Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS005

Incident date

September 28, 2014

Location

الجسر العتيق, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.935, 39.010833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged early morning coalition airstrike hit a small plastics factory on the Old Bridge Road in Ar Raqqah, the headquarters town of Islamic State in Syria. The strike reportedly killed the factory site’s young night watchman (or alternatively the owner).

In what may be a separate incident in the city, the Syrian Martyrs website (citing VDC) reported the death of a 21 year old man as a result of a coalition airstrike on Ar Raqqah” on September 28th. He was described as originally coming from Aleppo.

In July 2017 the Coalition said it had classed the event as Non Credible based on a lack of available evidence: “Sep. 28, 2014, near Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

Given the available evidence, Airwars continues to list this event as fair.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male described by VDC as the factory's night watchman killed
21 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Video posted by Abdulkader Hariri, filmed at night time, of resident walking towards rubble to see if they can find anyone and they find the body that they identify as Ismail. Video was included by a SNHR report published on 26th October 2014.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The body of Ismail Hussain Al Ibbou found under the rubble [Via: VDC]

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 evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The coalition has confirmed strikes in the vicinity of Ar Raqqah for September 27th-28th 2014: “U.S. and partner nations conducted airstrikes on four ISIL-held modular refineries and an ISIL command and control node north of Ar Raqqah; although we continue to assess the outcome of these attacks, initial indications are that they were successful.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]