Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1565

Incident date

October 2, 2017

Location

التوسعية, Al Tawassiya, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.9633318, 38.9806321 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that 16 to 45 people were killed in a mass civilian casualty incident on al Tawassi’ya neighbourhood, Raqqah city. Some reports said that a shelter in the Traffic park area had been struck, while others said two buildings were hit.

The lowest overall death toll of “at least 19” came from the Syrian Network for Human Rights; the second highest was 40 killed, including women and children, documented by Raqqa Post. All other sources documented 45 deaths. Every source blamed the US-led Coalition for the attack.

The Euphrates Post reported that 16 civilians from one family died in a “massacre” reportedly carried out by the Coalition on a “residential building” in al Tawassi’ya.

The airstrikes reportedly targeted buildings in an area in which civilians were situated according to Amir al-Abbad, an Al Jazeera correspondent.

Further detail was provided by @Q_Alensy who alleged that two buildings in the neighbourhood, west of Baladi Stadium were targeted by the Coalition resulting in the loss of civilian life. UNOCHA noted in a later report that “On 2 October, an airstrike hit a water well located in the outskirts of the Al-Tawassoiya area in the north of Ar-Raqqa city, reportedly killing 45 civilians.”

On February 13th, Reporters without Borders stated “a number of bodies” were recovered from the Al Tawassi’ya neighbourhood, near Al-Ansar mosque. After a query from an Airwars researcher, the local source confirmed that over 45 civilians had been killed. The organization later sent Airwars photos of the bodies that had been pulled from under the rubble.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Tawwasiya (التوسعیة), for which generic coordinates are: 35.9633318, 38.9806321. Reports also mention strikes on residential buildings close to the Traffic park, near the Al Ansar mosque (الأنصار), for which the coordinates are: 35.959724, 39.001615.

  • Airstrikes struck residential buildings close to the Traffic park near the Al-Ansar mosque (الأنصار)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    19 – 45
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Photos of bodies pulled from al Tawassouiya neighbourhood (via Reporters Without Borders)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 1st – 2nd the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, 20 strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed 16 fighting positions, 11 vehicles; and disrupted two supply routes.” It additionally added that “Near Raqqah, Syria, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    19 – 45
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]