Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1251 RS2357

Incident date

July 22, 2017

Location

لصبخاوي, Sabkhawi, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.695, 39.236667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians including one child died during a night time airstrike on Sabkhawi, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether the US-led Coalition or Russia were responsible.

Smart, the Shaam News Network and R.Tahrir.Alsham blamed the Coalition for the strike.

However, Baladi, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently and Mohab Naser blamed Russia.

According to Syrian Press Center, “Russian warplanes deliberately targeted a gathering of displaced people in the village of Bir al-Sabkhawi”.

Raqqa rwb – who also blamed Russia – named another victim. This was the only source which claimed the event occurred on July 21st. All others said it happened in the early hours of July 22nd.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim al-Hudairi
13 years old male named by Raqqa-freedom1, from Rahbi vllage killed
Khamis al-Hisat
13 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (13) [ 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 Sabkhawi, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV214250
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 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 July 22nd-23rd: “Near Raqqah, nine strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units, destroyed eight fighting positions and a mortar system, and damaged two supply routes.” It additionally reported that “On July 22, near Raqqah, Syria, 12 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions, a storage facility, and a tunnel.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

In the last week (20th-27th) France reports carrying out two strikes in Raqqah, destroying two ISIL combat positions. Task Force (TF) Wagram carried out 21 artillery strikes in Mosul. The overall record of air activity since September 19th 2014 amounts to 1,324 strikes, 2,092 targets destroyed and 6,857 sorties.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, Dans la ville de Raqqah, Daech continue de perdre du terrain, jour après jour, face aux Forces Démocratiques Syriennes. Les combattants terroristes continuent néanmoins de disposer de solides positions défensives dans le cœur de la ville, à partir desquelles ils mènent des contre-attaques régulières et des actions de harcèlement. En Irak, Les forces de sécurités irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations de sécurisation de la ville de Mossoul, face à des équipes isolées de combattants qui continuent de mener des actions symboliques de harcèlement. Dans le même temps, Daech consolide ses positions autour de Tal Afar, pour tenter de résister à l’offensive prochaine de la Coalition pour libérer aussi cette ville. Daech poursuit par ailleurs ses actions de diversion et de harcèlement, en se concentrant dans les régions de l’Anbar et d’Hawijah. Certaines actions ont également été menées cette semaine dans l’Ouest de l’Irak, dans la région de Rutbah. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 45 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 04 missions de recueil de renseignement et 06 de ravitaillement en vol. Un C135-FR récemment déployé a en effet réalisé de nombreuses missions en quelques jours à peine, soutenant ainsi, à son niveau, la bascule des efforts de la Coalition vers les autres bastions de Daech. Deux frappes ont été menées dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah, détruisant deux positions de combattants ennemies, au contact des troupes alliées engagées. De ces positions, des tireurs de Daech tenaient sous leur feu les soldats alliés à une centaine de mètres à peine. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a réalisé 21 missions de tir dont 07 de harcèlement et 14 d’éclairement. Ces missions interdisent une offensive de contre des terroristes vers Mossoul. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève à 1 324 frappes, 2 092 objectifs détruits et 6 857 sorties. Le bilan global de l’activité artillerie atteint 1 331 missions.’

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Saturday 22 July – Tornados struck an engineering vehicle in northern Iraq…Update: air strikes against Daesh – GOV.UK The following day [July 22nd], a Tornado mission used a single Paveway IV to destroy an engineering vehicle which terrorists had attempted to conceal some miles north of Tall Afar. On Sunday and Monday, the RAF operations focused on supporting the SDF in Raqqa.

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • Coalition admit to supporting SDF in Raqqa on 22nd July 2017. (via CJTFOIR)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]