Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS103

Incident date

July 18–24, 2015

Location

الرقة‎, Al Sabahiah area of West Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

An alleged coalition strike on an Islamic State checkpoint in a suburb of west Raqaa reportedly killed 22-year old Omar Huwaidi Al Mueissat when a missile hit the family house.

His 17-year old brother Ali Huwaidi al Mueissat was also reported to have been severely injured in the incident, suffering a broken pelvis and wounds to the abdomen and chest.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered placed the event in the Al Sabahiah area of West Raqqa.

Reports placed this incident somewhere between July 18th and 24th.

In its civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year, the Coalition assessed this event as ‘not credible, asserting: “July 18, 2015, in Raqqah, 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. 2804/CS103 37SEV008785”.

Officials published a location for the event to within 100 metres of where they had remotely assessed the incident. After Airwars pointed out that the event had taken place in the Al Sabahiah area of West Raqqa, the Coalition agreed to again review the case.

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition again 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:

Family members (2)

22 years old male his surname is written as "Al Mueissat" in RBSS post killed
17 years old male Omar's brother. He suffered a broken pelvis and wounds to the abdomen and chest. his surname is written as "Al Mueissat" in RBSS post injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Omar Huwaidi Al Mueissat, aged 22, reportedly killed in a coalition strike at Ar Raqaa, July 18 2015 (via Raqaa is Being Slaughtered Silently)

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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV982782
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • Dec 5, 2019
  • July 18, 2015, in Raqqah, 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. 2804/CS103 37SEV008785

  • July 18, 2015, in Raqqah, 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. 2804/CS103 37SDV982782

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The coalition has confirmed strikes in the vicinity for July 24th-25th 2015: “Near Ar Raqqah, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL excavator and an ISIL bridge.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    ISIS