Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1372

Incident date

August 14, 2017

Location

Central neighbourhoods, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources said that 23 civilians were killed and 60 injured after alleged US-led Coalition strikes targeted neighbourhoods of Raqqa.

Sound and Picture reported that the “SDF militia” had engaged in the offensive during the daytime with “intensive artillery”, whilst the US-led Coalition conducted airstrikes in the night. Airwars understands that only the Coalition has access to artillery in Raqqa. The report details “intensive artillery shelling targeting the neighbourhoods of Al-Thankana, Seif Al Dawlah, Bahri” and “the al Fawaz mosques area”, supposedly by the SDF; and “several targeted raids” conducted by the Coalition “destroying large areas… “killing 23 civilians and “injuring fifty others”. The number of those injured rose to 60 in a report by Sharqiya Voice.

Euphrates Post blamed the Coalition for the strikes, as did the majority of sources.

Ahmad Jassim al-Khamisi, “a displaced man from the town of Maskana” was documented as “killed by aerial bombardment” in a Hasaka Rasd report. The death of Mohammed al-Hassan al-Tarn aged 55 was also noted following alleged Coalition strikes on his home, near the “stadium in the city of Raqqa”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed
Mohammed al-Hassan al-Tarn
55 years years old male killed
Qais Mohammed Al-Sayed
Age unknown male killed
Osama Ahmed Al-Akla
Age unknown male killed
Ahmed Mohammed Al-Hawadi
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    23
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    50–60
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians were harmed and killed in the strike (via RBSS)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports citing named mention multiple locations, spread across Raqqa, for this reason, Airwars assessment uses generic coordinate for the city: 35.9505639, 39.0094148. The Al-Shehab family were reported killed in a “five-story building” in the Al Badou (حارة البدو). The generic coordinates for Al Badou (حارة البدو) are: 35.961778, 39.006083.

  • Al Badou (حارة البدو) and the stadium (شارع النور) area.

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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 August 13th-14th the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, 16 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions, an anti-aircraft artillery system, a logistics node, a heavy machine gun, a vehicle and an IED.” It additionally reported that “On Aug. 13, near Raqqah, Syria, 17 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units; and destroyed 12 fighting positions, four vehicles, two logistics nodes, two ISIS communications lines, two communications infrastructure items, and an IED.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For Aug 9-15th, France report 2 strikes in Raqqah, Syria – and 13 artillery missions in Mosul.

French Military
  • English
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    Original

In the past week, (11th-18th) France conducted 27 sorties, including 22 armed reconnaissance and ground support (CAS), 1 refueling outlet and 4 intelligence gathering sorties by Atlantic 2 or Rafale patrols. Two strikes were carried out in the Raqqah region of Syria. They helped support the Syrian democratic forces in their offensive to retake the city.

OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, A Raqqah, la progression des forces démocratiques syriennes se poursuit. Au sud de la ville, la manœuvre de tenaille, amorcée il y a 15 jours, s’est achevée en fin de semaine dernière. Elle a permis de réaliser la jonction des fronts est et ouest. Depuis, les forces démocratiques syriennes ont relancé une offensive vers le centre de la ville mais elles font face à une défense acharnée des combattants de Daech. En Irak, Les forces de sécurité irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations dans l’objectif de libérer, à terme, le nord de l’Irak. Actuellement, elles focalisent leur effort sur l’encerclement de la ville de Tall Afar. Les combattants de l’organisation terroriste réalisent un travail de valorisation de leurs positions défensives pour se préparer aux combats à venir alors que les populations tentent de fuir la ville. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Les soldats de l’opération Chammal poursuive leur mission d’appui au profit des unités irakiennes engagées contre Daech. Cette semaine, sur le théâtre, les aéronefs ont réalisé 27 sorties aériennes dont 22 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), 1 sortie de ravitaillement ainsi que 4 sorties de recueil de renseignement par Atlantique 2 ou patrouille de Rafale. Deux frappes ont été conduites dans la région de Raqqah en Syrie. Elles ont permis d’appuyer les forces démocratiques syriennes dans leur offensive pour reprendre la ville. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 13 missions de tir en appui de la 15e division à l’ouest de Mossoul vers Tal Afar. En particulier, les artilleurs ont fourni des feux de harcèlement et d’éclairement pour interdire aux combattants de Daech de mener des actions au sol ou de réaliser des tirs indirects contre les positions irakiennes. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève 1330 frappes, 2102 objectifs détruits et 6946 sorties. ‘

UK Military
  • English
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    Original

‘Monday 14 August – Tornados and Typhoons struck five Daesh targets in Raqqa, and a truck-bomb command post in eastern Syria…A flight Typhoons destroyed a Daesh position in Raqqa on Monday 14 August with Paveway IVs. A mixed Tornado and Typhoon pair also patrolled over the city and they conducted Paveway IV attacks, which destroyed a sniper team and two machine-guns. The aircraft moved off towards the east of Syria, where a command post that was controlling truck-bomb attacks had been identified 40 miles south of Al Hasakah. This was destroyed with a further Paveway.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    23
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    50–60
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]