Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS308

Incident date

September 10, 2016

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.95809, 39.00111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five to six civilians died when a Coalition drone strike targeted a car allegedly belonging to members of Deash in the al Jameli neighborhood of Raqqa, according to local sources. CENTCOM later conceded that “near Ar Raqqah, Syria, during a strike against an ISIL target, it is assessed that five civilians were killed.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported: “A car in the center of Al-Raqqah city the main stronghold of the Islamic State in Syria[was] targeted by a drone“. Step News said two members of Daesh were killed inside the car.

According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered, an explosion was heard as “a result of a raid by a drone targeting a car near al Jameli building in the city centre.”

Raqqa Post also reported that five named civilians died, and added: “The international Coalition against Daesh led by Washington launches every now and then drone attacks against Daesh members and HQs in the city and usually these cause casualties among civilians who are living under the fundamentalist regime’s ‘mercy’ – and who are unable to leave the city due to IS forbidding the residents from leaving their lands.”

Shahba Press put the death toll at four, while Raqqa News Network said five died.

Syrian Press Center reported six civilian deaths, including one woman, while Radio al Kul said two were killed.

According to Step News, four civilians who were near the exploding car were killed by shrapnel.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Louay Attoura
Adult male killed
Yusuf Najjar
Adult male killed
Walid al Sheikh
Adult male killed
Abd al Karim al Nayef al Jumaa
Adult male killed
Majed Hussein al Faraj
Age unknown male killed
Ghada abd al Fattah
Adult female Wife of Farid Ba’aj, from Deir Ez-Zour killed

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest city at 35.9505639, 39.0094148

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 woman4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Abd al Karim al Nayef al Jumaa, killed in an alleged Coalition drone strike on Raqqa, Sept 10th (via Raqqa post)
  • Walid al Sheikh (via RBSS)
  • Abd al Karim al Nayef al Jumaa (via RBSS)
  • Majed Hussein al Faraj (via RBSS)
  • Translation: Activists: 4 civilians killed and others wounded in air raids on al Jameli neighbourhood in al Raqqa before mid night.
  • Translation: 5 martyrs killed yesterday in an air raid carried out by a drone targeting a car belonging to daesh in al Jameli neighbourhood.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    5
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV001793
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 9, 2016
  • during a strike against an ISIL target, it is assessed that five civilians were killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For September 10th-11th 2016 the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two supply routes and a vehicle“.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 woman4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (22) [ collapse]