Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS694

Incident date

April 15, 2017

Location

مزرعة يعرب, Mazra'at Yarub, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.977858, 38.872622 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians from the same family died and two others were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike which hit homes in the village of Mazra’at Yarub, according to local sources which all blamed the Coalition.

According to Smart News, “Five civilians from one family were killed in most likely coalition air strike on a village west of the city of Raqqa, north of Syria, a local source told the Smart correspondent on Saturday night. The source added that the aircraft targeted the houses of civilians in the village of Mazra’at Yarub, in Mansoura district (35 km from the city of Raqqa), which is controlled by the Islamic State, killing the family members.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Mazra’at Yarub (مزرعة يعرب), Raqqa governorate, for which the coordinates are: 35.977858, 38.872622.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (14) [ 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 Mazra’at Yarub, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 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. (1330)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

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.“

For April 15th-16th: ” Near Raqqah, six strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units, destroyed an ISIS bridge, and damaged an ISIS supply route. Near Tabqah, 11 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units, destroyed seven fighting positions and an ISIS vehicle.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]