Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS603

Incident date

March 21, 2017

Location

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.83444, 38.5466 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 20 civilians were reported killed and dozens more injured in Coalition airstrikes on multiple locations in Tabaqa, according to local sources. Some reports confused this incident with a reported nearby mass casualty event at al Mansour. The Coalition later said it had killed ten civilians in the town that day.

According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, “Warplanes launched raids on the city of al Tabaqa which targeted the gas depot and the industrial street [al Sina’a street] in the city, causing huge destruction in shops and some homes and seriously wounding many civilians.”

It went on to say that “Coalition planes targeted the building next to the garages in al Tabaqa”. The monitor put the death toll for the day at 20 non-combatants, with dozens more injured,

According to Step News, “sources close to IS reported 17 dead and dozens injured in international coalition raids on al Awwal [the first] neighbourhood in al Tabaqa west of Raqqa”. Sharqiya Voice reported that the Coalition had also carried out two raids near the hospital, as well as targeting the market. Smart News put the death toll at 15, reporting that the Coalition “launched five raids, targeting the garages areas, al Sina’a neighbourhood [the industrial zone] and the area near the obstetrics hospital”.

The Syrian Network, in its April report, described an attack on a carwash in the city: “Tuesday March 21 2017 fixed wing international coalition forces warplanes fired a number of missiles at al Manara carwash in al tabaqa city in the western suburbs of al raqqa governorate which resulted in the killing of six civilians at once including one child. The city is under the control of ISIS.”

Maysaloun school in the city was also reportedly hit – leading to confusion with the nearby al Mansour event at Badiya school on the same day. (See CS602 and CS604 for details).

In its October 2017 casualty report the Coalition noted: “3. March 21, 2017, near Al Tabaqah, Syria, via social media report: During a strike against ISIS headquarters structure, staging facility and internet café, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.”

Officials said the event took place at coordinates 35°50’04.0″N 38°32’47.8″E.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Abboud Dibo
Age unknown male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed
Ammar Dibo
Age unknown named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed

Family members (2)

Abdel Hamid al Bakri
Adult male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed
His son Ali
Child male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Mahmoud al Dhahhab
Age unknown male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed
Muhanad Hussen Al-Hamod Alkran
Age unknown male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed
Mustapha al Mansour aka Abu Munhal
Adult male named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–36
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (40) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • Mustapha al Mansour, Abu Munhal, killed in a Coalition raid that targeted Maysaloun, March 21st 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Hamid al-Bakri, killed in a Coalition airstrike on Tabaqah, 22nd march 2017. (via VDC)
  • Ali Hamid al-Bakri, killed in a Coalition airstrike on Tabaqah, 22nd march 2017. (via VDC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Tabaqah: al Nabablah, 21st March 2017. (via SN4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Tabaqah: al Nabablah, 21st March 2017. (via
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Tabaqah: al Nabablah, 21st March 2017. (via
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details. (via Syriahr)
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details.(via Halab today)
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details.(via Thoaralraqqa)
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details. (via RBSS)
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details. (via RBSS)
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details. (via RBSS)
  • A sample of images showing general destruction in Tabaqah, following a confirmed Coalition airstrike in the vicinity, 21st March 2017. See CS602 and CS604 for more details. (via Sharqiya voice)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected 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
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    10
  • Stated location
    near Al Tabaqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV5905165680
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • During a strike against ISIS headquarters structure, staging facility and internet café, it was assessed that 10 civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 20th-21st the Coalition stated: “Near Ar Raqqah, 19 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed four petroleum oil lubricant equipment pieces, three barges, three fighting positions, three ISIS headquarters, two VBIED facilities, two VBIEDs, a VBIED factory, a tunnel, a vehicle, a weapons storage facility, and a command and control node; and damaged two supply routes.”

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • On Mar. 21 #CJTFOIR conducted 29 strikes consisting of 60 engagements against ISIS terrorists in Syria & Iraq. MORE: http://ow.ly/O0uF30a9gt8 (via CJTFOIR)

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–36
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (40) [ collapse]