Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1424

Incident date

August 27, 2017

Location

Centre, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that ten civilians – including up to six children and four women and two men from one family – were killed following alleged US-led Coalition airstrikes in central Raqqa City.

The strike reportedly struck or targeted a building in which the the Al-Shakran family were sheltering. The family were displaced persons from Tadmur near Palmyra.

Syrianpc said it believed the US-led Coalition had conducted 133 air raids between 25th-27th August on Raqqa City, and blamed the Coalition for the attack that killed the Al-Shakran family. All sources documenting the incident asserted that the US-led Coalition was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (10)

Mohammed Ali Al-Shakran
Age unknown male killed
Faris Hussein Al-Shakran
Age unknown killed
Mahmoud Hussein Al-Shakran
Age unknown male killed
Fatima Salim Al-Shakran
Age unknown female killed
Mona Salim Al-Shakran
Age unknown female killed
Ahmed Mohammed Al-Shakran
Age unknown male killed
Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Shakran
Age unknown male killed
Asmaa Mohammed Al-Shakran
Age unknown female killed
Kasem Mohammed Al-Shakran
Age unknown killed
Fatima Mohammed Al-Shakran
Age unknown female killed

Geolocation notes

Airwars has insufficient information to geolocate the incident beyond Raqqa city centre. The assessment summary uses genetic coordinates for Raqqa: 35.9505639, 39.0094148.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • (3–6 children2–4 women)
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 27th-28th, “Near Raqqah, 29 strikes engaged 13 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 19 fighting positions, five logistics nodes, three vehicles, three ISIS headquarters, two VBIEDs, and two command and control nodes.” It additionally reported that “On Aug. 27 near Raqqah, Syria, 24 strikes engaged 20 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 22 fighting positions, two anti-aircraft artillery systems, and two logistics nodes.” And that “On Aug. 27, near Raqqah, Syria, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For Aug 23rd-29th, France report 8 strikes in Iraq and 11 strikes in Syria, plus 46 artillery missions in Tal Afar, Iraq.(@EtatMajorFR)

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • For Aug 23rd-29th, France report 8 strikes in Iraq and 11 strikes in Syria, plus 46 artillery missions in Tal Afar, Iraq.(@EtatMajorFR)

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • (3–6 children2–4 women)
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]