Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS493

Incident date

February 14, 2017

Location

Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Airwars assessment

In an alleged civilian casualty event not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition announced in June 2017 that it had assessed a reported event near Raqqa as Non Credible, based on an assessment of video evidence.

According to the June report “Feb. 14, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via social media report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in this strike.”

The Coalition provided the following coordinates to Airwars to help identify the location of the allegation: 37SEV 00730 78734. This showed the alleged event to be south east of the Al Firdous mosque in central Raqqa.

Local media reported that the Coalition struck the “governorate building in the centre of Raqqa”, which had reportedly been turned into a prison by ISIS.

According to the Step News Agency, “the fate of the detainees in the building is still unknown, stressing the killing of a large number of members of the organization in the bombing that targeted the building.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Flight # The International Alliance is targeting the Furusiya area and the perimeter of brigade 17 north of the city of Al-Rigga with several air raids and reports of casualties.
  • Translation: # Dasha is shooting bullets to separate the civilians who gathered in the province to check on the fate of their sons who are being held in prison after being destroyed
  • Translation: The destruction of most of the governorate building in the city of Al-Rigga as a result of being targeted by the aircraft of the Alliance # international several raids just before
  • Translation: The governorate building belonging to the Da'ash organization, which was destroyed by the International Coalition and has a large number of prisoners
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
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV0073078734
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 2, 2017
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For February 13th-14th the Coalition stated that “Near Ar Raqqah, 15 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units; destroyed 13 fighting positions, a tactical vehicle, and an ISIS headquarters; damaged three supply routes, and a bridge; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]