Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1594

Incident date

October 6, 2017

Location

بتاني, Ar Raqqah: Bitani roundabout, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.960554, 39.011972 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A family of six, the mother Amal al Huwaidi and her five children died following alleged US-led Coalition airstrikes on the al Batani roundabout area in al Badou neighbourhood, Raqqah city.

The source Mohammed Alabdullah did not apportion blame, however all others alleged the US-led Coalition responsible.

The family were, according to Amnesty International fieldnotes, realted to the al-Sayer family and the Al-Sheikh family, 22 of whom were killed in August 2017 due to Coalition airstrikes.

Research stated that “Amal Hammuda al-Huwaidi, a 42-year-old widow and her five children, aged 12 to five, were killed when an air strike destroyed the upper floor of the house where she and her family were sheltering. Her parents and her sister-in-law were on the ground floor of the same house and were not harmed.”

Khaled, the brother who survived the airstrikes gave a testimony to Amnesty International questioning “How can it be acceptable to bomb a house full of women and children? Such actions are unacceptable. Was it a mistake? Nobody had apologised for it.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

42 years old female teacher and widow killed
12 years old male Amal's child killed
11 years old male Amal's child killed
6 years old female Amal's child killed
5 years old male Amal's child killed
8 years old female Amal's child killed

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

  • Before strike. (via Amnesty)

  • After strike. (via Amnesty)

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (5 children1 woman)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Abdel Rahman, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on 6th October 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Amal Huwaidi, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on 6th October 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Hamed, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on 6th October 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Houda, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on 6th October 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • Children of Amal Huwaidi, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on 6th October 2017. (via Amnesty)
  • House of Amal Huwaidi and her children. (via Amnesty)
  • House of Amal Huwaidi and her children. (via Amnesty)
  • House of Amal Huwaidi and her children. (via Amnesty)

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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 5th-6th, the Coalition reported that “Near Raqqah, 29 strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed 23 fighting positions, two vehicles, a supply route, an IED, damaged a vehicle and suppressed three fighting positions.” It additionally reported that “On Oct. 5, near Raqqah, Syria, 10 strikes disrupted three ISIS supply routes, damaged five fighting positions, destroyed one fighting position, and suppressed one fighting position and one ISIS tactical unit.” And that “On Oct 5, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike damaged an ISIS fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (5 children1 woman)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]