Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS1599

Incident date

October 7, 2017

Location

البدو, Baidou, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

A woman named as Zubaydah al-Rahim Sheikh Hassan and her daughter Reem Mohammad al Musa (pictured) died in the al Badou neighbourhood whilst trying to leave the city of Raqqah, local sources alleged. There was some discrepancy in reports, therefore it is not clear how the two died; in equal measure sources suspected the US-led Coalition and the explosion of a land mine to be the cause of death.

Asharq Alsouri said the mother and daughter (aged 3) died in the explosion in an attempt to flee parts of the city still controlled by so-called Islamic State, with the source reporting that three other members of the family were caught and arrested by ISIS during the attempt. The Syrian Committee for Human Rights also suspected a land mine explosion.

In contrast, Syrianpc and the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the US-led Coalition for the deaths. SN4HR reported that Zubaydah al-Rahim Sheikh Hassan and her daughter Reem Mohammad al Musa were “killed as International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on a house in al Bado area northwest of Raqqa city.”

At present the cause of death is unclear, Airwars will amend the entry when any new information arises.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Zubaydah al-Rahim Sheikh Hassan
Adult female Mother killed
Reem Mohammad al Musa
Child female Daughter killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The girl Reem Mohammad al Musa, born in 2014, killed with her mother Zubaida Rahim Sheikh Hasan (via Syrian Network for Human Rights)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the death of Internally Displaced People while attempting to flee the neighbourhood of Al Badou (البدو), for which the coordinates are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Badou (البدو)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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 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 October 6th-7th the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, 17 strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed a command and control node, seven fighting positions, two vehicles, and two communications infrastructures, and a VBIED; damaged two fighting positions, two communication infrastructures, two ISIS supply routes and suppressed one fighting position.” It additionally reported that “On Oct. 6, near Raqqah, Syria 23 strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed 17 fighting positions, six vehicles, a VBIED, and an ISIS supply road.”

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]