Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS711

Incident date

April 20, 2017

Location

مزرعة ميسلون, Maysaloun Farms, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.055761, 38.946362 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians reportedly died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Maysalon Farm, according to local media.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently named three of the victims.

The victims were also named by Q_Alenzy and Syrian PC, which also blamed the Coalition.

According to Mohammed Al-Abbullah, “four young men from the Maysaloun farm died as a result of an air raid carried out by the international coalition aircraft”. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently later reported that five civilians died.

Al Raqqa Truth named four additional victims.

Al Jazeera reported that a woman and her child were killed in the strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ahmad Al Hussein al Taweel
Age unknown male killed
Mohammad Ahmad al Hassan al Taweel
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Ali Al-Abd
Age unknown male killed
Hamad Rajab Al-Jalad
Age unknown killed
Juma’a Al Sha’aban
Age unknown killed
Moussa al Mohammad
Age unknown killed
The son of Juma’a al Mohammad
Age unknown male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Maysaloun Farm (مزرعة ميسلون) in Raqqa governorate. The coordinates for the village, north of Raqqa city, are: 36.055761, 38.946362.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (1 child1 woman3 men)
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Juma’a Al Sha’aban (right), killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Maysalon Farm, April 20th (via RBSS)
  • Mohamamd Ali al Abed, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Maysalon Farm, April 20th (via RBSS)
  • Hamad Rajab al Jalad allegedly killed in Coalition strikes on Maysaloun farm, north of Raqqah, April 20th (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
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Maysaloun farms, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV951901
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 19th-20th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit, destroyed a front-end loader and a fighting position.”

For April 20th-21st,. the Coaltion reported: “Near Raqqah, five strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Thursday 20 April – Typhoons supported Syrian Democratic Forces, striking a Daesh-held building north-west of Raqqa, and a mortar team hiding in a tunnel in the east of the country… The RAF is continuing to support Iraqi forces in their effort to liberate western Mosul. While the operating environment in the city is very challenging, particularly given the closely-packed buildings, very narrow streets, and the density of the urban population, our aircrew have continued to deliver precision strikes in close support of Iraqi troops on the ground. Daesh’s current tactics, including the illegal use of civilians as human shields, and fighting from sites such as schools, hospitals, religious sites and civilian neighbourhoods, increases the risk to innocent life. While no military operations come without risk, particularly in dense urban environments and against such inhuman Daesh tactics, the RAF continues to take all steps necessary to minimise civilian causalities. The RAF assisted Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Thursday 20 April. A pair of Typhoons struck a Daesh-held building to the north-west of Raqqa. The Typhoons then hit a Daesh mortar team hiding in a tunnel in the east of the country.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (1 child1 woman3 men)
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]