Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1237 RS2353

Incident date

July 19, 2017

Location

قرية الجبلي, Al Jabli, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.791111, 39.319722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A civilian male and a female were killed following airstrikes in the Al Jabli village in Raqqa governorate. However, it was contested as to who was responsible, with some sources blaming Russia, while others blamed the US-led Coalition.

Al Sabkha reported on the “martyrdom of the sister Khadija Yousef Al-Hamoud Al-Akla was resident in her uncle’s house and minor wounds to the rest of the family”.

One source, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS), claimed that Russian warplanes were responsible, whereas the Syrian Network for Human Rights alleged that the Coalition was to blame.

Three further sources also alleged that Russia was responsible, however their reports were carbon copies of the RBSS report and therefore the allegations are effectively single sourced.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

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
  • Stated location
    near Jabli, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 19th-20th: “Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, a supply cache, and a tunnel; and suppressed a mortar team.” It additionally reported that “On July 19, near Raqqah, Syria, 19 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units; destroyed 34 fighting positions, two IEDs, and a VBIED; and damaged four fighting positions and a mortar position.” And also that “On July 19, near Raqqah, Syria, two strikes destroyed two ISIS fighting positions and a storage facility and suppressed a mortar system.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Wednesday 19 July – Tornados destroyed an explosives warehouse in northern Iraq, whilst Typhoons and Tornados struck a command post and defensive position in Raqqa…Update: air strikes against Daesh – GOV.UK In northern Iraq, intelligence had identified a warehouse near Hawijah in which large quantities of homemade explosives were being stored by Daesh. A flight of RAF Tornados attacked the building with two Paveway IV guided bombs, and demolished it on Wednesday 19 July. A mixed pair of one Tornado and one Typhoon meanwhile provided close air support to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighting to clear the terrorists from Raqqa. A coalition surveillance aircraft identified a Daesh defensive position, and our aircraft conducted a successful attack with a Brimstone missile. A terrorist command post was also identified within the city, and this was struck with two Paveway IVs.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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, Russian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]