Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1286b

Incident date

July 22, 2017

Location

Ar Raqqah: Museum square, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.94572, 39.01725 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Investigations for the April 2019 joint Airwars and Amnesty report War in Raqqa: Rethoric versus Reality (www.raqqa.amnesty.org) reported that on July 22 nine members of the Al-Zanna family were killed in a coalition air strike while sheltering in a basement under a parade of empty shops in Museum Square. Hours later another Coalition air strike two streets away killed 15 other members of the same family who were sheltering on the ground floor of a four-storey building. The second strike can be found here: CS1286a. Amnesty researchers spoke to a relative, Abdellatif: “The family had tried to leave Raqqa but Daesh (IS) prevented them, and Daesh also kicked them out of home near the old mosque. So, they took shelter in whatever place they thought they would be safe.” The strike happened between 1.30 and 2pm. Amnesty also interviewed a survivor named Salah Ahmad Hamdan, 46, who survived with Dhiba, Khalil’s wife, who testified to the event.

In July 2019 the Coalition announced that it had assessed this allegation of civilian harm to be non-credible. Their monhtly civilian casualty report noted: “After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.”

The incident occured between 1:30 pm and 2:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (9)

Fatima Mahmoud Mohammed
42 years old female wife of Salah Ahmad Hamdan, Mahmoud Mohammed's daughter killed
Ahmad Ahmad Hamdan
23 years old male Fatima and Salah's son killed
Mohammed Ahmad Hamdan
18 years old male Fatima and Salah's son killed
Mahmoud Ahmad Hamdan
16 years old male Fatima and Salah's son killed
Mahmoud Mohammed al Zunna
67 years old male Marian's husband, Fatima's father killed
Mohammed Rasool Al Zunna
20 years old male Khaled and Muna's son killed
Khaleel Mohammad Al Zunna
20 years old male Marian and Mahmoud's son, Fatima's brother, Daleel's husband killed
Mariam Mohammad Al Zunna
8 years old female Khaleel and Dhiba's daughter killed
Mahmoud Mohammad Al Zunna
5 years old male Khaleel and Dhiba's son killed

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

  • Building in which 9 members of the Al Zanna family were killed, before the strike (July 19, 2017)

    Imagery:
    Amnesty International

  • Building in which 9 members of the Al Zanna family were killed, after the strike (July 29, 2017)

    Imagery:
    Amnesty International

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (3 children1 woman5 men)
  • 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
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
  • Stated location
    in Raqqa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV014783
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2019
  • Jul. 22, 2017, in Raqqa, Syria, via Amnesty International report. After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 28th-29th: “Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units; destroyed eight fighting positions, an artillery system, and a vehicle; and suppressed a fighting position.” It additionally reported that “On July 28, near Raqqah, Syria, 16 strikes engaged 12 ISIS tactical units, destroyed an anti-air artillery system, and damaged seven fighting positions.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Friday 28 July – a Tornado and Typhoon pair struck a Daesh position in Raqqa…Another mixed Tornado and Typhoon pair assisted the SDF in Raqqa on Friday 28 July, and a Paveway IV was used to destroy a terrorist position.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (3 children1 woman5 men)
  • 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