Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS388

Incident date

November 23, 2016

Location

مزرعة ميسلون, Maysalon Farms, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.055761, 38.946362 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 25 civilians were reported killed following alleged Coalition evening airstrikes in the Maysalon farmlands area north of Raqqa.

The Syrian Observatory reported two civilian deaths from Coalition actions – while others placed the death toll at 10, 16 and even 25. According to Step News, those killed were internally displaced peple from Hazima. Most of thosr reporting the deaths were pro-Assad regime.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Maysalon Farms (مزرعة ميسلون), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.055761, 38.946362. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 25
  • (9 children)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 11 civilians martyred including women and children following international coalition raids on a displaced people’s camp in Maysaloun farm which belongs to Hazima in the northern raqqa countryside.
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
    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
  • Aug 4, 2017
  • The report contained insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 23rd-24th 2016 the Coalition reported that “Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged two ISIL headquarters buildings; and destroyed eight oil storage tanks, five oil tanker trucks, and an oil refinement system. Near Ayn Isa, one strike destroyed a vehicle storage facility.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 25
  • (9 children)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]