Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS809

Incident date

May 12, 2017

Location

Khirbat Farms, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.06517, 39.04342 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 1m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the deaths of two civilians in an airstrike near the hamlets of Khirbat farms and Ruhayyat in Raqqa province.

Their August 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a strike on an ISIS VBIED, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that two civilians, not previously observed during the engagement, were unintentionally killed.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a one metre box. The location given placed the event between the two village, with Khirbat farms reported captured by the SDF the day before.

Local sources had reported fierce battles for control of Yarmouk, with Euphrates Post noting on the same day that “The separatist militias and with help of an aerial bombardment by international coalition aircraft secured control of Yarmouk Farms north of the city of Raqqa.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known 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
    Unseen at time of engagement
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    2
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV0391091178
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017
  • May 12, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS VBIED, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that two civilians, not previously observed during the engagement, were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 11th-12th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, three VBIEDs, two ISIS oil storage tanks, two ISIS oil stills, two excavators, a front-end loader, an IED, and an ISIS staging area.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]