Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1526

Incident date

September 25, 2017

Location

Al Badou neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.961778, 39.006083 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, Raqqa24 and the Shaam News Netowork, a number of civilians were killed and wounded when they were hit with artillery shells as they gathered to collect water in Raqqah’s al Badou neighbourhood.

Athr Press attributed the event to ground forces, saying that “four civilians were killed and others were injured when the SDF targeted the Bedou quarter with a number of rocket-propelled grenades.”

However, Shamnatv blamed ISIS, reporting that “a mortar shell from ISIS landed near a water well in Al-Badu neighborhood in the center of Al-Raqqa, killing a number of martyrs and injuring others.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the area near a water well in the neighbourhood of Badou (البدو) in the city of Raqqa. Airwars was unable to verify the location of the water well, however, the generic coordinates for the neighbourhood of Badou (البدو) are: 35.961778, 39.006083.

  • The neighbourhood of Al Badou (البد) in the city of Raqqa

    Imagery:
    © 2019 Google

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces, ISIS

Sources (7) [ collapse]

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 Badou, 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 24th-25th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 27 strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed 29 fighting positions, three vehicles; and suppressed a fighting position.” It additionally reported that “On Sept. 24, near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes destroyed an IED, an ISIS fighting position and 11 vehicles.” And that “On Sept. 24, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike destroyed an ISIS fighting position.”

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

ISIS Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    ISIS
  • ISIS position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces, ISIS

Sources (7) [ collapse]