Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS088

Incident date

July 4, 2015

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.9662, 38.97006 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the second confirmed civilian fatality incident of the day in Raqaa, the Coalition later declared that “during strikes against 16 ISIL bridges, it was assessed one civilian in a truck with a trailer was likely killed.” US aircraft were responsible for the death, CENTCOM admitted some six months later.

Reporting remains confused for the city that day – a result of dozens of bombings by Coalition aircraft. As Raqqa is Being Slaughtered noted at the time, the air raids were “accompanied by the sound of ambulances going all over the city and a state of panic and fear among the civilian population.” There is no specific reference to a civilian killed with a truck and trailer – suggesting that this fatality was discovered as a result of US post-strike assessments.

In July 2019, the alliance provided Airwars with coordinates for this event to within a 100m box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 35.9505639, 39.0094148

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • July 04, 2015, Coalition Airstrikes video on Daesh-controlled structures near SRaqqah [via: US Department of Defense]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Killed by strike blast
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV973802
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 22, 2016
  • On July 4, 2015, near Ar Raqqah, Syria, during strikes against 16 ISIL bridges, it was assessed one civilian in a truck with a trailer was likely killed.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]