Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS781

Incident date

May 8, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between seven and ten civilians died and dozens more were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike on a vehicle carrying displaced civilians at the outskirts of Raqqa, according to local media.

The Step News Agency reported: “On Monday, May 8, the International coalition committed a new massacre in Raqqa province after it targeted a convoy transporting displaced civilians from the countryside of Homs and eastern Hama. The convoy had left Raqqa city and was heading towards Akeirbat in eastern Hama, killing 10 people in an initial toll. Th victims decided to flee from Raqqa after the situation worsened.” The victims were also named by Al Latamna Youth Union.

Other sources also blamed the Coalition, reporting that a bus carrying displaced people was hit. The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the death toll at at least seven

One source, Tayyal91aa, claimed that the incident was fake, reporting that “The missile hit next to the bus and no casualties were reported and that the bus continued its way and arrived safely in Akrabbat with passengers all safe.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Allawi al-Khalaf
Age unknown male killed
Allawi al-Khalaf's Daughter in Law
Age unknown female killed

The victims were named as:

Hassan al-Hamdan
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 10
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (13) [ 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Homs, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SBU957899
    Military Grid Reference System

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 May 7th-8th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed 13 ISIS barges and two excavators.”
For May 8th-9th: “Near Raqqah, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed five weapons storage caches and an ISIS barge.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 10
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]