Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1250

Incident date

July 22, 2017

Location

البچري, Bajari, old town, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.94727, 39.01441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Bajari, according to local sources.

Smart News Agency and Baladi reported that “likely” Coalition raids on Bajari killed a woman.

In April 2019, the Coalition accepted responsibility for this event, noting: “Coalition aircraft struck an identified Daesh mortar firing position. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed and three more were unintentionally wounded due to their proximity to the strike.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the coordinates for this event accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

E’tedal Ahmed Hijo Ka’kaji
Adult female killed

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 35.948086, 39.015225

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Other
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    3
  • Stated location
    near Bajari, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV013781
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 25, 2019
  • July 22, 2017, near Bajari, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft struck an identified Daesh mortar firing position. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed and three more were unintentionally wounded due to their proximity to the strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 22nd-23rd: “Near Raqqah, nine strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units, destroyed eight fighting positions and a mortar system, and damaged two supply routes.” It additionally reported that “On July 22, near Raqqah, Syria, 12 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions, a storage facility, and a tunnel.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

In the last week (20th-27th) France reports carrying out two strikes in Raqqah, destroying two ISIL combat positions. Task Force (TF) Wagram carried out 21 artillery strikes in Mosul. The overall record of air activity since September 19th 2014 amounts to 1,324 strikes, 2,092 targets destroyed and 6,857 sorties.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, Dans la ville de Raqqah, Daech continue de perdre du terrain, jour après jour, face aux Forces Démocratiques Syriennes. Les combattants terroristes continuent néanmoins de disposer de solides positions défensives dans le cœur de la ville, à partir desquelles ils mènent des contre-attaques régulières et des actions de harcèlement. En Irak, Les forces de sécurités irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations de sécurisation de la ville de Mossoul, face à des équipes isolées de combattants qui continuent de mener des actions symboliques de harcèlement. Dans le même temps, Daech consolide ses positions autour de Tal Afar, pour tenter de résister à l’offensive prochaine de la Coalition pour libérer aussi cette ville. Daech poursuit par ailleurs ses actions de diversion et de harcèlement, en se concentrant dans les régions de l’Anbar et d’Hawijah. Certaines actions ont également été menées cette semaine dans l’Ouest de l’Irak, dans la région de Rutbah. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 45 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 04 missions de recueil de renseignement et 06 de ravitaillement en vol. Un C135-FR récemment déployé a en effet réalisé de nombreuses missions en quelques jours à peine, soutenant ainsi, à son niveau, la bascule des efforts de la Coalition vers les autres bastions de Daech. Deux frappes ont été menées dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah, détruisant deux positions de combattants ennemies, au contact des troupes alliées engagées. De ces positions, des tireurs de Daech tenaient sous leur feu les soldats alliés à une centaine de mètres à peine. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a réalisé 21 missions de tir dont 07 de harcèlement et 14 d’éclairement. Ces missions interdisent une offensive de contre des terroristes vers Mossoul. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève à 1 324 frappes, 2 092 objectifs détruits et 6 857 sorties. Le bilan global de l’activité artillerie atteint 1 331 missions.’

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Saturday 22 July – Tornados struck an engineering vehicle in northern Iraq…Update: air strikes against Daesh – GOV.UK The following day [July 22nd], a Tornado mission used a single Paveway IV to destroy an engineering vehicle which terrorists had attempted to conceal some miles north of Tall Afar. On Sunday and Monday, the RAF operations focused on supporting the SDF in Raqqa.

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • Coalition admit to supporting the SDF on 22 July 2017, Raqqa. (via CJTFOIR)

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]