Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS453

Incident date

January 22, 2017

Location

مزرعة الصفصاف, Al Safsaf farm, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.8414731, 38.6241531

Airwars assessment

A young man died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Safsaf farm, Raqqa, according to local sources.

Mohab Nasser, an activist covering Raqqa news, reported that “the child Ammar Ahmad al Suleiman al Gharnouk, 10 years old, ded after being hit by shrapnel following a raid on al Safsaf farm in the eastern Tabaqa countryside.” He didn’t say who was responsible. However Raqqa is Being Slaughtered later published a photo of Ammar al Gharnouk, showing him to be a young adult male.

Baladi also said that Al Safsaf farm was targeted with a Coalition raid, though did not mention casualties.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male Some sources claim he was a 10 years old killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Translation: raqqa - the martyrdom of the child Ammar Ahmad al Suleiman al Gharnouk 10 years old after being hit by shrapnel following the raid on al Safsaf farm in the eastern Tabaqa countryside.
  • a photo of the young man Ammar Ahmad al Suleiman al Gharnough (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the airstrike (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 Safsaf (Raqqah), Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For January 21st-22nd the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Ar Raqqah, 22 strikes engaged 12 ISIL tactical units; destroyed nine fighting positions, two tunnels, two tanks, an IED factory, and an ISIL headquarters; and suppressed three ISIL tactical units.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]