Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS881

Incident date

May 29, 2017

Location

جامع الفواز, Fawwaz Mosque, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.95268, 39.01331 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Al Araby, “a civilian was killed as a result of renewed artillery shelling of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units on al-Fawaz mosque area, in conjunction with battles.”

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently named the victim as Muhammad al-Taqi but didn’t say who was responsible for his death.

In July 2018 the US-led alliance accepted responsibility for the death, stating that “During a strike on [a] Daesh VBIED factory, one civilian was unintentionally killed.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with coordinates for this event accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad al-Taqi
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest village at 35.95268, 39.01331

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Muhammad al-Taqi, killed when a shell hit him at al-Fawaz Mosque, May 29th (via RBSS)

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
    1
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV012787
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018
  • May 29, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. During a strike on Daesh VBIED factory, one civilian was unintentionally killed.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 28th-29th the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed two fighting positions, two vehicles, two VBIED factories, two VBIED facilities, and an ISIS mechanical facility.” It additionally reported for May 28th that “Near Raqqah, Syria, four strikes destroyed a weapons cache, an ISIS staging area, and three fighting positions.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]