US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Civilians in the ruins of Mosul city. (Maranie R. Staab)

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Incident Code

CS1324

Incident date

August 3, 2017

Location

معيزيلة, Maizeela, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.615, 40.456944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that an airstrike on an oil tanker killed the driver and “lightly” wounded two other civilians near Maizeela in the southern countryside of Abu Kamal.

Only one source, Al Natek Network, said that the Coalition carried out the strike. Other reports didn’t apportion blame.

The incident was first reported on August 3, 2017 at 12:08 pm by @olay6663.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the alleged Coalition strike targeted an oil tanker on a road near the town of Maizeela (معيزيلة). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available, Airwars was unable to locate the road or oil tanker. The coordinates for the town of Maizeela (معيزيلة) are: 34.615, 40.456944

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 Maizeela, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 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
Official source

For August 3rd-4th, the Coalition reported: “Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed a ISIS financial headquarters.”

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • For August 3rd-9th, France report 1 strike in Iraq and 1 in Syria, along with 9 artillery strikes in Mosul. (via EtatMajorFR)

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1325

Incident date

August 3, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.95088, 39.0122 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an event not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition self-reported a civilian harm event in July 2018, noting that it had unintentionally killed a civilian on a motorbike in the city centre of Raqqa.

According to the report, “August 3, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria via self-report. During a strike on reported Daesh fighting positions, one civilian was unintentionally killed as a motorcycle entered the impact area moments before the strike.”

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

This post was updated on Sept. 5th 2018 to reflect a correction to the location made by the Coalition. The initial location given in error was 37SEV011185.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    Entered target area just prior to or after munition released
    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
    37SEV011785
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • August 3, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria via self-report. During a strike on reported Daesh fighting positions, one civilian was unintentionally killed as a motorcycle entered the impact area moments before the strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 3rd-4th, the Coalition publicly reported at the time that: “For August 3rd-4th: “Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, a mortar system, a vehicle, a VBIED and a supply route.“

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • For August 3rd-9th, France report 1 strike in Iraq and 1 in Syria, along with 9 artillery strikes in Mosul. (via EtatMajorFR)

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1326a

Incident date

August 3, 2017

Location

Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.959272, 39.003859 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, three civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition artillery strike in Raqqa. Although Airwars assesses single sourced incidents as “weak”, researchers have assessed this incident “fair” due to the depth of material provided by Amnesty.

The report stated that “Mohammed Haj Ibrahim, 34, was killed at his home with two of his children by an artillery shell which struck the house while he and his family were sleeping at 4.30 am.”

Hi wife, Hamida, who survived the strike told Amnesty that, “27 days earlier we had tried to escape Raqqa but Daesh shot at us and killed both my husband’s parents. Then the Coalition killed my husband in his sleep. There was no justice in this war.”

The field notes added that they had tried to escape in the night time, and they were shot at by ISIS near “Rashid Park”. Mohammed and his wife Hamida were also injured in this attack.

In July 2019 the Coalition announced that it had assessed this allegation of civilian harm to be non-credible. Their monthly civilian harm report noted: “After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.”

The incident occured at 04:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mohammed Haj Ibrahim
34 years old male killed
Kaamil
7 years old male child of Mohammed killed
Rayan
3 years old female child of Mohammed killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

  • Before strike. (via Amnesty)

  • After strike. (via Amnesty)

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
  • Stated location
    in Raqqa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV003794
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2019

  • Aug. 3, 2017, in Raqqa, Syria, via Amnesty International report. After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting
positions, a mortar system, a vehicle, a VBIED and a supply route.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Incident Code

CS1326

Incident date

August 3, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed in shelling in Raqqa, according to local media.

Only one source – Usama Al Taleb – directly blamed the Coalition, and therefore an SDF mortar/rocket attack cannot be ruled out for causing the man’s death.

As reporting deteriorated within the city the date of death was vaguely reported, falling within a four day range.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdel Aziz al-Sa’id (Abu Ibrahim)
62 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident only mention the city of Raqqa (الرقة‎), for which the coordinates are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148  

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 information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV008784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018

  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 3rd-4th: “Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, a mortar system, a vehicle, a VBIED and a supply route.”

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • For August 3rd-9th, France report 1 strike in Iraq and 1 in Syria, along with 9 artillery strikes in Mosul. (via EtatMajorFR)

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1317b

Incident date

August 2, 2017

Location

الفردوس, near Raqqa, Syria, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.95719, 39.00111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident previously not tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the death of one civilian near Raqqa.

In its February 2019 report, the Coalition noted the following: “the Coalition conducted one artillery strike on ISIS defensive fighting positions. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed as a result of this strike”

It was later clarified to Airwars that this incident of civilian harm was found during the assessment of Airwars allegation CS1317 and had not been previously reported to the Coalition.

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV001792
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 28, 2017

  • August 2, 2017, near Raqqa, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conduced two airstrikes and one artillery strike. The airstrikes targeted one ISIS weapons cache and one ISIS command and control facility. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed in each of these strikes. On the same day the Coalition conducted one artillery strike on ISIS defensive fighting positions. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed as a result of this strike. Regrettably, these three strikes resulted in the unintentional death of three total civilians.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Near Raqqah, 14 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed nine fighting positions,
two vehicles, a supply cache, a VBIED, a mortar position, an ISIS UAS site, and a generator.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1322a RS2380

Incident date

August 2, 2017

Location

زور شمر, Zor Shamer, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.78379, 39.36559 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed in an airstrike in Zor Shamer, Raqqa, according to local media sources – though it was not clear who was responsible. Most sources attributed responsibility to Russian forces, though one reported that Coalition aircraft conducted the strike.

DeirEzzor24, reported that “Coalition aircraft targeted the area south of Hsaywa, Zor Shamer”.

Syrian Network for Human Rights was the only known source to mention any civilian harm and named the man who had died. They, along with all of the other known sources, attributed responsibility to Russia for the event.

In their August 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Khaled al Qadour
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ibrahim Khaled al Qadour was killed in a contested Coalition-Russian airstrike in Zor Shamer, August 2 2017. (Via: SN4HR)
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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV330600
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 22, 2020

  • Aug. 2, 2017, in Zor Shamer, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3141/CS1322a 37SEV330600

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted 21 strikes consisting of 26 engagements against
ISIS targets.
 Near Raqqah, 14 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed nine fighting positions,
two vehicles, a supply cache, a VBIED, a mortar position, an ISIS UAS site, and a generator.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between August 1st-31st 2017.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1317

Incident date

August 2, 2017

Location

الطب الحديث, Al Toubb al Hadith, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.95448, 39.00222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six people; two women, two children and two men were killed when the building they were sheltering in was hit in an airstrike in Al Toubb al Hadith, Raqqa, a joint Amnesty International/Airwars report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality” found after conducting field research on the ground. Additionally, several local sources echoed the death of one of the six victims, namely Mohammed Ahmed Abdel-Rahim al Shalash.

Besides from Mohammed, only one of the other fatalities was identified by name. However, according to Amnesty and Airwars’ research, who talked to a relative of the victims named Jamal, the remaining four victims were two women, one female child and one male child.

According to Al Hassaka Rasd, “The young man Mohammed Ahmed Abdel-Rahim was killed in artillery shelling on the Modern Medicine area. He was buried in the courtyard of his house as it was not possible to bury him in the cemetery”.

Airwars understands that only the Coalition has access to artillery in Raqqa.

In its February 2019 report, the Coalition noted: “Coalition aircraft conducted two airstrikes and one artillery strike. The airstrikes targeted one ISIS weapons cache and one ISIS command and control facility. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed in each of these strikes. On the same day, the Coalition conducted one artillery strike on ISIS defensive fighting positions. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed as a result of this strike. Regrettably, these three strikes resulted in the unintentional death of three total civilians. ”

In a later conversation with Airwars, the Coalition noted that this incident was most likely one of the airstrikes that they conducted on this day as it was in a similar location to one included in the above February report – not artillery as the allegation suggests. The other air and artillery strikes that they included in the report had not been previously flagged to the Coalition and were found while assessing this Airwars allegation – they are listed below as CS1317a and CS1317b.

Finally, it should be noted that Amnesty and Airwars’ research was only able to locate the incident somewhere between July 25th and August 24th. But given the local sources’ reports from August 2nd, the incident is assessed to have taken place on that particular day.

The Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Ahmed Abdel-Rahim al Shalash
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children2 women2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Mohammed Ahmed Abdel-Rahim, reportedly killed by artillery on August 2nd 2017 in Al Toubb al Hadith, Raqqa, (via Al raqqa ahlna)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the district of Al Toubb al Hadith (منطقة الطب الحديث), also known as the Modern Medicine District, in the city of Raqqa (الرقة), for which the coordinates are: 35.956488, 39.001173. Satellite imagery shows multiple strikes in the area between August 1 and 7, but no one incident could be isolated. Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest neighbourhood/area at 35.9525, 39.002222    

  • Multiple damaged buildings seen around the National Hospital area (left: August 1, 2017; right: August 7, 2017)

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

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
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqa, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV002789
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Feb 28, 2019

  • August 2, 2017, near Raqqa, Syria, via Airwars report. Coalition aircraft conduced two airstrikes and one artillery strike. The airstrikes targeted one ISIS weapons cache and one ISIS command and control facility. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed in each of these strikes. On the same day the Coalition conducted one artillery strike on ISIS defensive fighting positions. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed as a result of this strike. Regrettably, these three strikes resulted in the unintentional death of three total civilians.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 2nd-3rd: “Near Raqqah, 14 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed nine fighting positions, two vehicles, a supply cache, a VBIED, a mortar position, an ISIS UAS site, and a generator.” It additionally reported that “On Aug. 2, near Raqqah, Syria, 20 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, two supply caches, a tactical vehicle, a tunnel, a VBIED factory, and a command and control node.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Wednesday 2 August – Typhoons destroyed a Daesh strongpoint in Raqqa…Typhoons provided further close air support to the SDF on Wednesday 2 August; they found themselves coming under sustained heavy machine-gun and sniper fire from a building in Raqqa, but were able to pinpoint the Daesh position, allowing our aircraft to attack with a Paveway IV.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children2 women2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1319

Incident date

August 2, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian male died in a Coalition artillery bombardment or a mortar strike by the SDF in Raqqa, according to local media.

Ar Raqqa Al a’ahlya reported that the victim bled to death from a shrapnel wound.

Most sources blamed artillery for the man’s death. Airwars understands that only the Coalition has access to artillery in Raqqa.

However, one source – the Syrian Network for Human Rights – said that Mr al Dandoush died when a SDF mortar hit his home.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mazen Kamel al Dandoush
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Mazen Kamel al-Dandoush, killed by artillery or (according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights) a SDF mortar in Raqqa, August 2nd 2017. (via RBSS)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Raqqa (الرقة). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The incident was first reported on August 7, 6 days after the incident  

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 information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018

  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 2nd-3rd: “Near Raqqah, 14 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed nine fighting positions, two vehicles, a supply cache, a VBIED, a mortar position, an ISIS UAS site, and a generator.” It additionally reported that “On Aug. 2, near Raqqah, Syria, 20 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, two supply caches, a tactical vehicle, a tunnel, a VBIED factory, and a command and control node.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Wednesday 2 August – Typhoons destroyed a Daesh strongpoint in Raqqa…Typhoons provided further close air support to the SDF on Wednesday 2 August; they found themselves coming under sustained heavy machine-gun and sniper fire from a building in Raqqa, but were able to pinpoint the Daesh position, allowing our aircraft to attack with a Paveway IV.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]