Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS252

Incident date

July 8, 2016

Location

تل السمن, Tal al Samin, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.2273118, 38.9727974 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported killed in an alleged Coalition night raid on the village of Tal al Samin.

According to Local Civil Defence of Syria, “Coalition planes launched a raid last night on the village of Tal Al Samin south of the town of Ain Issa, which led to the death of two civilians – after a group of Daesh members sneaked into the village.

The Syrian Press Centre also reported the deaths, noting they occured “after an infiltration attempt by a group of IS to the village, which was dominated by People’s Protection Units and a brigade of Raqqa’s rebels after fierce battles with IS in the region, according to the local coordination committees.”

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

Jassem al Ahmad Al Hamdo
Age unknown male From the village of Tal Al samin killed
Shawwakh Ismail al Shawwakh
Age unknown male From the village of Tal Al samin killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA975091
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • July 8, 2016, in Tal al Samin, 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. 2999/CS252 37SDA975091

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 8th-9th 2016 the Coalition reported that “Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes struck two ISIL-used bridges.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]