Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1316a RS2379

Incident date

August 1, 2017

Location

الخميسية, Al-Khamesiya, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.764585, 39.564181 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A “number” of civilians were killed and wounded in an airstrike in al Khamissiya, east of Raqqa City – though it was not clear who was responsible. Some sources attributed responsibility to the Coalition, some to Russia and some to Assad’s regime.

Raqqa24 reported that there was “mass destruction” in al Khamissiya from Coalition aircraft – they did not however report any civilian harm.

The only known source that mentioned any allegations of civilian harm was Sound and Picture who stated that “a number of civilians were killed and wounded in Russian raids on a camp in the village”.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights placed blame on joint Russian forces and regime operations. They reported:

“Russian warplanes and aircraft of the regime carried out dozens of strikes with rockets and explosive barrels targeting the city of Muadan and the villages of Al-Khamisiyah, Jaber and Qubba al-Buhamd”.

Explosive barrels are weapons that are known to be used by Assad’s regime.

It was not clear how many civilians were killed or wounded in the attack.

In their August 2020 civilian casualty report, 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.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between April 1st - 31st 2017.

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
    37SEV511575
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 22, 2020
  • Aug. 1, 2017, in Al Khamesiya, 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. 3140/CS1316a 37SEV511575

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted nine strikes consisting of 10 engagements against
ISIS targets.
• Near Abu Kamal, one strike destroyed three ISIS well-heads.
• Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed an ISIS oil refinery.
• Near Raqqah, seven strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting
positions, two ISIS headquarters, an IED, an ammunition cache, and a fuel supply point.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]