Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS788 CS207

Incident date

May 2, 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

Between six and 21 civilians died and up to 50 were injured in multiple night time airstrikes on the city of Raqqa, according to local sources. While most reports alleged that Russia was responsible, others did not identify the aircraft, while one blamed the Assad regime and another said that the Coalition might have carried out the raids.

Multiple local sources reported the incident, stating various numbers of dead and wounded.

Al Ettihad Press attributed the incident to Russia, saying that warplanes targeted Daesh with more than 45 strikes in the city, killing a number of militants and destroying a headquarters, but also leading to the death of 21 non-combatants and the injury of 43 more.

Sources told Al Ettihad: “The planes used vacuum missiles, cluster bombs and guided missiles in their bombing. Entire neighbourhoods were seen burning with rockets blazing, believed to be napalm missiles which is forbidden internationally.”

The Shaam News Network also blamed Russia, with activists saying that the raids focused on “Al Nai’m, Al Ferdos and the area around Al Rasheed Park.”

Syria.net said that the aircraft were believed to be Russian and listed areas that were targeted, adding that mosques in the city launched calls for blood donations due to the high numbers of people wounded. Quoting the ISIL agency Al A’amaq, an activist said that six civilians died and three were injured following Russian midnight raids.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently initially said that six civilians died in five raids by “warplanes” (it did not identify them). A further report said that more than 20 civilian homes had been destroyed near “the bunkers” or “al Sawame”. It later suggested that it could have been a Russian strike: “The heavy bombardment came after Russian statements to the UN Security Council about its intention to target Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor under the pretext of the war on terrorism.” It said that 24 raids had killed at least 20 civilians and wounded 50 more.

In a number of posts, RBSS said that the following locations had been targeted:

The area near Hitteen school

The area of the arts college

The old Al Haal market

Bilqis school

Al Rasheed Mill.

The monitor also published 19 images showing destruction of Bilqis school, Al Rasheed Mill and the grain silos.

LCSSY reported that dawn raids had killed 10 non-combatants, but did not say who was responsible. But the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the regime for firing missiles on Bilqis school, partially destroying it and rendering it inoperable.

Orient News blamed the Coalition, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported that the warplanes responsible “likely” belonged to the Coalition. It said that there had been 35 strikes killing 13 civilians and five militants, adding that the number of dead was predicted to rise due to the severity of injuries.

Quoting AFP and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Egypt News reported that the identity of the warplanes was unknown. It also put the death toll at 13 non-combatants and five members of Daesh.

Two victims were later named by RBSS.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ar Raqqah (الرقة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Infrastructure
    Education
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 21
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–50
  • 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 (34) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (29) [ collapse]

  • Juma’a Ibrahim, killed in an airstrike on Raqqa, May 2nd (via RBSS)
  • Activist @Fouadhallak89 tweets that more than 25 air raids target Raqqa on 3rd May 2016
  • LCCSY tweet confirms raids on Raqqa city. 2nd May 2016
  • Al Jazeera tweet confirming deaths and injuries due to alleged Russian strikes on Raqqa, May 3rd 2016
  • Fires raging in Raqqa as a result of air raids. [Via: RBSS on 3rd May 2016]
  • One of the victims, Muhannad Khalil al Shaheen. [Via: RBSS on 3rd May 2016]
  • An activist quoting IS media agency Al-A'amaq reporting that six civilians were killed and 3 injured following 'Russian raids on Raqqa at midnight yesterday' 3rd May 2016, via @1hhttss11
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • A series of photos showing destruction from the raids on al Rashid mill, the area surrounding the grain silos and Bilqis school in the city of Raqqa, on 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • Photo showing the extent of the damage caused by the raids in the area surrounding the grain silos and nearby housing, 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • Photo showing the extent of the damage caused by the raids in the area surrounding the grain silos and nearby housing, 3rd May 2016, (via: RBSS)
  • Photo of Bilqis school in Raqqa city destroyed by 'government warplanes', May 3rd 2016 [Via: SN4HR]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Unknown

Russia has not publicly reported any strikes between May 1st – 31st 2016.

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
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For May 1st-2nd, the Coalition reported: "Near Ar Raqqah, one strike destroyed an ISIL crane."

For May 2nd-3rd: "Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes struck an ISIL finance center and an ISIL weapons storage facility."

Summary

  • Infrastructure
    Education
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 21
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–50
  • 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 (34) [ collapse]