Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS803

Incident date

May 11, 2017

Location

مرقدا, Marqadah, Al Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

35.765641, 40.771032 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians from the same family died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Markada, according to local sources.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently was among some sources which specifically blamed “American raids”.

Saladingate reported that the Coalition strike “destroyed the home of a doctor, Abdul Karim In addition to a house belonging to the Mdulul family”.

Confusingly, in its assessment of the allegation the Coalition noted that “After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.” This suggested that it had indeed conducted a strike at Markada on this date.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Marqadah (مرقدا), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.765641, 40.771032. 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
    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 (17) [ 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 Markada, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV585572
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 22, 2018
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

The Coalition did not publicly report any airstrike in Hassakah governorate from May 10th-12th.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 (17) [ collapse]