Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS733

Incident date

April 26, 2017

Location

دبسي عفنان, Debsi Afnan, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.8175348, 38.2162857 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A number of local sources said that at least two people were killed and 14 more injured as a result of alleged Coalition airstrikes in the western Tabaqa countryside in the village of Debsi Afnan.

A report from Smart News Agency two days after the incident said as many as seven people were killed and that 14 civilians were wounded, whereas most said “many” were wounded. The agency also alleged the Coalition was responsible.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently and the Syrian Press Center both named two victims.

According to a number of sources, one of the targets was a “cultural centre”, which appears to be damaged from airstrikes in photos shared on social media. The Syrian Press Center, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently and Mohab Nasser (a journalist) also reported that “medical clinics” were hit in the strikes.

Nasser also reported that a sewage plant, a quarry and some residential homes were hit.

On twitter, @q_alenzy reported that two homes that were hit in the strikes belonged to Haji al Mousa and the Al Shetar family.

In January 2019, the Coalition announced that it had classed the event as non credible due to a lack of available evidence of civilian harm: “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.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Al-Hamoud Al-Shihada
Age unknown male killed
Jamal Al-Khalaf
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition airstrike on the Cultural Center in Debsi Afnan, April 26th (via Raqqa Post)
  • Destruction at the house of civilians in the village of Debsi Afnan following alleged Coalition strikes (Tweet via Euphrates Post)
  • The cultural center in Debsi Afnan following alleged Coalition strikes, April 26th (via RBSS)
  • A photograph of destruction in Dibsi Afnan following alleged Coalition airstrikes, April 26th (via Mohab Nasser)
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
  • Stated location
    near Debsi Afnan, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV291638
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 31, 2019
  • Apr. 26, 2017, near Debsi Afnan, Syria, via Airwars report. 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 25th-26th, the Coalition reported no strikes at Raqqah though noted that “Near Tabqah, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; and destroyed four fighting positions and a fuel truck.“

For April 26th - 27th, the Coalition reported no strikes ar Raqqah or Tabqah.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]