Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS740

Incident date

April 27, 2017

Location

حي الرميلة, Rumaila, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.9653, 39.02994 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eleven civilians were killed in Coalition airstrikes in Raqqa in the northern district of Rumaila, a number of local sources reported.

According to Al Araby and the Revolutionary Forces of Syria’s media office, the strikes took place “near the headquarters of al-Hesba” – the base of ISIL’s religious police.

The same two sources said a “drone” or an “unmanned aircraft” carried out the strikes.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently also reported a drone strike but didn’t identify the culprit.

According to Raqqa Truth, Mr al-Hussein had been arrested and was being held by ISIL’s religious police. He was from the al-Mashlab district.

A later report by Raqaa is Being Slaughtered Silently put the death toll at 11, stating that the prisoners “were arrested for dress code violations and other violations of Daesh’s rules. In the raid several members of ISIS were also killed.

In its April 26th 2018 civilian casualty report, the Coalition conceded that it had killed 11 civilians in this strike: ”During a Coalition strike on an ISIS headquarters building 11 civilians were unintentionally killed.” The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Salal Shawakh Al-Muftah
Age unknown male killed
Ayham Abd al-Hamid al-Hussein
Age unknown male killed

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 35.959444, 39.0325

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Salal Shawakh Al-Muftah, killed in an allegd Coalition airstrike on Rumalia, April 27th (via Raqqa Truth)
  • Ayham Abd al Hamid al Husseiin al Ibrahim killed in a Coalition airstrike on Rumalia, April 27th (via AL Ragga Truth)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    11
  • Stated location
    near Rumaila, Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV027801
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Apr 26, 2018
  • April 27, 2017 near Rumaila, Raqqah, Syria via Airwars report. During a coalition strike on an ISIS headquarters building 11 civilians were unintentionally killed.

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.”
For April 27th-28th: “Near Raqqah, two strikes destroyed a command and control node and a front-end loader.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (13) [ collapse]