Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS692

Incident date

April 14, 2017

Location

مشيرفة, Mushirfa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.27418, 38.21988 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians died and eight more were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Mushirfa, according to local media.

All sources blamed the Coalition.

The incident was first reported on April 14, 2017 at 1:39 pm by Smart News.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incidents mention the village of Mushirfa (مشيرقة), northwest of Raqqa. The coordinates for Murshirfa are: 36.27418, 38.21988. 

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (4) [ 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 Mushirfa, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018
  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 13th-14th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqa, four strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions. Near Tabqah, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units, destroyed a fighting position, and damaged a supply route.”

For April 14th – 15th: “Near Raqqa, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three fighting positions and a weapons cache. Near Tabqa, one strike suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]