Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CS982

Incident date

June 14, 2017

Location

نهر الفرات, Ar Raqqah: Euphrates river, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.932126, 39.006111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to eleven civilians including a family of three were reportedly killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike near the town of Ziban, to the south of Raqqa city.

The civilians were reportedly crossing the Euphrates River in small boats in order to flee the violence at Raqqa, when they were hit in the alleged strikes. A number of people were also reportedly injured.

Four sources – Baladi News, 24Raqqa, Syrian Press Center and Shaam News Agency – alleged that the Coalition was responsible, whereas the remainder of the sources did not apportion blame.

Syria News Desk included the following report: “Local media activist Mohammed Othman added that 11 civilians were killed and three others, all from one family, were injured following two raids by the International Coalition targeting water boats on the Euphrates River as they tried to leave the city towards the southern countryside. The source said that among the dead were four children and two women who died drowning as a result of the damage of boats carrying them, while escaped three young men arrived on the other bank of the river Euphrates injured.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Hameed Al-Awad.
Adult male "a young engineer" killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 11
  • (4 children3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (12) [ 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 Ziban, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU377757
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 22, 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 13th-14th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 20 strikes engaged 14 ISIS tactical units; destroyed 12 fighting positions, five vehicles, five ISIS boats, two VBIEDs, a recoilless rifle, a command and control node, and a tunnel; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.” It additionally reported that “On June 13, near Raqqah, Syria, 10 strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and a sniper and destroyed a fighting position, a tunnel, an ISIS headquarters, a weapons cache, a vehicle, and a VBIED.”

For June 14th-15th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed nine fighting positions, three ISIS boats, and a vehicle; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 11
  • (4 children3 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]