Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS610

Incident date

March 22, 2017

Location

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Four civilians died and five were injured in an Coalition alleged airstrike on the Al Awwal neighbourhood of Tabaqa, according to local sources.

Raqqa_SL reported destruction of civilians’ homes as a result of Coalition strikes on the First neighbourhood. According to Step news agency, the Coalition struck a residential building, though the source said there were no reports of casualties.

However, Smart news agency said that “four civilians were killed and five others wounded in an air strike on Wednesday-Thursday night in al Tabaqa city [53 km west of Raqqa], north of Syria, according to a local source. The source said that the raids targeted al Awwal neighbourhood”. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently published images showing destruction of civilian homes reportedly in the Al Awwal neighbourhood.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Destruction of civilian homes following an alleged Coalition strike on Al Awwal, Tabaqa, March 22nd 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Destruction of civilian homes following an alleged Coalition strike on Al Awwal, Tabaqa, March 22nd 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Destruction of civilian homes following an alleged Coalition strike on Al Awwal, Tabaqa, March 22nd 2017. (via RBSS)
  • Destruction of civilian homes following an alleged Coalition strike on Al Awwal, Tabaqa, March 22nd 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
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Al Thawrah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV598674
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 22, 2018
  • 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 22nd-23rd the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, eight strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed two tactical vehicles, a fighting position, and a heavy transport equipment piece; and damaged four supply routes.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]