Geolocation
Airwars assessment
An 8.30pm coalition bombing raid on Jarablos – a major Islamic State hub – destroyed a cultural centre being used as an ISIL headquarters in the town. According to Aleppo News, “According to activists, the strikes caused great devastation in the building in addition to the destruction of two civilian houses in the vicinity. Witnesses confirmed that the targeted building was inhabited by many of the elements of the organization (ISIS) which led to the deaths of most of them and seriously injuring the rest.”
‘Dozens’ of militants were reportedly killed. However civilians were also reportedly being detained at the location. Two women casualties of the coalition strike were named as 30 year old Hiba Raei and Jorieh Hamdan. A third victim, a member of the local KazKaz family, was also cited. He may be Fawaz Al Taha (an 18 year old male reportedly killed by the coalition at either al Bab or Jarablos on December 28th.)
VDC also cited local residents as saying that “an unconfirmed number of detainees were killed during this attack” adding that “several ISIL leaders, one of whom was French (his name could not be obtained) were killed as well. Moreover, Abu Omer al-Shami, the prison governor, who is known as Abu Hadid, appeared to have been injured. Eyewitnesses also said that an F-16 fighter aircraft of the International Coalition appears to have carried out the attack.”
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 after a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.
The incident occured at 20:30:00 local time.
The victims were named as:
Summary
Sources (4) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]
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Aftermath of the alleged strike (via SNHR)
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Location of the cultural centre (via VDC)
Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]
Reports of the incident mention the town of Jarablos (جرابلس), Aleppo governorate and that the alleged Coalition airstrike targeted the “cultural centre” building, identified by SNHR as a theatre (المسرح القائم), causing damage to two residential building in the vicinity. The coordinates for Jarablos “cultural centre / theatre” (جرابلس) are: 36.820528, 38.012028
US-led Coalition Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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Dec. 28, 2014, in Jarabulus. Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action. 2389/CS039 37SDA117751
Original strike reports
While the coalition initially denied any airstrikes in Aleppo governorate on the night of December 28th 2014, it later conceded to McClatchy that it had bombed Jarablos, in an airstrike it initially described as being “near Kobani” (also see previous event.)