Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1377

Incident date

August 16, 2017

Location

Wahda, Nahda and Bedu areas, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.959563, 39.002259 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 14 and 17 people were killed, and 30 to 74 injured in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Raqqa, local media said. According to reports, the neighbourhoods of “Wahda and Nahdha and the Bedu” were targeted.

Raqqa24 tweeted that the civilian deaths were a result of “bombing by Coalition aircraft” and SANA, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported that “seventeen civilians, including children, were killed Wednesday in air raids by the Washington-led international Coalition that targeted the remaining areas controlled by extremists in the northern city of Raqqa”.

One source, a tweet by @MOAZALSHAMY, cited both the US-led Coalition and Russia as contributors to the civilian casualty incident on Raqqa. However the majority of sources attributed sole blame to the Coalition.

Significant material damage around the Baladi Stadium neighbourhood was reported, including the destruction of a church, local sources said.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 17
  • (5 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–74
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

  • Significant damage to Raqqa's Baladi Stadium neighbourhood after an alleged Coalition raid, Aug 16th (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    GRAPHIC: A child victim in the aftermath of an alleged Coalition raid on Raqqa, Aug 16th (via RBSS)
  • Abdullah Bassam Alioui, killed alongside his brother in an alleged Coalition strike on Raqqa, Aug 16th (via Palmyra8)
  • Abdullah Bassam 'Aliawi (via SNHR)
  • Significant damage to Raqqa's Baladi Stadium neighbourhood after an alleged Coalition raid, Aug 16th (via RBSS)
  • Significant damage to Raqqa's Baladi Stadium neighbourhood after an alleged Coalition raid, Aug 16th (via RBSS)
  • Significant damage to Raqqa's Baladi Stadium neighbourhood after an alleged Coalition raid, Aug 16th (via RBSS)
  • Significant damage to Raqqa's Baladi Stadium neighbourhood after an alleged Coalition raid, Aug 16th (via RBSS)
  • Significant damage to Raqqa's Baladi Stadium neighbourhood after an alleged Coalition raid, Aug 16th (via RBSS)
  • Significant damage to Raqqa's Baladi Stadium neighbourhood after an alleged Coalition raid, Aug 16th (via RBSS)
  • Significant damage to Raqqa's Baladi Stadium neighbourhood after an alleged Coalition raid, Aug 16th (via RBSS)
  • Significant damage to Raqqa's Baladi Stadium neighbourhood after an alleged Coalition raid, Aug 16th (via RBSS)
  • Significant damage to Raqqa's Baladi Stadium neighbourhood after an alleged Coalition raid, Aug 16th (via RBSS)
  • Significant damage to Raqqa's Baladi Stadium neighbourhood after an alleged Coalition raid, Aug 16th (via RBSS)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention airstrikes on The White Garden area (الحديقة البيضاء), Wahda (الوحدة) neighbourhood, Stadium or Badou neighbourhood (حارة البدو), and Al Nour Mosque (شارع النور). The coordinates for Wahda (الحديقة البيضاء) are: 35.961667, 38.9975. The coordinates for The White Garden area (الحديقة البيضاء) are: 35.960301, 38.997814. The coordinates for Stadium or Badou neighbourhood (حارة البدو) are: 35.958629, 39.006328. The coordinates for Al Nour Mosque (شارع النور) are: 35.955556 38.9925 Airwars assessment summary uses a midpoint: 35.959563, 39.002259 Satellite imagery shows visible destruction at two locations 35.960907, 38.998598 and 35.958629, 39.006328 around the incident date. However, due to the intensity of strikes during the Battle of Raqqa, we cannot be confident that this is where the incident occurred.

  • The landmarks and neighbourhoods mentioned in incident reports.

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 15th-16th the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 30 fighting positions, a logistics node and an ISIS UAS.” It additionally reported that “On Aug. 15, near Raqqah, Syria, 37 strikes engaged 27 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 36 fighting positions, four IEDs, three ISIS communication lines, two command and control nodes, an IED factory, a heavy machine gun, and a vehicle.” And that “On Aug. 15, near Raqqah, Syria, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions and a mortar system.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Wednesday 16 August – Typhoons attacked a position in Raqqa, whilst Tornados bombed a mortar near Kisik in northern Iraq…Typhoons bombed another Daesh position in Raqqa on Wednesday 16 August

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For Aug 16-22, France report 5 strikes in Iraq and 2 in Syria. Task Force Wagram conducted 60 artillery missions.

French Military
  • English
    /
    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. ‘

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 17
  • (5 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30–74
  • 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]