Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1024

Incident date

June 17, 2017

Location

حي الرميلة, Al Rumaila, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.959444, 39.0325 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilian males were reportedly killed in the Al Rumeila neighbourhood of Raqqa following Coalition artillery shelling, or a rocket attack allegedly carried out by the US-backed SDF militia. The three victims were identified by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently and Raqqa RWB.

Four of the five sources who reported the incident alleged that the SDF was responsible.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Hassan al Hikar
Adult male killed
Hussein Ali al Za’iter
Adult male killed
Ibrahim Ahmed al Nayef
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Hassan Ali al-Zuaiter, killed in shelling on Raqqa's Rumeila neighbourhood, June 17/18th (via RBSS)
  • Ibrahim Hassan al-Hikar was reportedly killed in shelling on Raqqa's Rumeila neighbourhood, June 17/18th (Al-Raqqa Truth)
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
  • Stated location
    near Rumailah, Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV027801
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

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.”

For June 18th-19th the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed four vehicles, two fighting positions, two mortar systems, a VBIED, a tactical vehicle, and a heavy machine gun.” It additionally reported that “On June 18, near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units, destroyed eight fighting positions and a mortar system, and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.” And that “On June 18, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed five fighting positions; damaged eight fighting positions; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.”

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.

Unknown
  • 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.

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]