Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1322a RS2380

Incident date

August 2, 2017

Location

زور شمر, Zor Shamer, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.78379, 39.36559 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed in an airstrike in Zor Shamer, Raqqa, according to local media sources – though it was not clear who was responsible. Most sources attributed responsibility to Russian forces, though one reported that Coalition aircraft conducted the strike.

DeirEzzor24, reported that “Coalition aircraft targeted the area south of Hsaywa, Zor Shamer”.

Syrian Network for Human Rights was the only known source to mention any civilian harm and named the man who had died. They, along with all of the other known sources, attributed responsibility to Russia for the event.

In their August 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ibrahim Khaled al Qadour was killed in a contested Coalition-Russian airstrike in Zor Shamer, August 2 2017. (Via: SN4HR)
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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV330600
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 22, 2020
  • Aug. 2, 2017, in Zor Shamer, 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. 3141/CS1322a 37SEV330600

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 21 strikes consisting of 26 engagements against
ISIS targets.
 Near Raqqah, 14 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed nine fighting positions,
two vehicles, a supply cache, a VBIED, a mortar position, an ISIS UAS site, and a generator.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between August 1st-31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]