Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS595

Incident date

March 20, 2017

Location

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Multiple locations, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.8295049, 38.5360909 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the third reported event at Tabaqa on March 20th, five civilians died and nine were injured in an airstrike in Tabaqa, though it was unclear from reports who was responsible.

According to the Smart news agency, “five civilians were killed and nine others were injured on Monday evening following raids targeting the market car park and al Manghiya neighbourhood and al Ayed farm and al Village area in al Tabaqa“. The source didn’t identify the warplanes.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently also reported: “attacks on al Tabaqa, targeting the market car park”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Likely coordinates for the market car park (كراج السوق) are: 35.8495568, 38.5537612. The coordinates for Al Ayed farm area (مزرعة العاید) are: 35.8503786, 38.4772968. We are unable to geolocate Al Villat area ( منطقة الفیلات ) and Al Manghiya neighbourhood. Airwars assessment summary uses generic coordinates for the Tabaqa area.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • 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
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Tabqah Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Nov 30, 2017
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For March 20th-21st the Coalition stated: “Near Ar Raqqah, 19 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed four petroleum oil lubricant equipment pieces, three barges, three fighting positions, three ISIS headquarters, two VBIED facilities, two VBIEDs, a VBIED factory, a tunnel, a vehicle, a weapons storage facility, and a command and control node; and damaged two supply routes.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]