Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS731

Incident date

April 25, 2017

Location

كديران, Kdeiran, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.877429, 38.719676 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians died and others were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on a funeral in Kdeiran, according to local sources.

Alraqqa.Truth reported that Coalition jets “targeted a funeral procession with heavy machine guns”. Asharqiya Voice and the Syrian Network for Human Rights also said that Coalition aircraft used gunfire on the gathering.

According to Q_Alenzy, “more than 15 members of ISIL were killed by a Coalition bombardment of pumping station and two underground tunnels”.

Five civilian victims were named by multiple sources.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mustafa Al Sataf
Age unknown killed
Ismail Ali Al Abdullah
Age unknown killed
Joum’a Al Matar
Age unknown killed
Hamoud Al Jaber Al Jassim
Age unknown killed
Ahmed Hawash Al Hamad
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A news report by Jisrtv reveals the extent of the destruction in Kdeiran following alleged Coalition raids, April 25th (via Jisrtv)
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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Kdeiran, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 24th-25th, the Coalition reported: “Near Tabqah, seven strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed three ISIS command and control nodes, a fighting position, and a heavy machine gun; and suppressed two ISIS tactical units.” For April 25th-26th, the Coalition reported no strikes at Raqqa though noted that “Near Tabqah, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; and destroyed four fighting positions and a fuel truck.“ The Coalition later reported: "Near Tabqah, on April 25, two strikes destroyed two fighting positions" and * "On April 24, near Tabqah, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; and destroyed two fighting positions and a rocket-propelled grenade team"

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]