Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS952

Incident date

June 9, 2017

Location

الصناعة, Ar Raqqah: Sina'a neighbourhood (Mukhtalata, unknown location), Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.947746, 39.032995 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight civilians including four children and two women died in a declared Coalition airstrike on the al Mukhtalata area in Raqqa’a al Sina’a neighbourhood, local media reported.

According to the Syrian Press Center, “Coalition forces continue to commit the worst massacres against civilians in the city of Raqqa, under the pretext of eliminating terrorism. A massacre that killed eight martyrs and many wounded were carried out after targeting a mixed area with several air strikes. The International Alliance aircraft committed a massacre, two days ago, in Al Mukhtalata area in the industrial district in the city of Raqqa, which led to the deaths of 8 civilians, including four children and a woman.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights, who also blamed the Coalition, put the death toll at eight, including four children and two women.

Multiple sources – all attributing the event to the Coalition – named eight victims. 

The Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality” reported that an entire family of eight were killed when their family home was hit. On the ground field research reported that Najma, sister of Faddawi and his daughter Najahm, says strike was 15th. However, Ramadhan says it was Thursday at 9pm. She was at her cousin’s across the road.

Najma’s testimony stated “We were together and then I went to my cousins’ house across the road and my brother’s house was bombed and they were all killed. Why did they kill innocent people?”

Originally deemed to be non-credible by the Coalition, their assessment was revised on March 10, 2022 in the CJTF-OIR Civilian Casualty Report that “Coalition aircraft
conducted a strike on ISIS terrorists in a building. Regrettably, eight civilians were unintentionally killed due to their proximity to the strike.”

The incident occured at 21:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (8)

60s years old male killed
50s years old female wife of Faddawi Majim al-Nasser killed
35 years old male son of Faddawi Majim al-Nasser killed
20s years old female wife of Mahmoud killed
5 years old male killed
4 years old female killed
8 years old female killed
20 days old years old female killed

The victims were named as:

Eidah Mohammed Rahil
Age unknown male killed

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

A building was struck at 35.947746, 39.032995. According to Amnesty research it was the family home of said victims.

  • Before strike. (via Amnesty)

  • After strike. (via Amnesty)

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (4 children2 women2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Aida Mohammed, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike, 9th June 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Faddawi Majim Al-Naser & wife Aida Mohammed, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike, 9th June 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Faddawi Majim Al-Nasser, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike, 9th June 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Hisham Al Nasser, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike, 9th June 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Mahmoud Majim Al Nasser, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike, 9th June 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Nour Al Nasser, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike, 9th June 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Reem Al Nasser, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike, 9th June 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Mahmoud Majim Al Nasser with his three children Hisham, Nour & Reem, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike, 9th June 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Victims house. (via Amnesty)
  • Victims house. (via Amnesty)

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.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    8
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEC0297578153
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 10, 2022
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.

  • Coalition aircraft conducted a strike on ISIS terrorists in a building. Regrettably, eight civilians were unintentionally killed due to their proximity to the strike. 2688 37SEC0297578153

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

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

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (4 children2 women2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (8) [ collapse]