Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS910

Incident date

June 3, 2017

Location

الجسر القديم, Al Tayyar and al Jisr al Qadim, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Several civilians died and were injured in airstrikes and/or an artillery bombardment on the al Tayyar and old bridge area of Raqqa. It is currently unclear from reports who was responsible, though there were allegations against the US-led Coalition.

The Step News Agency reported that “several civilians” died in a strike by the Coalition, but Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently didn’t identify the warplane responsible for the raid.

According to an initial report by Smart News, there were “dead and wounded as a result of an aerial bombardment likely by the International Alliance on the neighborhoods of al Tayyar and the vicinity of the old bridge in the city of Raqqa”.

However, a subsequent report blamed “airstrikes and artillery shelling”. The report didn’t name the culprit, while Akhbaralan reported that the SDF were shelling in the area.

Baladi reported that the Coalition targeted the isir Qadim area, while according to Qasioun, “The [coalition] raids targeted river crossing boats in the area linking Jisir Qadim and Jisir Hadeeth, often used by civilians to move between the banks of the Euphrates River, in addition to the Sabaheya checkpoint of the organization, killing eight members of the organization [IS].”

Q_Alenzy said that a number of civilian vehicles were burnt in Coalition strikes on Jisir Qadim.

In June 2019 the Coalition announced that it assessed this allegation of civilian harm to be non-credible, noting “After a review of all available strike records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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 (11) [ 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
    Other
  • Stated location
    near Raqqa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV010766
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 27, 2019
  • Jun. 3, 2017, near Raqqa, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available strike records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 2nd-June 3rd the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 10 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 12 vehicles, five fighting positions, four tactical vehicles, two VBIEDs and an ammunition cache.” It also later added that on June 2nd “Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three fighting positions.”
For June 3rd-June 4th, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, 16 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units; destroyed 17 fighting positions, three vehicles, and an ISIS excavator; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit." For June 3rd, the Coalition added: "Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units, destroyed 10 fighting positions, and damaged one ISIS-held building"

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]