Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1180

Incident date

July 9, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah: Multiple locations, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Thirteen civilians died and 2 more were wounded in alleged Coalition air and artillery strikes on neighbourhoods in Raqqa, local media reported.

According to the Smart News Agency, “Coalition aircraft and artillery shelled the neighborhoods of Al Diriyah, Al Nahda, Al Rawda, al Panorama area, Shehata, and Saif al Dawla street near al Dalla roundabout, killing 13 civilians and wounding 22 others, including a whole family.”

Raqqa24 named one victim, an artist, while Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently published graphic images of victims “killed and injured by international Coalition airstrikes and by SDF shelling on Raqqa city”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Ghannam
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    22
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian in the aftermath of the alleged Coalition airstrike on various neighborhoods in Ar Raqqah. (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child, killed in the alleged Coalition airstrike on various neighborhoods in Ar Raqqah. (via RBSS)
  • An injured civilian in the aftermath of the alleged Coalition airstrike on various neighborhoods in Ar Raqqah. (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A number of deceased children, killed in the alleged Coalition airstrike on various neighborhoods in Ar Raqqah. (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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 28, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 9th-10th, “Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed seven fighting positions, a weapons cache, a supply cache, an anti-air artillery system, a tunnel, and an ISIS communications tower.” It additionally said that “On July 9, near Raqqah, Syria, nine strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 11 fighting positions.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Sunday 9 July – Typhoons bombed a firing point in Raqqa, and mixed pairs of Tornados and Typhoons helped the Iraqis clear one of the last remaining pockets of Daesh resistance in Mosul, striking four targets, including two snipers…Typhoons hit a further target in Raqqa on Sunday 9 July, whilst two mixed pairs of Tornados and Typhoons assisted the Iraqis as they fought at very close quarters in Mosul; our aircraft dealt with two snipers and two Daesh-held buildings. Prime Minister Abadi visited the city to mark its liberation.’

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 (2) [ collapse]

  • "The RAF are continuing to take the fight to Daesh in Iraq and Syria." (via DefenceHQ)
  • 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
    13
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    22
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]