Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS097

Incident date

July 11, 2015

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.90566, 39.17953 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A young civilian male named as Issa Al Hmeidan was reportedly killed along with an Islamic State militant in a confirmed US airstrike near Ar Raqaa. According to a number of sources, aircraft targeted a sugar factory which was used as a base by the militants.

In January 2016, CENTCOM admitted civilian casualties had been inflicted in the attack: “During counter-ISIL strikes it was assessed one civilian was killed. A post-strike review revealed a secondary explosion from a vehicle crossing a bridge nearby the intended target; this explosion resulted in one civilian likely killed.”

CENTCOM’s ommission of the deceased mans’ biographical details indicates that credible external sources had not played a major role in the casualty assessment.

In  July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with coordinates for this event to within an accuracy of a 100 metres box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 35.9505639, 39.0094148

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Killed by secondary explosion(s)
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV162735
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 22, 2016
  • On July 11, 2015, near Ar Raqqah, Syria, during counter-ISIL strikes it was assessed one civilian was killed. A post-strike review revealed a secondary explosion from a vehicle crossing a bridge nearby the intended target; this explosion resulted in one civilian likely killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Near Ar Raqqah, three airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, an ISIL structure and destroyed an ISIL excavator.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]