Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS764

Incident date

May 3, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, al Thakanna, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed alongside three ISIL fighters and five others were wounded in an airstrike on the city of Raqqa, according to a local source.

Smart News Agency reported that the civilian was arrested by ISIL’s religious police, known as the Hesba, on charges of “smoking” and was in a car driven by the terrorists when the airstrike took place.

The five civilians injured were reportedly near the car at the time of the strike.

Blame has not been directly apportioned to the Coalition for the strike, however Smart News Agency said they were “likely” responsible. Hope-fm-syria also reported the incident, blaming the Coalition, putting the death toll at one civilians, three members of ISIL – and the wounding of five further non-combatants – though it appears to be citing Smart.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ 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 Thakanna, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV005780
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 25, 2018
  • 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.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 2nd-3rd, the Coalition did not initially report any strikes in Raqqa, though later added that “Near Raqqah, Syria, May 2nd, one strike destroyed a fighting position.”
For May 3rd-4th the Coalition stated: “Near Raqqah, one strike destroyed a command and control node.” It later added that “Near Raqqah, May 3rd, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a mortar system.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]