Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS611

Incident date

March 23, 2017

Location

حمرة بويتية, Hamra Buwaitiya, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.933056, 39.128611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman and her child died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Hamra Boueitiya village in the eastern Raqqa countryside, according to local sources.

According to Arabs Today, “a woman and her child were killed and a civilian was wounded on Thursday after an aerial bombardment by the international coalition on villages in the eastern countryside of the city of Raqqa, north of Syria. The raids focused on the villages of Hamra and Boueitiya village killing and injuring people from one family.”

Syrian Mirror also said that the Coalition was responsible for the deaths, as did Smart news agency, which produced the same report as Arabs Today.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (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 Hamra Bowuwaitiya, 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 23th-24th it reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed two fighting positions, two vehicles, and a weapons storage facility; and damaged a supply route. Near Tabqah, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed a fighting position; and damaged a supply route.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]