Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS430

Incident date

January 7, 2017

Location

كسرة شيخ (جمعة), Kasrat Sheikh (Juma'a), Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.91029, 38.94902 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians were reported killed in an alleged Coalition drone strike on Kasret al Sheikh Kom’a.

According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered, the attack “targeted a car belonging to a leader in Daesh whose name is Hussein Abu Zeid. He was on crutches.” Shaam News said five civilians died in the attack. According to the Syrian Network “an international coalition forces drone fired missiles at Kasrat al Sheikh village located in the southern suburbs of al Raqqa governorate and is under the control of ISIS which resulted in the killing of five civilians at once including one female child and one woman.”

In April 2019, the Coalition accepted responsibility for this event, noting: “Coalition aircraft conducted a strike on Daesh terrorists in a vehicle. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed and another unintentionally wounded due to their proximity to the strike.”

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

70 years years old female killed
11 years years old female killed
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest village at 35.905278, 38.963889

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
    Other
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Kasrat Sheikh Al Juma’a, Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV954740
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 25, 2019
  • Jan. 7, 2017, near Kasrat Sheikh Al Juma’a, Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conducted a strike on Daesh terrorists in a vehicle. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed and another unintentionally wounded due to their proximity to the strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For January 6th-7th the Coalition publicly reported that “Near Ar Raqqah, 12 strikes [1 British?] engaged eight ISIL tactical units; destroyed 14 oil refinement tanks, seven fighting positions, a VBIED facility, a VBIED, an ISIL-held building, an artillery system, and a bunker system; and damaged two supply routes. Near Ayn Isa, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position and an artillery system.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (14) [ collapse]