Geolocation
Airwars assessment
According to a number of sources, civilian casualties were occurred following alleged Coalition actions at Al Qaim – although reporting was confused.
A number of sources reported government attacks on Anah and Rawah, coupled with Coalition air or possible guided missile strikes at Al Qaim, western Anbar province. According to a subsequent report by Yaqin, the warplanes renewed heavy bombardment of areas and cities in western Anbar province and focused on the westernmost city of Al Qaim while continuing the suffocating siege on those cities facing imminent intrusions by the joint forces with the Militia and US occupation forces supported by the International Military coalition.
Al Rafidain reiterated Yaqins claims that the Coalition aircraft had operated in conjunction with government bombing and noted that the magnitude of the losses following the bombing was unknown. Shelling of residential neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Anah and Rawah reportedly took place.
Iraq News alleged the attacks were prepared for the start of military operations to control the areas mentioned from the grip of the state organisation.
The incident occured around dusk.
Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]
Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Qaim (34.372500, 41.051111), as well as the towns Rawah (34.479498, 41.919272) and Anah (34.372699, 41.986442). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further
Summary
Sources (5) [ 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 and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike. (1255)
Original strike reports
For September 9th-10th the Coalition reported “Near Al Qaim, one strike destroyed an ISIS staging area. Near Rawah, five strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed seven command and control nodes, a VBIED, an ISIS-held building, and a vehicle.Near Rawah, one strike destroyed two command and control nodes.”