Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1403

Incident date

August 21, 2017

Location

البدو, Badou neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.961778, 39.006083 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a major casualty event, between 18 and 50 civilians reportedly died and up to 56 more were wounded – many of them women and children – as a result of alleged Coalition airstrikes on Raqqa’s Bedo neighbourhood, local media reported.

According to Baladi, “20 civilians, including women and children, were killed and dozens of people were injured as a result of the bombing of the Al-Badu neighborhood by the international coalition forces in the center of Al-Rigga city.”

The majority of sources put the death count at 18. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently published graphic images of child victims from the event. It put the death toll at around 20 – as did Sound and Picture, @ShahbaPress and @aghiad_alkhede.

Syrian Press Center said that as many as 40 died and that a residential building had been completely destroyed by the strikes.

Ahmad Shbli put the death toll still higher at 50, while other sources, including Hasaka Rasd, said that as many as 56 civilians were wounded.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights “documented the death of 42 civilians, including 19 children below the age 18 and 12 women above the age of 19” following alleged Coalition airstrikes “in Al-Sakhani and Al-Badw alleys and Al-Hadiqa Al-Baydaa’ area”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Retaj Ahmed Abdul-Sultan
Child female killed
Islam Ahmed Abdul-Sultan
Child female killed
Hadeel Ahmed Abdul-Sultan
Child female killed

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Badou neighbourhood (حارة) of Raqqah, for which the generic coordinates are: 35.961778, 39.006083.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Badou (البدو)

    Imagery:
    © 2019 Google

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18 – 50
  • (3–19 children1–12 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–56
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition raid raqqa's Bedo neighbourhood, August 21st 2017. (via RBSS)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition raid raqqa's Bedo neighbourhood, August 21st 2017. (via RBSS)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition raid raqqa's Bedo neighbourhood, August 21st 2017. (via RBSS)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition raid raqqa's Bedo neighbourhood, August 21st 2017. (via RBSS)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition raid raqqa's Bedo neighbourhood, August 21st 2017. (via RBSS)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition raid raqqa's Bedo neighbourhood, August 21st 2017. (via RBSS)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition raid raqqa's Bedo neighbourhood, August 21st 2017. (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of children who were killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike in Bedo, Raqqa, 21st August 2017. (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of children who were killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike in Bedo, Raqqa, 21st August 2017. (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of civilians who were killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike in Bedo, Raqqa, 21st August 2017. (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of children who were killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike in Bedo, Raqqa, 21st August 2017. (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of children who were killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike in Bedo, Raqqa, 21st August 2017. (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic video showing the bodies of children killed in Bedo during an alleged Coalition airstrike, 21st August 2017. (via Ahmad Shbli)
  • Children who were killed in the alleged Coalition airstrike on Bedo, 21st August 2017. (via Sound and Picture)
  • Children who were killed in the alleged Coalition airstrike on Bedo, 21st August 2017. (via Sound and Picture)
  • A child who was killed in the alleged Coalition airstrike on Bedo, 21st August 2017. (via Sound and Picture)

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 21st-22nd: “Near Raqqah, 20 strikes engaged 13 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 24 fighting positions, a vehicle, a logistics node and ISIS communications infrastructure.” It additionally reported that “On Aug. 21, near Raqqah, Syria, 24 strikes engaged 16 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 33 fighting positions, a logistics node, a mortar system, and an anti-air artillery system.” And that “On Aug. 21, near Raqqah, Syria, two strikes destroyed five ISIS fighting positions.” Also that “On Aug. 21, near Raqqah, Syria, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position.”

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18 – 50
  • (3–19 children1–12 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–56
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (25) [ collapse]