Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS501

Incident date

February 17, 2017

Location

المركز الثقافي القديم, Old Cultural disctrict, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.951112, 39.009489 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, Smart, reported that one civilian male was killed and his six-year-old child injured in an airstrike that was later confirmed by the Coalition.

Contrary to the reporting, in October 2017 the Coalition admitted to having killed three civilians. In its monthly civilian casualty report, the following was noted: “During a Coalition strike that destroyed six ISIS-held buildings and damaged an ISIS fueling station, it was assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed.”

The location of the Old Cultural Center mentioned by Smart is 35.951112, 39.009489 according to Airwars geolocation.

In July 2019 the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box. Although this places the event 4km away from Airwars’ geolocation of the incident, Coalition officials confirmed that that their report was based on this event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

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
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    3
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV983803
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 2017
  • Feb. 17, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria via Airwars report. During a Coalition strike that destroyed six ISIS-held buildings and damaged an ISIS fueling station, it was assessed that three civilians were unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For February 16th-17th, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, 17 strikes engaged two ISIS staging areas and an ISIS tactical unit; and destroyed four tunnels, three fighting positions, three ISIS-held buildings, two weapons storage areas, two ISIS headquarters, a VBIED storage facility, a fuel station and a bridge.” For February 17th-18th, they reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, seven strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed 70 oil barrels, three oil storage tanks, three fighting positions, two oil refinement stills and a weapons storage area; and damaged a bridge.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]