Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS950

Incident date

June 9, 2017

Location

مفرق الجزرة, Al Jazra junction, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.952778, 38.984722

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including two children died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Jazra junction, according to local media.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported the death of a young girl named Rama Mohammed al-Hammad and the wife of Ahmed Yahya al-Hammad in air raids on Jazra junction. It didn’t say who was responsible, however, the victims were also named by Al Raqqa Truth, who blamed the Coalition.

RBSS, Deir Ezzor24, Euphrates Post and Sharqiya Voice named another victim as the young girl Tal Al Jasser – though the sources didn’t say where she was killed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rama Mohammed al-Hammad
16 years old female killed
wife of Ahmed Yahya al-Hammad
Adult female killed
Tal Al Jasser
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The girl Tal Al Jasser, killed in an alleged Coalition strike in Raqqa, June 9th (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 Al Jazrah Jxn, Syria via Airwars report.
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV986787
    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 June 8th-9th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, nine strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, three vehicles and a mortar system.” It additionally added that “On June 8, near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes destroyed four fighting positions and a VBIED.” And that “On June 8, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.”

For June 9th-10th: "Near Raqqah, 17 strikes [2 British] engaged 15 ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, four vehicles, two ISIS front-end loaders, two ISIS headquarters, an ISIS UAS and an ISIS barge."

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Friday 9 June – Tornados struck a Daesh position in eastern Raqqa…On Friday 9 June, Tornados struck a Daesh position in eastern Raqqa.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]