Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS464

Incident date

January 29, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a gas station attendant, was reported killed along with four ISIL fighters following an alleged Coalition airstrike at Ar Raqqah.

According to Smart News, “One civilian was killed and another wounded, in addition to the killing of a number of members of the Islamic State on Sunday, in a warplane attack likely to have been the international coalition. A local source said the aircraft targeted an ISIL car next to Al Halabi Gas Station east of al Mashlab neighbourhood in Raqqa. The medical source reported the killing of a civilian working at the gas station and the wounding of another one who is in a critical condition, who were taken to the National Hospital in Raqqa in addition to four bodies of IS militants of Iraqi nationality.”

LCCSY reported two civilian deaths in Raqqa that day, though gave no additional details.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (4) [ collapse]

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 Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV0084978465
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 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 28th-29th the Coalition publicly reported that “Near Ar Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units; destroyed seven bridges, an ISIL headquarters building, and a fighting position; and damaged a supply route.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (4) [ collapse]