Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS564

Incident date

March 10, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Al Qitar/Al Bustan, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.959629, 39.011274 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died and five others were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike in Raqqa, according to a single source.

According to Smart News, “a local source in the town of Raqqa said the strikes targeted al Qitar (Train) Street and al Bustan park, killing one civilian and wounding five others”. It said the strikes were “likely” conducted by the Coalition.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that the Coalition had carried out three raids in Raqqa, but didn’t mention any civilian casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incidents mention Al Qitar Road (شارع القطار) and Al Bustan Park (حدیقة البستان) in Raqqa. Open Source maps give the coordinates for Al Qitar Street (شارع القطار) as: 35.959629, 39.011274 (the coordinates used for Airwars assessment). The coordinates for Al Bustan Park (حدیقة البستان) are: 35.943889, 39.016944.

  • Al Qitar Road (شارع القطار) and Al Bustan Park (حدیقة البستان) in Raqqa

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ 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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 30, 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 March 9th-10th it noted: “Near Ar Raqqah, 13 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed four vehicles, a fighting position, a tactical vehicle, an ISIS headquarters, and a VBIED factory; and damaged three supply routes.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]