Geolocation
Airwars assessment
One or more civilian non-combatants were reported killed – and at least two others injured – after an alleged Coalition air raid on the village of Dabiq.
Step News, citing an Islamic State source – said seven civilians were also injured in the event. Another source said the civilian casualties occurred when a workshop for making thread was struck. Three Daesh fighters were also reported killed.
According to ARA News, “Saleh Zein, one of the field commanders in the opposition in the northern countryside of Aleppo, confirmed to ARA News, that ‘the international coalition aircraft targeted with several air raids Daesh positions in the northern Aleppo countryside. The bombing focused on the towns of Dabiq, Asnabil, Hor al Naher and the outskirts of the town of Soran Izaz which led to the death of two civilians as well as the death of dozens of Daesh members.”
In its July 2017 report, the Coalition said it had classed the event as non credible based on insufficient evidence of civilian harm: “May 11, 2016, near Dabiq, Syria, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”
However given the specific reported details of the event and the named source, Airwars continues to class this event as likely.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (9) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]
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.
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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After a review of available information it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.
Original strike reports
The Coalition reports carrying out one strike in Aleppo governorate on May 10th-11th 2016: “Near Manbij, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.”