Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS567

Incident date

March 11, 2017

Location

الكرامة, Al Karama and Al Ghassaniyah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.86808, 39.277394 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died and five were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Karama and Al Ghassaniya, according to a single source.

Activists told the Smart news agency that warplanes “likely” belonging to the Coalition carried out strikes on Al Karama and Al Ghassaniya.

Smart reported that “the planes launched raids on al Karama and Ghassaniya (20 km east of the city of Raqqa), killing two civilians and wounding five civilians, including two children, who were taken to the National Hospital in Raqqa”.

In its monthly civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of the same year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event as ‘non credible’, noting: “March 11, 2017, in Al Karama, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action. 983/S498 37SEV251694”.

The Coalition published a location for the assessment identifying to within 100 metres the area where it had focused its review.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (2) [ 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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Al Karama, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV251694
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019
  • March 11, 2017, in Al Karama, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action. 983/S498 37SEV251694

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 10th-11th, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, nine strikes, engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed four fighting positions, two ISIS-held buildings, two watercraft, two weapons factories, a tunnel, a vehicle, and a VBIED; and damaged a supply route.” For March 11th-12th: “Near Ar Raqqah, 12 strikes, engaged three ISIS tactical units and two ISIS staging areas; destroyed three fighting positions, two tanker trucks, a weapons storage facility, a well head, an ISIS-held building, and an anti-air artillery system; and damaged two bridges.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • Known target
    ISIS

Sources (2) [ collapse]