Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS144

Incident date

November 14, 2015

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah [exact location], Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.955939, 38.992188 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three civilians died in a Coalition airstrike on Raqqa, the alliance later confirmed.

At the time the Syrian Observatory cited “reliable sources’ as saying that “Coalition warplanes targeted a heavy machine gun for IS near al-Nour mosque but missed the target and killed 3 people at least by opening fire on a house.”

Airwars initially listed the event for November 15th. In its monthly July 2017 report, the Coalition denied responsibility, saying it had conducted no strikes in the near vicinity that day: “Nov. 15, 2015, near Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties. “

After reassessing original reports, the reported incident [originally S140] was identified by Airwars as likely having occurred on November 14th. The Coalition has since confirmed a civilian casualty event on this date. According to the Coalition’s August 2017 monthly casualty report, “Nov. 14, 2015, near Raqqah, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS vehicle, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed and one was injured.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a one metre box. The location given placed the strike next to the Al Nour mosque in the an Nadah neighbourhood of Raqqa.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV9929579061
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017
  • Nov. 14, 2015, near Raqqah, Syria, via self-report: During a strike on an ISIS vehicle, after reviewing post-strike video, it was assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed and one was injured.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 13th-14th the Coalition reported that “Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes destroyed an ISIL building.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (11) [ collapse]