Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS1224

Location

هشام عبد الملك, Ar Raqqah: Hisham Bin Abd Al Malek neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.93963, 39.01852
Accuracy: Exact location (via Airwars)

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S1073)

At least 9 and up to 15 members of the Salamah family died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa’s Hisham Bin Abd al Malek neghbourhood. Local media reported this incident in July of 2017: According to Ahmad al Shibli, Marwan Al Salama and his entire family of nine people were killed when a Coalition missile struck their home. Alraqqa Alhadath reported that Mr Al Salama was an engineer.Step News Agency put the death toll higher at 12 “from the same family”, while Raqqa rwb reported that ” 15 senior and young people” from the family, which had been displaced from Deir Ezzor, were still unaccounted for.

In February 2019, the Coalition assessed this event to be non-credible. Their report noted: “After 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.”

During investigations of this event for the April 2019 joint Airwars and Amnesty report War in Raqqa: Rethoric versus Reality (www.raqqa.amnesty.org), Amnesty field researchers found that 9 members of the Salamah family were killed in this strike and were able to identify the precise location. The report notes: “Immediately after a double air strike killed 10 Shabshoul family members and neighbour on 13 July 2017, a third air strike destroyed a house across the road, where the Salamah family was sheltering, killing Baydoor al-Jarad-Salamah and her daughter, Iman al-Dueihi-Salamah and her three children, and the chidren’s grandfather.” One of the survivors, Majid, spoke to Amnesty researchers: “My wife and I had waited for 13 years for a child and finally we had been blessed with a lovely daughter, Aya, who was 15 months old. Both Aya and my wife were killed killed in the strike.” The investigation also found that the strike took place between 8.30 and 8.45 pm on July 13, 2017, whereas Airwars had initially reported that it took place on July 17, 2017.

Victims

Family members (12)

Marwan Salama
67 years old male Majid and Sajid's father killed
Sajid Marwan Salamah
Adult male killed
Qaed Marwan Salama
Adult male killed
Shifa’a Salame
Adult female killed
Badoor Fayek al Jarad
35 years old female Majid's wife killed
Iman al Dweihi
37 years old female Sajid's wife killed
Marwan Sajid Salamah
7 years old male Sajid's son killed
Lian Sajid Salamah
Child female killed
Lamar Sajid Salamah
Child male killed
Kinan Sajid Salameh
2 years old male Sajid's son killed
Aya Marqan Salamah
1 years old female Majid's daughter killed
Maia
6 years old female Sajid's daughter

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Civilians reported killed
9–15
4 Children, 3 Women

Geolocation Notes

House in which 9 members of the Salamah family died before the strike (July 7, 2017)

Imagery: Amnesty International

House in which 9 members of the Salamah family died after the strike (July 19, 2017)

Imagery: Amnesty International

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Non credible / Unsubstantiated
Reason for non-credible assessment
Other
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
Stated location
near Hisham Bin Abd al-Malik neighborhood, Raqqah, Syria
Location accuracy
100 m
MGRS coordinate
37SEV017773
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For July 17th-18th: “Near Raqqah, 16 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 13 fighting positions, two ISIS-held buildings, a tactical vehicle and an UAS.” It additionally reported that “On July 17, near Raqqah, Syria, nine strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed a fighting position and an ISIS command and control node.”
French Military Strike Report
For July 12th-18th, France report 11 strikes: 7 in Syria (6 in Raqqa) and 4 in Iraq. There were 26 artillery strikes in Mosul. Since September 19th 2014 France has carried out 1322 strikes, with 2090 targets destroyed and 6812 air sorties. Additionally, they’ve carried out 1310 artillery missions.
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2019-02-28
Original Source
July 17, 2017 near Hisham Bin Abd al-Malik neighborhood, Raqqah, Syria via Airwars report. After 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.

Media From Sources (2)