Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS511

Incident date

February 20, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Qitar street, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between seven and ten civilians including three children and three women died and dozens more were injured in an airstrike on Qitar street, according to local sources. While the majority of reports attributed the incident to the Coalition, one report alleged that Russia was responsible. The Coalition later reported that “no Coalition strikes were conducted in this geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”

Raqqa is being Slaughtered Silently reported the death of eight civilians and the injury of more than eight in a raid “on al Qitar street targeting one of the warehouses near al Baraka bakery.” When contacted by Airwars, they said that the strike on Qitar street was the same one as on al Maari school (listed above). Other sources, however, reported it as a separate strike.

Ara News blamed the Coalition and put the death toll at nine including women and children.

According to Syria News Desk, three children were among eight killed in an alleged Coalition raid which completely destroyed four houses and the train station building.

Smart and Shaam News also pointed to the Coalition, as did Baladi, who put the death toll as high as ten.

However, RFS Media Office was alone in attributing the incident to Russia. They also said that eight non-combatants died but provided little detail.

On April 30th 2017 the Coalition flagged the event as ‘not credible’, noting: “Feb. 20, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via social media report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in this geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 10
  • (3 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (34) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Jawdat Haidar Abd al Aziz, killed in an airstrike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS)
  • The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS)
  • The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS)
  • The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS)
  • The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (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 Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV0074379361
    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 February 20th-21st, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, seven strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed three fighting positions, a VBIED, a garage, an IED and a weapons facility; and damaged a bridge.”

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 10
  • (3 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (34) [ collapse]