Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1463

Incident date

September 10, 2017

Location

الجميلي, Ar Raqqah: Jumaili neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.957956, 39.002033 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two to four civilians were reportedly killed in Coalition air or artillery strikes on the al Jumaili neighbourhood of Raqqa City. There was some conflict of information regarding the culprit, though most sources blamed the US-led Coalition.

Sources that did not mention the Coalition referred to “artillery shelling” and “airstrikes”. Airwars understands that only the Coalition have access to artillery in Raqqa.

According to Diralzour and Raqqa Documentation and Legal Network, two of the victims named were situated inside their home when the house was hit by airstrikes. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered also named an additional civilian male.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Osama Ibrahim Abdul Wahab al Khudar
Adult male killed
Mohammed Khalil Badran
Adult male killed
Mustafa Hussein Al-Hamoud
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Jumaili (الجمیلي), for which the coordinates are: 35.957956, 39.002033. Satellite imagery shows the destruction of a building in that area between 6 and 19 September, 2017, for which the coordinates are: 35.958282, 39.000639.

  • Structural damage seen in the neighbourhood of Jumaili (الجمیلي) (left: September 6, 2017; right: September 19, 2017)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Mustafa Hussein Al-Hamoud (via Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
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 al Jumaili, Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 9th – 10th the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, 34 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed 21 fighting positions, 16 vehicles, four heavy machine guns, two command and control nodes, a logistics node, and engineering equipment; and suppressed six fighting positions.”

For September 10th - 11th the Coalition reported •Near Raqqah, 23 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed 20 fighting positions, two logistics nodes, and a vehicle; and suppressed two fighting positions" It later reported, "Additionally, 15 strikes consisting of 21 engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on Sept. 10 that closed within the last 24 hours. On Sept. 10, near Raqqah, Syria, 11 strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed 14 vehicles, three fighting positions, a logistics node, and an anti-air artillery system; and suppressed a fighting position"

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Monday 11 September – Tornados destroyed two sniper positions in Raqqa, and attacked a Daesh-held compound and terrorists on a motorcycle near Dayr az Zawr…A flight of Royal Air Force Tornados supported the Syrian Democratic Forces fighting in Raqqa on Monday 11 September, when Paveway IV guided bombs were used to destroy two sniper positions. A second Tornado flight patrolled north-east of Dayr az Zawr, where they attacked a group of terrorists in a compound with a Paveway IV. Survivors of the attack then attempted to move to another position on a motorcycle, but were successfully engaged with a Brimstone missile.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]