Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS338

Incident date

October 16, 2016

Location

الجرنية, Al Jarnia, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.16054, 38.23337 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

12 civilians were killed, including a number of women and children, and several people injured following an alleged Coalition strike, according to local reports.

A number of outlets, including Step News Agency, Sada al Sham and Al Jisr TV reported that 11 civilians were killed in the attack, though this figure appeared to originated from ISIL-controlled Al A’amaq Agency, which also fingered the Coalition. Al Jisr TV reported that 2 women and 1 child were among the dead. Sada al Sham referred to “several” wounded.

The Syrian Observatory cited “warplanes believed to be from the international alliance” and referenced “the death of several people from the same family.” Other outlets, including Zaitoun Mag, noted the attack came just two days after a similar bombing in Al Ghazli, Raqqa governorate.

LCCSY put the death toll at 12 and also blamed the Coalition.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Age unknown Whole family killed killed

Family members (7)

Age unknown male killed
Age unknown female Mohammad Beik al Abdallah al Borsan's son killed
Age unknown male Mohammad Beik al Abdallah al Borsan's son killed
Age unknown female killed
Age unknown female killed

Family members (1)

Shawakha al Satam’s family
Several memebers

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 12
  • (2–7 children3–6 women)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Borsan Nasser al Borsan (via RBSS)
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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 Al Jurnia, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 15th-16th the Coalition reported that “Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged three ISIL supply routes and destroyed a vehicle.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 12
  • (2–7 children3–6 women)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]