Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1166

Incident date

July 6, 2017

Location

الفردوس, Fardous, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.954025, 39.006268 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians from one family, including three children and their mother, were killed and two further members of the family were injured in alleged Coalition airstrikes on the Al Ferdos neighbourhood of Raqqa, according to local sources.

The source also reported that Mounir al Hariri and Taher al Hariri were injured in the strikes and that the family was in Raqqa as a result of being displaced from Palmyra.

According to RFS Media Office, “dozens of shells” (presumably artillery) had fallen on the neighbourhood, killing five civilians including children.

Palmyra Media Centre later reported “the death of the wife of Munir Al Hariri (a barber next to Al Iman mosque) after their house in Raqqa was bombed by Coalition forces.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Anwar Hassan al Hariri
Adult female killed
Mohammed Nour al Hariri
Child male killed
Shatha Nour al Hariri
Child female killed
Jana Nour al Hariri
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Mounir al Hariri
Age unknown injured
Taher al Hariri
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Jana Al Hariri, killed - along with four members of her family - by an allege Coalition airstrike on Al Fardous, 6th July 2017. (via RBSS)
  • An entire family killed by an allege Coalition airstrike on Al Fardous, 6th July 2017. (via Palmyra Media Center)
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 information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV005788
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 6th-7th: Near Raqqah, nine strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed seven fighting positons, an ISIS headquarters, and a VBIED.” It additionally reported that “On July 6, near Raqqah, Syria, eights strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed five fighting positions, a recoilless rifle, a weapons cache, and an ISIS-held building.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Thursday 6 July – Tornados and Typhoons struck two terrorist targets in Raqqa, and four in western Mosul…Two Royal Air Force Typhoons, armed with Paveway IV bombs, operated over Raqqa on Thursday 6 July. Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) encountered a large building on the southern edge of the city, close to the bank of the Euphrates, which was heavily defended by Daesh extremists. Two Paveways struck the building and brought an end to the terrorists’ activity. A mixed pair of a Typhoon and a Tornado were also active over Raqqa, and these aircraft bombed a sniper position which had been firing persistently at the SDF.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

In the past week, France reports 21 sorties and 4 strikes, 2 in Raqqa and 2 in Iraq. Task Force Wagram conducted 15 artillery strikes in Mosul. Since September 19th 2014, it reports 1311 strikes, 2076 targets destroyed and 6775 sorties.

‘Point de situation des opérations Armée française – Opérations militaires·Thursday, 13 July 2017 CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, A Raqqah, la manœuvre d’encerclement menée au Sud de la ville pour couper les combattants de Daech de leurs soutiens est terminée. Dans la ville, la progression des Forces Démocratiques Syriennes se poursuit maison par maison, face à une défense de Daech faite d’actions permanentes de harcèlement, d’infiltrations et d’attaques suicides menées avec l’aide de boucliers humains. Les Forces armées syriennes se heurtent aux défense de Daech plus à l’Est et les positions se stabilisent. En Irak, Dimanche 9 juillet, le Premier ministre irakien a annoncé la libération de Mossoul. Cette victoire sur l’organisation terroriste marque le succès de forces irakiennes appuyées par les forces aériennes de la Coalition et un soutien artillerie, au cœur d’une stratégie qui aura permis d’affaiblir Daech avant de contre-attaquer en remontant le Tigre et de progresser ensemble jusqu’au cœur de la ville après l’avoir encerclée. Désormais, les forces de sécurité débutent une longue phase de sécurisation de Mossoul. La nécessité de nettoyer la ville des très nombreux pièges posés par Daech, la présence de combattants-suicides disséminés au sein de la population, la probable présence de cellules terroristes dormantes, va imposer aux Forces de Sécurité Irakiennes de poursuivre leurs efforts pendant de longues semaines. Les combats se concentrent désormais dans le secteur de Tall Afar où bon nombre de combattants terroristes ont trouvé refuge après avoir fui la zone de Mossoul. Daech poursuit de son côté ses actions terroristes dans les régions de l’Anbar et d’Hawijah où l’organisation dispose encore de forces importantes. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 21 sorties aériennes dont 19 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 2 missions de recueil de renseignement. 04 frappes ont été réalisées dont 02 dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 15 missions de tir dont 14 de harcèlement et 01 d’éclairement. Le bilan global depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève 1311 frappes, 2076 objectifs et 6775 sorties. ‘

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • For July 5th-11th, France reports 4 strikes – 2 in Iraq and 2 in Syria (Raqqa) and 15 artillery strikes in Mosul. (via EtatMajorFR)

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (14) [ collapse]