Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS888

Incident date

May 29, 2017

Location

حطين, Huteen, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.956389, 38.977778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two people were killed in Coalition raids on Huteen, according to local reports.

Shaam News Network reported Coalition raids claimed the lives of 6 civilians and wounded others in two locations: “Shukri Busan station, North Al-Sekka and Mazra’at Hittin”

Raqqa is Being Silently Slaughtered reported the death of a man named Yasser al-Kalu and another identified as Abu Aboud in Huteen.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Yasser al-Kalu
Adult male killed
Abu Aboud
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Yasser al-Kalu
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 Huteen, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV978793
    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 28th-29th: “Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed two fighting positions, two vehicles, two VBIED factories, two VBIED facilities, and an ISIS mechanical facility..” It additionally reported for May 28th that “Near Raqqah, Syria, four strikes destroyed a weapons cache, an ISIS staging area, and three fighting positions.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]