Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS1122 CS292

Incident date

August 11, 2016

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

In a major civilian casualty event, between 13 and 30 civilians were killed and up to 70 more injured from airstrikes from either a Russian or a Coalition strike on al Idkhar neighbourhood in Raqqa City. Both belligerents report bombing in the area.

Raqaa is Being Slaughtered initially reported on the morning of August 11th: “Wael Haj Hussein martyred and his father injured in coalition raids last night on al Idkhar.”

However it later reported “Shawkat Jajan al Zayid and his daughter martyred following Russian raids on al Idkhar neighbourhood midnight last night.”

Many sources attributed the airstrikes to Russian aircraft, specifically “10 Russian warplanes that launched 12 airstrikes against Raqqa and surrounding areas.”

Following the strikes, Russia published a statement saying that six warplanes bombed Raqqa and surrounding areas, and the Russian Defence Ministry posted a video showing the planes launching and dropping bombs on Raqqa.

According to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, the airstrikes targeted al-Taj hall, the al-Ferdosia area, the Brigade 17 area, a state security building, and the water pumping station in al Kassrat. Then areas effected were identified as those under the control of ISIS by the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

@syriamubasher reported that “at least two people died – in an initial count – dozens more were wounded (including cases of amputations and other serious injuries) when Russia carried out more than a dozen airstrikes in Raqqa city. The raids resulted in water being cut off to entire districts of the city and widespread destruction of buildings and public facilities”.

Photos published by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently showed the collapse of buildings and houses as a result of the strikes. They also included very graphic images of dead children.

In their May 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:

Family members (2)

Age unknown named by RBSS killed
Child female named by RBSS killed

Family members (2)

Age unknown male named by RBSS killed
Age unknown male named by RBSS killed

Family members (2)

Age unknown male named by RBSS killed
Child female named by RBSS killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male named by RBSS killed
Age unknown male named by RBSS killed
Age unknown male named by RBSS killed
Age unknown male named by RBSS killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 30
  • (3 children1–2 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–70
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (31) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (31) [ collapse]

  • Clouds of smoke above Raqqa following alleged Russian airstrikes on Aug 11th (via RBSS)
  • An image depicting the exact moment the alleged Russian raid hit. (via, RBSS)
  • An image depicting the exact moment the alleged Russian raid hit. (via, RBSS)
  • The aftermath of the alleged incident on Raqqa, on 11th August 2016. (via, RBSS)
  • The aftermath of the alleged incident on Raqqa, on 11th August 2016. (via, RBSS)
  • The aftermath of the alleged incident on Raqqa, on 11th August 2016. (via, RBSS)
  • The aftermath of the alleged incident on Raqqa, on 11th August 2016. (via, RBSS)
  • The aftermath of the alleged incident on Raqqa, on 11th August 2016. (via, RBSS)
  • The aftermath of the alleged incident on Raqqa, on 11th August 2016. (via, RBSS)
  • Mohammad Shawkat Jajan al Zayid, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via, RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Seriously graphic image of a child killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via, RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Seriously graphic image of a child killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via, RBSS)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Seriously graphic image of a child killed in an alleged Russian raid. (via, RBSS)
  • Yasser Mohammad Sabah al Dibba, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via, RBSS)
  • Abdoulkarim Awad Shlash And his girl Alysar Awad Shlash, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via, SN4HR)
  • Adnan Al Nimr, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via, SN4HR)
  • Hatim Adnan Al Nimr, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via, SN4HR)
  • Khaled Ismail Al Doehi, killed by an alleged Russian raid. (via, SN4HR)
  • The aftermath of the incident in Raqqa. (via, Alhurra)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A seriously injured or deceased civilian being lifted from the rubble following an alleged raid on Raqqa. (via, JisirTV)
  • MBC news reporting 30 killed in alleged Russian raids on Raqqa. 11th August 2016
  • SN4HR reporting at least 21 dead in alleged regime or 'allies' raids on Raqqa on August 11th 2016
  • @Syriamubashar reports a massacre in Raqqa. 11th August 2016
  • RFS Media reports 27 dead and 55 injured in alleged Russian raids on Raqqa. 11th August 2016
  • Al Jisr TV reports 27 dead in alleged Russian strikes on Raqqa. 11th August 2016.
  • Syrian Press Centre reports 20 dead and 50 injured in alleged Russian strikes on Raqqa. 11th August 2016
  • Syrian revolution account reports more than 25 dead and 50 injured in alleged Russian strikes on Raqqa city. 11th August 2016
  • Amawi news reports 20 dead and 50 injured in alleged Russian raids on Raqqa. 11th August 2016
  • Amawi news reports rising casualties in alleged Russian raids on Raqqa with 30 dead. 11th August 2016
  • Al Jazeera breaking reports more than 20 dead in alleged Russian strikes on Raqqa. 11th August 2016
  • RBSS reports that a man from Al Haj al Hussein family died due to injuries he sustained in the 11th August raids on al Idkhar neighbourhood in Raqqa city. 27th August 2016

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military

On August 11th 2016, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that, "six Tu-22M3 long-range bombers took off from the territory of the Russian Federation and carried out concentrated strikes with high-explosive fragmentation munitions on objects of the ISIS terrorist grouping located to the south-east, north, and north-west regions from the Raqqah city. A large weaponry, ammunition and POL storage located near the Raqqah city, a plant producing chemical munitions located in the north-western suburbs of the city, and a large ISIS terrorists’ training camp have been destroyed by the aviation strike." Further to this they added that "Terrorists have suffered significant material damage. A lot of insurgents have been eliminated." According to the report the bombers took off from Hmeymim airbase.

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
    37SEV008784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2020
  • Aug. 11, 2016, in Raqqah, 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. 3028/CS292 37SEV008784

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For August 10th-11th 2016, the Coalition reported no strikes at Raqqa. However for August 11th-12th the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, one strike destroyed an ISIL excavator.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 30
  • (3 children1–2 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–70
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (31) [ collapse]