, were wounded as a result of intensive airstrikes by the international coalition aircraft on the town of Al-Bagouz where remnants of ISIS militants are holed up.
The sources said that forces backed by the international anti-ISIS coalition launched a barrage of artillery shells and rockets on an IDP camp on the outskirts of Al-Bagouz. In addition to the civilian casualties, the shelling set many tents on fire.
The sources added that hundreds of airstrikes hit ISIS’s last remaining foothold east of Deir Ezzor as the PYD militia announced the launch of the final push against ISIS in its last remaining stronghold east of the Euphrates River.
Local news outlet Baladi News Network gave a higher death toll as it said that more than 50 civilians, mostly children and women, were killed and dozens more wounded in artillery shelling and aerial bombardment by the international coalition forces on Al-Bagouz.
The intensifying shelling and airstrikes caused an exodus of civilians from the ISIS-held towns of Al-Bagouz and Safafneh towards the PYD-held areas.
The Syrian Coalition earlier said that the bombing of civilians cannot be justified under any pretexts as it demanded that those responsible for these crimes be held to account. It also called for showing more caution and taking utmost precautions when launching airstrikes against the ISIS positions. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
