Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS949

Incident date

June 9, 2017

Location

Western neighbourhoods, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.947222, 38.991389 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Twenty-one civilians reportedly died and 19 more were wounded in Coalition airstrikes and/or artillery shelling by unidentified parties in Raqqa, local media said.

The IS media agency, A’maq, published videos reportedly showing the shelling and aftermath of US strikes using white phosphorous on “neighbourhoods and markets” in the city. The videos are however no longer available.

According to Baladi, “the International Alliance renewed its shelling of the city of Raqqa with white phosphorus, on Friday, while the militias of the Syrian Democratic Forces broke into the Romaniya neighbourhood after taking control of the entire neighbourhood of Al-Sahahia west of the city.”

Other sources blamed artillery. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently put the civilian death toll at 21, while Ahmad al Shibli said an additional 19 were wounded – most of them women and children – “following American artillery shelling”.

Al Raqqa Truth reported that artillery shells fell on the “al Panorama area near al Safa mosque”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21
  • Civilians reported injured
    19
  • 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 (10) [ 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 Al Panorama area, Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV991779
    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 June 8th-9th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, nine strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, three vehicles and a mortar system.” It additionally added that “On June 8, near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes destroyed four fighting positions and a VBIED.” And that “On June 8, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.”

For June 9th-10th: “Near Raqqah, 20 strikes engaged 12 ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven fighting positions, four vehicles, three ISIS headquarters, a VBIED, and an ISIS-held building; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.” It additionally added that “On June 9, near Raqqah, Syria, nine strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, two VBIEDs, two weapons caches, and an ISIS staging area.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Friday 9 June – Tornados struck a Daesh position in eastern Raqqa…On Friday 9 June, Tornados struck a Daesh position in eastern Raqqa.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21
  • Civilians reported injured
    19
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]