Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS052

Incident date

February 6, 2015

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

A Jordanian airstrike against an “ISIL weapons compound” – in coordination with the US military – allegedly killed US aid worker and hostage Kayla Mueller, along with up to 30 militants from Islamic State. The US later said that “with the information that we have there’s no evidence of civilians in the target area prior to the coalition strike taking place.”

ISIS later sent Kayla’s family photographic proof of her death, which was then shared with the US intelligence community for analysis. According to White House spokesman Josh Earnest, the information “did not allow them to reach a conclusion as to the precise cause of her death.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights later claimed that ISIL suffered major losses in the attack, which was in retaliation for the burning to death of a captured Jordanian pilot: “At least 30 jihadists, and certainly more, were killed in coalition raids on Friday against positions and depots sheltering military vehicles and tanks, east and west of the city of Raqqah.”

Internally, CENTCOM reported that “Jordan officially denied the allegation,” adding that “Analysis of photographs indicates individual was unlikely killed by airstrikes.” Claims that the Coalition had killed Mueller were therefore dismissed as “Not credible. No further inquiry required.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Kayla Jean Mueller
Adult female American aid worker held hostage by ISIS killed

Summary

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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The building allegedly targeted by the coalition in which the American aid worker Kayla Jean Mueller was held by ISIS. ISIS said she was killed in the strike which took place 'during Friday prayer' on 6th February 2015. [Via: pro ISIS website called Releases for the Islamic State]
  • The building allegedly targeted by the coalition in which the American aid worker Kayla Jean Mueller was held by ISIS. ISIS said she was killed in the strike which took place 'during Friday prayer' on 6th February 2015. [Via: pro ISIS website called Releases for the Islamic State]
  • The building allegedly targeted by the coalition in which the American aid worker Kayla Jean Mueller was held by ISIS. ISIS said she was killed in the strike which took place 'during Friday prayer' on 6th February 2015. [Via: pro ISIS website called Releases for the Islamic State]

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
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015
  • Alleged Jordanian airstrike, but Jordan officially denied it.

Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
  • position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Alleged Jordanian airstrike, but Jordan officially denied it.

Summary

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

Sources (5) [ collapse]