Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1644

Incident date

April 19, 2018

Location

حارة البدو, Al Badou neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.961778, 39.006083 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that two civilians were killed as a result of SDF shelling on the town of Al Soussa at night.

A number of sources identified the two casualties who, according to a tweet by Deir Ezzor 24, were hit by “missile shelling” from SDF forces stationed at “the Omar oil field”. A tweet by Deir Ezzor Now specified that the woman was the wife of Mohammed Khashan Al Naiem’s brother.

All sources identify the SDF as the culprit. However, some sources make mention of SDF “artillery” and “shelling”. At present, it is unclear whether or not SDF has access to artillery, indicating a possible Coalition action. Other reports from the Syrian Network for Human Rights and Baladi specified that the SDF fired projectiles via a missile launcher on Al Soussa. Deir Ezzor Now instead reported that the damage was the result of “rocket-propelled grenades”.

In the first of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time. This event was previously erroneously dated to October 2017.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Khashan Al-Najem Dagger
Age unknown male killed
Alia Mohammed Hilal
Age unknown killed

Summary

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

Sources (18) [ collapse]

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU797230
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 9, 2020
  • Apr. 19, 2018, in Al Soussa, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3161/CS1644 37SFU797230

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 19th, the Coalition reported that “On April 19 in Syria, Coalition military forces conducted one strike consisting of one engagement against Daesh targets.

Summary

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

Sources (18) [ collapse]