Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS738 CS192

Incident date

March 19, 2016

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.949949, 39.007363 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a second day of airstrikes on Raqqa, 43 civilians were reported killed and 60 injured – though sources are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime – with one report suggesting this may be a Coalition incident.

The Daesh agency Al A’maq said there had been nine raids by Russia on various “crowded” neighborhoods in the city, killing 43 and wounding 60. They published graphic footage of the event. Al Jazeera also blamed Russia, reporting that warplanes had carried out nine raids, killing more thna 40 and injuring dozens more.

An initial report by Shaam News Network spoke of a “terrible massacre against unarmed civilians conducted by air raids thought to be Russian“. However, a second report said this was either a Russian or Coalition incident: “…the city came under dozens of air raids from aircraft believed to be a Russian or an international coalition.” A subsequent report by SNN also referred to the incident in Raqqa on March 18th, adding: “Activists said the air raids targeted civilian areas and public squares directly away from the headquarters of the organization, resulting in 20 martyrs yesterday [March 18th], but today more than 20 have been killed and dozens more wounded, packing the hospitals in the city.” It said that the focus of the airstrikes was “on Karnak Square in Tel Abiyad Street and Al Ferdous neighbourhood, Al Mourour street and Al Sina’iya area and al Thakana“.

Initial reports by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently did not say who who carried out the raids, though  further reports alleged Russia was responsible for nine strikes – killing 43 civilians and wounding 60 more – which targeted the following areas:

1.Alkarnak Square in Tel Abyad Street – targeted with three missiles, one of them behind behind Alandalus bakery, another on the square and a third on Alkarnak mall.

2. Alssinaea area

3. The area next to Alnnawawi mosque.

4. The park of 4th of April, Alsleby building

5. Neighborhood of althukna – Hospitality Palace Road

6. Alfirdaws neighborhood – the Chamber of Commerce – the corner of the children’s park

9. National Hospital

10. Panorama area

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said that the regime was to blame:”The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) has accused the Assad regime of targeting civilian areas in IS-controlled areas. It said that the regime carried out airstrikes against Raqqa, an IS stronghold, on March 18 and 19, killing 32 civilians, including six children. The targets were civilian areas, with no military or weapons facilities in the vicinity.”

Sky News – citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights – reported: “At least 39 people, including five children and seven women, were killed in an air strike which targeted several areas in the Syrian city of Raqqa.The Syrian Observatory said it was unclear whether the warplanes were Russian regime.”

Both the BBC and France24 also cited the Observatory in their reports.

In their February 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)

Mohammed Al-Rashed
Age unknown male killed
Zahra al-Faihan, mother of Mohammed Al-Rashed
Adult female killed

Family members (2)

Ruba, daughter of Abu Waddah Al-Sukhni
Age unknown female killed
Amira, daughter of Abu Waddah Al-Sukhni
Age unknown female killed

The victims were named as:

Issa Al Karat
Adult male Agricultural engineer killed
Abdallah Mahmoud al Nijm
Age unknown male killed
Ibrahim Al Rawaba
70 years old male killed
Mohammad Khalaf Al Zagheer
Age unknown male From the village of al Assadiya killed
Ammar Al-Mufdi
Age unknown male killed
Um Muhannad
Adult female Wife of Haj Mohammed killed
Aziza Al-Qadro
Age unknown female killed
Hamudi, son of Abu Mohammed
Age unknown male killed
Ali, son of Um Waddah
Age unknown male killed
Tala’at Mohammad Amin Hussein al Assa’ad
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ar Raqqah (الرقة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.949949, 39.007363. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    39 – 43
  • (5 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    60
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Unknown, Syrian Regime, US-led Coalition

Sources (31) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • The al Lailat building in al Thakana neighbourhood, Raqqa, after it was targeted by a raid on March 19th (via RBSS)
  • 'The agricultural engineer Issa Al Karat martyred in the air raids on the city of Raqqa this morning [Mar 19th]' (via RBSS)
  • Aftermath of the strikes targeting Raqqa (via al-Jazeera)
  • Mohammad Khalaf Al Zagheer, victim of the air strikes targeting Raqqa (via RBSS)
  • Abdallah Mahmoud al Nijm, victim died in air strikes fired on Al Mrour Street in Raqqa (via SN4HR)
  • Tala’at Mohammad Amin Hussein al Assa’ad, victim of the air strikes targeting Raqqa (via Palmyra News Network facebook page)

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia has published no known record of strikes in Syria for March 1st to March 19t-20th.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

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
  • Feb 2, 2020
  • March 19, 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. 2925/CS192 37SEV008784

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    39 – 43
  • (5 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    60
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Unknown, Syrian Regime, US-led Coalition

Sources (31) [ collapse]