Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1019

Incident date

June 17, 2017

Location

حويجة الصوفي, Hawijah al Swafi, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

A civilian male was killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, local sources reported. All five sources identified the victim by name like they all also alleged that the Coalition was responsible.

The victim was reportedly killed in his home near Al Jaraksa mosque, Q_Alenezy reported via Twitter.

On February 4th 2021 the US-led Coalition released in their monthly CIVCAS report an assessment that the event was deemed non-credible: “After a review of all
available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not
occur as a result of a Coalition action”, due to “insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition action resulted in civilian casualties”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Asel Abu al Hayef
Age unknown male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Hawijah al Swafi (حويجة الصوفي), 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
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Asel Abo Elhaf was reportedly killed by Coalition airstrikes on Hawijah al Swafi, Raqqa (via @Raqqa_SL)
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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV010780
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 4, 2021
  • Jun. 17, 2017, in Hawijah al Swafi. Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action. 1676/CS1019 37SEV010780

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For June 16th-17th the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 25 strikes engaged 21 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 34 fighting positions, three tunnels, three mortar systems, two vehicles and a VBIED facility.” It was additionally reported that “On June 16, near Raqqah, Syria, eight strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed four fighting positions, two ISIS headquarters, two VBIED facilities, and two VBIEDs; and suppressed a sniper team.”

For June 17th-18th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 12 fighting positions, two tunnels and a VBIED.” It additionally reported that “On June 17, near Raqqah, Syria, 13 strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, two command and control nodes, a VBIED, a tunnel, and a sniper position.” And that “On June 17, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and two snipers; destroyed two ISIS headquarters, two mortar systems, an anti-air artillery system, a VBIED facility, and an ISIS staging area; and damaged 11 fighting positions.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For June 14th-20th, 19 strikes were made by French aircraft in Iraq and Syria. Most of them were carried out during the Battle of Mosul, in support of the Iraqi fighters engaged in the fighting to drive ISIL out of its positions in the North of the Medina. The other strikes were carried out in support of the fighting for the capture of Raqqah, and against flows of arms and fighters in Iraq and Syria.

Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 34 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée ou d’appui au sol (CAS) et 3 de recueil de renseignements. 19 frappes ont été réalisées par les avions français en Irak et en Syrie. La majeure partie d’entre elle ont été réalisées dans le cadre de la bataille de Mossoul, en appui des combattants irakiens engagés dans les combats pour chasser Daech de ses positions au Nord de la Médina. Les autres frappes ont été réalisées en appui des combats pour la prise de Raqqah, et contre des flux d’armes et de combattants en Irak et en Syrie.

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Saturday 17 June – Tornados and Typhoons struck a Daesh-held building in Raqqa and six terrorist targets in Mosul…On Saturday 17 June, Tornados and Typhoons suppressed a Daesh position in Raqqa, and struck six more positions in Mosul, again using a Brimstone and Paveway IV mix to deal with snipers and a machine-gun team.

Summary

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