Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS506

Incident date

February 18, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Land Bank, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died and six others were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, according to a single source, the Smart news agency.

Smart reported that “a local source, who preferred not to be named, said that the warplanes – likely belonging to the international coalition – launched three raids on the city, targeting the court, the al thakana neighbourhood, the Land Bank and the area around Imam al-Nawawi mosque.

“The medical source reported the death of two civilians and the injury of six others – some seriously – who were taken to the National Hospital of Raqqa. The injured included a child who was hit by shrapnel in the groin.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Land Bank (البنك العقاري), the area near Imam al-Nawai Mosque (الإمام النووي) and Al Thakana neighbourhood. The coordinates for the Land Bank (البنك العقاري) are: 35.952613, 39.008061. The coordinates for Imam Al Nawai Mosque (الإمام النووي) are: 35.956327, 38.999390. The coordinates for Al Thakana are: 35.9478905, 39.0067863.

  • The Land Bank (البنك العقاري), Imam al-Nawai Mosque (الإمام النووي) and Al Thakana neighbourhood.

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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 information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For February 17th-18th, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, seven strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed 70 oil barrels, three oil storage tanks, three fighting positions, two oil refinement stills and a weapons storage area; and damaged a bridge.” For February 18th-19th, they reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, 10 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed four oil storage tanks, three fighting positions, two ISIS-held buildings, two vehicles, a weapons cache, an oil refinement still and a communications station.” For February 19th-20th, they reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, eight strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and destroyed two ISIS headquarters, a vehicle, a command and control node, a VBIED, a VBIED facility, an artillery system, and a tunnel.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]