Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS221

Incident date

June 1, 2016

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Ten named civilians were reported killed in afternoon airstrikes on the Al Mashlab neighbourhood of Raqqa.

According to the local Civil Defence, “four civilians were martyred due to successive airstrikes by coalition warplanes on Mashlab neighbourhood according to local source.” The Syrian Observatory reported 10 civilian deaths from airstrikes in Al Mashlab and elsewhere in Raqqa, though did not attribute responsibility.

Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered also reported 10 deaths, most of whom it named: “The raids targeted the following sites: The houses of Ali Bashir, Mohammad Alkajwan and Ahmed al-Huwaidi, Al-Halisat mosque and the shops of Alkajwan family.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the Assad regime, putting the death toll at 10 including one child and two women.

Al Raqqa also said the regime were responsible, as did the Pride Revolution.

A Tweet by Aleppo Now alleged the Coalition were responsible: “coalition planes target al mashlab neighbourhood in raqqa – the biggest centre for Daesh – with several raids.”

RBSS published a number of reports on “warplanes” targeting the Al Mashlab neighbourhood, but did not say who the planes belonged to.

They said that the following areas were targeted:

1 – the hospitality areaof al Sheikh Ali Al Bashir

2 – the house of Hammoud al Kajwan

3- the house of Mr. Ahmad al Huwaidi

4- near al Kajwan shops.”

However, Raqqa News Network said that this was a Russian incident:

Treacherous Russian warplanes launched four raids on the city of Raqqa targeting the neighborhood of al Mashlab.”

While the Coalition has confirmed carrying out strikes in the vicinity of raw on June 1st, these appear to have targeted nearby oil facilities rather than the city itself. Both the Assad regime and Russia may also have been responsible.

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ali Alkajwan
Age unknown male killed
Ali Alkajwan's nephew
Age unknown male killed

Family members (2)

Mohammed Jerkh
Age unknown male killed
Walid Jerkh
Age unknown male killed

Family members (2)

A woman from Mustafa Al Obied family
Age unknown female killed
A woman from Mustafa Al Obied family
Age unknown female killed

Family members (1)

Hammoud al Kajwan and his family
Age unknown killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmed al-Huwaidi
Age unknown male killed
Hassan Alharweel
Age unknown male killed
Tamer Marzouk
Age unknown male killed
Issa Alkajwan
Age unknown male killed
Mahmoud Alkajwan
Age unknown male killed
Ahmad Alharweel
Adult male killed
Adel al Jarakh
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • (2 women)
  • 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 Regime

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad al Huwaidi (via RBSS)
  • Translation: regime planes launched 4 raids this afternoon targeting al Mashlab neighbourhood which led to the death of an entire family. (via Newsffffff)
  • Translation: raqqa - coalition planes target al mashlab neighbourhood in raqqa - the biggest centre for Daesh - with several raids.

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV043777
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • June 1, 2016, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2966/CS221 37SEV043777

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition reports for June 1st-2nd 2016 that “Near Ar Raqqah, three strikes destroyed six ISIL oil pump jacks and an ISIL crane.”

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • (2 women)
  • 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 Regime

Sources (18) [ collapse]