Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS131

Incident date

September 28, 2015

Location

معدان, Ma'adan, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.751769, 39.61639 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or more non-combatant males were reported killed in an alleged Coalition strike at Ma’adan by a number of sources. All were agreed that one unnamed man was killed and seven people injured.

The Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies and Raqaa is Being Slaughtered listed, Munzer Ali Al A’asskar, as having been killed in the event. However Munzer was listed by Syrian Martyrs as a ‘child’ having been killed on September 26th.

In its monthly civilian casualty report for November 2019 – published January 2nd 2020 – the Coalition said it had assessed the event as ‘non credible’ based on available information, noting: “September 28, 2015, in Ma’adan, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.”

The Coalition provided coordinates showing within 100 metres squared where it had focused its research.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male He is described as a child by Syrian Martyrs but as a 'young man' by The Damascus Centre and RBSS killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ma’adan (معدان), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.751769, 39.61639. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1–8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (4) [ collapse]

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 2, 2020
  • 9. September 28, 2015, in Ma’adan, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2849/CS131 37SEV557566

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 27th-28th 2015, the Coalition reported that “Near Ar Raqqah, one airstrike resulted in inconclusive results.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1–8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (4) [ collapse]