Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS824

Incident date

May 14, 2017

Location

عكيرشي, `Ukayrishah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.85817, 39.126332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 12 and 30 civilians – mostly women – were killed when alleged Coalition airstrikes hit al A’Keirshi village in the countryside of Raqqa, according to local media.

The victims were reportedly farm workers who were travelling in three cars to their place of work when they were struck by the air raid.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently and Euphrates Post, which provided the most extensive coverage of the incident, both reported that 22 people were killed.

According to Alhasaka Alarabea, at least 20 people died, while Q_Alenzy referred to the victims as “cotton workers”, reporting that they were returning from work when their cars were struck.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Syran Network for Human Rights both out the death toll lower, at at least 12. At least eight others were reported wounded by RBSS.

Al Hasaka Rasd reported that “20 female agricultural workers” died in the Coalition strike, while the Smart News Network – citing Reuters – put the death toll as high as 30, of which it said 22 were women.

Euphrates Post listed two female internally displaced people in addition to the victims mentioned below.

RBSS named one of the victims (and provided a picture) as:

Nawwaf Mohammed Al Turki al Sawa’an [M] – Al Ragga Truth also named him, saying he died when Coalition planes targeted his motorbike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Kafaa Ali al Saleh al Mustapha
Adult female killed
Sumaya Khalaf al Saleh al Hamoud al Mustapha
Adult female killed
Sabreen Ahmad al Hamoud al Mustapha
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Rakiya Hassoud al Ahmad
Adult female killed
Khazna Al Abboud Al Hussein
Adult female killed
The daughter of Khalaf Al Jassem al Hamoud
Adult female killed
Hanan al Faisal al Khalaf Al Turki
Adult female killed
Jaziya al Al Jassem al Saleh al Tammas
Adult female killed
Maha al Abboud al Hussein
Adult female killed
Mohammad al Ali al Ahmad al Saleh
Adult female killed
Nawwaf Mohammed Al Turki al Sawa’an
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 30
  • (11–22 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–12
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Nawwaf Mohammad Al Turki al Sawa’an, killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al A'keirshi, May 14th (via RBSS)
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 Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV1138368199
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 1, 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.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 12th-13th the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions, a front-end loader, an ISIS crane, and a house-born improvised explosive device.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 30
  • (11–22 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–12
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]