Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS589

Incident date

March 19, 2017

Location

مزرعة الأندلس, Al Andalus Farm, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.992458, 38.739166 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Nine civilians from one family were killed in an alleged Coalition strike at al Andalus Farms.

According to Qasioun, the strike hit a residential neighbourhoods inhabited by displaced people from Maskana. Nation Defense, which also blamed the Coalition, put the death toll as high as 18.

According to Shaam News “unidentified” warplanes targeted a farmhouse “leading to a terrible massacre against civilians displaced from the eastern countryside of Aleppo, leaving seven martyrs as a primary outcome, and many wounded.”

Nine victims from Maskana – killed by “unidentified planes” – were named by VDC.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (9)

Aboud Hamd al-Kanj
Adult male killed
Muhannad Aboud al-Kanj
Adult killed
Ftaim Mahmoud al-Kanj
Adult male killed
Hmaidi al-Hamd al-Kanj
Adult male killed
Sara, wife of Ibrahim al Kanj
Adult female killed
Son of Ibraheem al-Kanj 1
Child male killed
Son of Ibraheem al-Kanj 2
Child male killed
Son of Ibraheem al-Kanj 3
Child male killed
Son of Ibraheem al-Kanj 4
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 18
  • (4 children1 woman4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition strike on Al Ananuls, March 19th 2017. (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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near the Al Andalus Farm, Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 19th-20th it stated: “Near Ar Raqqah, 18 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units; destroyed 10 fighting positions, six barges, three ISIS headquarters, a tactical vehicle, an IED factory, and a weapons factory; and damaged a supply route.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 18
  • (4 children1 woman4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (29) [ collapse]