Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1402

Incident date

August 21, 2017

Location

Tawassouiya, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

One civilian, named as Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Sumair, was killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, according to multiple local sources.

There are no other details at this time.

In February 2019, the Coalition assessed this event to be non-credible. Their reported 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.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Sumair
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident solely mention the city of Raqqa (الرقة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. 

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Mr. Abdul Rahman Mustafa Al-Sumair, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, August 21st 2017. (via Ar Raqqa Ahna)

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 Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV982798
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 28, 2019
  • Aug. 21, 2017, near 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.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 21st-22nd: “Near Raqqah, 20 strikes engaged 13 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 24 fighting positions, a vehicle, a logistics node and ISIS communications infrastructure.” It additionally reported that “On Aug. 21, near Raqqah, Syria, 24 strikes engaged 16 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 33 fighting positions, a logistics node, a mortar system, and an anti-air artillery system.” And that “On Aug. 21, near Raqqah, Syria, two strikes destroyed five ISIS fighting positions.” Also that “On Aug. 21, near Raqqah, Syria, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]