Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1135

Incident date

July 1, 2017

Location

شارع مدرسة حميدة, near Hamida School, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.955949, 39.001119 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A civilian male who initially survived an alleged Coalition white phosphorus attack on 1 July in the neighbourhood of Hamida School in Raqqa reportedly died of his injuries on July 16th.

Initial images of his injuries near the time of the attack showed he suffered from severe burns and images which appear to be taken shortly after his death, showed little improvement in his condition.

All ten sources who reported the white phosphorus attack alleged that the Coalition was responsible.

In their June 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.

The victims were named as:

Eid al Mahmoud
Adult male also known as Abu Ismail, according to Sharqiya Voice killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mr Eid al-Mahmood, who later died of injuries reportedly sustained in a Coalition white phosphorous attack on Raqqa, 1st July 2017. (via Alraqqa24n1)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mr Eid al-Mahmood, who later died of injuries reportedly sustained in a Coalition white phosphorous attack on Raqqa, 1st July 2017. (via RBSS)
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
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV001790
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 24, 2020
  • July 1, 2017, in Raqqah, 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. 3118/CS1135 37SEV001790

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 1st-July 2nd: “Near Raqqah, nine strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed seven fighting positions, a tactical vehicle, a front-end loader, a mortar system and a heavy machine gun.”

It additionally reported that “On July 1, near Raqqah, Syria, five strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units, destroyed a fighting position and a heavy machine gun, and suppressed 27 fighting positions.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Saturday 1 July – A Reaper eliminated a mortar team and Typhoons dealt with a heavy machine-gun, both in Raqqa. Tornados hit three Daesh positions in Mosul…A Reaper remotely piloted aircraft patrolled over Raqqa on Saturday 1 July. A mortar was reported firing on the SDF, and the Reaper’s crew spotted its muzzle flashes from a position concealed beneath a tree. A Hellfire missile destroyed the target. Typhoons were also active over the city, where they used a Paveway IV to silence a heavy machine-gun which was holding up an SDF advance.'

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (11) [ collapse]