Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS752

Incident date

April 29, 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

Between one and three civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Mansoura, according to local media.

The Smart News Agency reported the death of one civilian and the injury of four more in an alleged Coalition airstrike.

Shamfm put the death toll at three including two children, also blaming the Coalition.

According to Rihab, the three killed were “three sisters from the family of Mabrook” – though these victims were also listed as killed in Al Wahab (event listed below) on April 29th.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Mansoura (المنصورة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.83917, 38.74288. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (4) [ 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 Mansoura, Syria
    Nearest population center

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 28th-29th the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, one strike destroyed a front-end loader. Near Tabqah, 10 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed seven fighting positions and four vehicles.”

For April 29th - 20th, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed 10 ISIS barges, three vehicles, two tactical vehicles, and an ISIS bridge" and "Near Tabqah, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units, destroyed four fighting positions and a vehicle; damaged an ISIS supply route, and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit"

Additionally, four strikes were conducted in Syria April 28 that closed within the last 24 hours.
"Near Tabqah, Syria, on April 28, four strikes destroyed three fighting positions and a VBIED.”

The Coalition later reported: "Near Raqqah, Syria; on April 29, two strikes destroyed an ISIS-held building, an ISIS staging area"

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Sunday 30 April – Typhoons attacked a group of Daesh fighters west of Raqqa, while Tornados destroyed two Daesh buildings in Mosul…Sunday 30 April saw Typhoons once more flying in support of the SDF west of Raqqa, where they struck a group of Daesh fighters along the bank of the Euphrates. The Tornados then flew over Mosul, demolishing two Daesh-held buildings which the Iraqi ground forces had encountered.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]