Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS738

Incident date

April 27, 2017

Location

المنصورة, Al Mansoura, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.83917, 38.74288 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Smart News Agency, four civilians including a teacher died in an alleged Coalition airstrike near the Badia school. Three houses were also reportedly destroyed.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ 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 Al Mansoura, 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. (1388)

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For April 26th-27th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, four strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed a front-end loader, a fighting position, and a mortar team. Near Tabqah, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions.”
For April 27th-28th: “Near Raqqah, two strikes destroyed a command and control node and a front-end loader. Near Tabqah, eight strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions, two command and control nodes, two bunkers, and an ISIS staging area.“

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For the past week, France reports carrying out 54 sorties and six strikes – 1 in Iraq and 5 in Syria. There was a special effort this week in support of operations in the Raqqah region with three strikes reported there. Task Force Wagram carried out 30 artillery missions in Mosul] 'CHAMMAL ASSESSMENT OF SITUATION Status of operations as of April 27, 2017 In Syria the SDS continued to garner territorial gains at the expense of the terrorist organization. In the Tabqah region, progress continues in the city itself and around the dam. In the Raqqah region, the defensive perimeter of Daesh north of the city continues to shrink. In Iraq, Daesh continued its asymmetric actions and seeks to take advantage of weather that is not conducive to effective coalition air support. In the Mosul region, the situation continues to evolve favorably for ISPs. In the north-west, on the outskirts of the city, the 9th Division has paused in its progression to focus on securing the area under its control, including to counter attempts infiltrations of terrorist groups. Further south, in the districts of the city of Mosul, the ICTS and the FEDPOL continue their methodical progress aimed at isolating the medina. These units are facing continuing resistance from Daesh members, who this week launched unsuccessful counter-attacks from the Medina. ACTIVITIES OF THE CHAMMAL FORCE Fire support - TF Wagram The Task Force (TF) Wagram continued this week its shooting missions in support of the 9th Iraqi Division engaged in the Badush region. It carried out 30 firing missions in support of Iraqi units, as part of their operations to secure the area against groups of Daesh seeking to infiltrate. It is, in equal proportions, missions of shelling or destruction against Daesh units. Air support to the Levant This week, the aircraft of Operation Chammal made 54 sorties, including 40 for armed reconnaissance or ground support (CAS), 3 for air command and control, 5 for refueling, and 6 for intelligence gathering. Six strikes were carried out by French aircraft in Iraq and Syria, with a special effort this week to support operations in the Raqqah region.

‘CHAMMAL APPRÉCIATION DE SITUATION Point de situation des opérations au 27 avril 2017 En Syrie les FDS ont continué à engranger des gains territoriaux aux dépends de l’organisation terroriste. Dans la région de Tabqah, la progression se poursuit dans la ville même et aux abords du barrage. Dans la région de Raqqah, le périmètre défensif de Daech au Nord de la ville continue de se réduire. En Irak, Daech a poursuivi ses actions asymétriques et cherche à tirer parti d’une météo peu favorable à l’efficacité des appuis aériens de la coalition. Dans la région de Mossoul, la situation continue à évoluer favorablement pour les FSI. Au nord-ouest, sur les abords de la ville, la 9e division a marqué une pause dans sa progression pour se concentrer sur la sécurisation de la zone sous son contrôle, notamment pour contrer les tentatives infiltrations de groupes terroristes. Plus au sud, dans les quartiers de la ville de Mossoul, l’ICTS et les FEDPOL poursuivent leur progression méthodique visant à isoler la médina. Ces unités font face à une résistance toujours aussi vive de la part des membres de Daech, qui cette semaine ont lancé, sans succès, plusieurs contre-attaques depuis la médina. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE CHAMMAL Appui feu – TF Wagram La Task Force (TF) Wagram a poursuivi cette semaine ses missions de tir en appui de la 9e division irakienne engagée dans la région de Badush. Elle a réalisé 30 missions de tir en appui des unités irakiennes, dans le cadre de leurs opérations de sécurisation de la zone face à des groupes de Daech cherchant à s’infiltrer. Il s’agit, dans des proportions égales, de missions de tirs éclairants ou de destruction contre des unités de Daech. Appui aérien au Levant Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 54 sorties aériennes dont 40 de reconnaissance armée ou d’appui au sol (CAS), 3 de commandement et de contrôle aérien, 5 de ravitaillement, et 6 de recueil de renseignements. 6 frappes ont été réalisées par les avions français en Irak et en Syrie, avec un effort particulier consenti cette semaine en appui des opérations dans la région de Raqqah.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]