Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1253

Incident date

July 23, 2017

Location

قرب مدرسة طارق بن زياد, Near Tariq Bin Ziad School, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.953056, 39.021944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 25 civilians died and dozens more were wounded in an alleged Coalition airstrike near the Tariq Bin Ziad school in Raqqa, according to local sources.

Damaspost put the death toll as high as 25, reporting “sources said that the American coalition fighters directly targeted Tariq ibn Ziyad School of Raqqa city center, and houses surrounding it, with a number of raids, pointing out that the school had been converted into collection point for civilians who could not flee to outside the city. The sources pointed out that the initial toll of the new massacre committed by the American coalition reached more than 25 martyrs, noting that the number is likely to rise due to the severity of some of the injuries”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Hassan Aliji
Adult male Nicknamed as Abu Ahmad killed
Wife of Hassan Aliji
Adult female killed
Son of Hassan Aliji
Child male killed

Family members (3)

Hossam Aliji
Adult male killed
Roua Aligi
Child female killed
Ahmed Aliji
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 25
  • (3 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Ruaa Aligi, killed along with her father and her brother in an alleged Coalition strike near the Tariq ibn Ziyad school, Raqqa, July 23rd 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Hossam Alija, killed alongside his two children in an alleged Coalition strike near the Tariq ibn Ziyad school, Raqqa, July 23rd 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Ahmed Aliji, killed alongside his father and sister in an alleged Coalition strike near the Tariq ibn Ziyad school, Raqqa, July 23rd 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Hassan Aliji, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, 22nd July 2017. (via Ar Raqqa janat Al Ard Public)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For July 23rd-24th: “Near Raqqah, seven strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed two fighting positions, a mortar tube, and a mortar facility; and damaged five fighting positions and a supply route.” It additionally reported that “On July 23, near Raqqah, Syria, nine strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, a vehicle, and a tunnel entrance; and damaged a supply route.” And that “On July 23, near Raqqah, two strikes damaged nine fighting positions.”

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

Sunday 23 July – Tornados and Typhoons attacked six Daesh positions in Raqqa… On 23 July, three flights of Tornados and Typhoons conducted missions over the city, in which they delivered successful attacks on six Daesh positions, using Paveways IV bombs and Brimstone missiles.

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 25
  • (3 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]