Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS725

Incident date

April 24, 2017

Location

الرحيات, Al Rahiat, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.08, 39.05917 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman died and several other civilians were wounded in an incident in Al Rahiyat, according to local media – though it was unclear whether the Coalition, the Syrian Democratic Forces or ISIL were responsible.

Shaam News Network was the only source that named the Coalition as the culprit. Step News Agency instead blamed artillery shelling for a woman’s death and the injury of several other civilians. But Qasioun reported that a woman was killed by an ISIL sniper, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said an ISIL bomb was responsible for a woman’s death.

Hope-fm-radio also reported “ISIL mortars”, while according to Raqqa24, “Syria Democratic Forces targeted a gathering of displaced people”.

Al Raqqa Truth named the victim but did not mention the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khawla Salem al Sheikh
40 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces, ISIS

Sources (7) [ 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 evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near al Rahiyat, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV053928
    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 23rd - 24th the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, seven strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions, a heavy machine gun, a tactical vehicle, and an ISIS well head"

For April 24th - 25th the Colaition reported: "Near Tabqah, seven strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed three ISIS command and control nodes, a fighting position, and a heavy machine gun; and suppressed two ISIS tactical units"

The Coaliton later reported: "On April 24, near Raqqah, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three ISIS vehicles. On April 24, near Tabqah, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; and destroyed two fighting positions and a rocket-propelled grenade team."

Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Democratic Forces
  • Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

ISIS Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    ISIS
  • ISIS position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US-led Coalition, Syrian Democratic Forces, ISIS

Sources (7) [ collapse]