Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1425

Incident date

August 27, 2017

Location

الأنصار, Ar Raqqah: Ansar mosque, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.959724, 39.001615 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The death of between one and three people was reported by local media sources, following alleged US-led Coalition strikes on the city of Raqqa.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights “documented the death of three people after the bombing of downtown Raqqa by International Coalition aircraft”, though did not provide details of the civilians reported killed.

Two other sources identified one victim of the strikes, a young man who was located near the Mosque Al Ansar when he was killed. All sources said the US-led Coalition was responsible for the attacks.

While most reports of the casualties emerged on September 1st, the Facebook site Documentary of Victims of Ar Raqqa said Mr al Saeed died on August 27th.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Mohammed Al-Saeed
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ahmed Mohammed Al-Saeed, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, 27th August 2017. (via Raqqa24)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention Al Ansar Mosque (الأنصار) in Wahda (الوحد) neighbourhood. The coordinates for Al Ansar Mosque (الأنصار) are: 35.959724, 39.001615.

  • Al Ansar Mosque (الأنصار)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 27th-28th the Coalition reported “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

‘Sunday 27 August – Typhoons and Tornados bombed ten Daesh positions in Raqqa.’

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
    1 – 3
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]