Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1427

Incident date

August 28, 2017

Location

الحديقة البيضا, Hadika Al Bayda (White Garden), Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.9605703, 38.9976883 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 12 and 23 civilians were reported killed, and others wounded, following US-led Coalition airstrikes near The White Garden (Hadiqa Bayda) area, in Raqqa City.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights documented 12 civilian casualties, whereas the majority of other sources reported 17 or 18 killed, including women and children.

The air raid reportedly struck an apartment building, which led to significant material destruction and the bodies of those killed were reportedly “under the rubble”. According to Thiqa News, there was “difficulty moving the debris and the bodies due to continuous bombardment and lack of resources”.

There is some contestation regarding the specific location of the incident. Shaam News Network claimed The White Garden was in the Wanda neighbourhood, whereas all other sources cited The White Garden area. The US-led Coalition was cited as the culprit by all sources.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered later posted images of what it said was the destruction of the Mecca tower in the vicinity, while the Syrian Observatory later reported that “The SOHR documented the death of 23 persons, including 11 children and 3 women, as a result of shelling by the International Coalition warplanes that targeted Al-Raqqah center. Their bodies have been recovered and identified by their relatives and it turned out that most of them belong to the same family.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention The White Garden (الحديقة البيضاء) and Al Wahdah (الوحد) neighbourhood. The coordinates for The White Garden (الحديقة البيضاء) are: 35.960556, 38.9975. The generic coordinates for Al Wahda (الوحد) neighbourhood are: 35.960196, 39.000776. Airwars is unable to geolocate the photographs of the destroyed buildings, it is possible that they show the aftermath of an unrelated incident.

  • The White Garden (الحديقة البيضاء) and Al Wahdah (الوحد) neighbourhood in Raqqa city.

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 23
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, 28th August 2017. (via Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, 28th August 2017. (via Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, 28th August 2017. (via Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)

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 28th -29th the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed nine fighting positions, a logistics node and a VBIED.” It additionally reported that “On Aug. 28, near Raqqah, Syria, 46 strikes engaged 32 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 37 fighting positions, two VBIEDs, a UAS, and a command and control node.” And that “On Aug. 28, near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed five fighting positions.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Monday 28 August – Typhoons hit three terrorist-held buildings in Raqqa, whilst Tornados and Typhoons struck ten positions north of Tal Afar…Raqqa operations continued on Monday 28 August, when Typhoons hit three more terrorist-held buildings. In Iraq, Iraqi forces engaged Daesh forces positioned several miles north of Tal Afar, and our aircraft provide close air support, conducting attacks on ten buildings occupied by the extremists.’

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
    12 – 23
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]