Geolocation
Airwars assessment
One to three civilians were killed in alleged artillery shelling on the Alhadiqa Al Baysa’a neighbourhood of Raqqa (or possibly Tawaso’eya), local media reported – though one report said that one victim was shot.
A civilian male was named as a victim in multiple reports. Sources alleged that he was killed in SDF shelling, however, Airwars understands that only the Coalition has access to artillery.
Jorf News put the death toll at three. It also named Muhammad Farouk al-Hamsho, and said that the other two victims were “buried in the park behind the garage”.
However a later report by Raqqa Hadath said that “The young man Mohammed Farouq Hamshu, who was shot by his rifle, fell in front of his house in the Tawaso’eya neighborhood, next to the white park.”
Furthermore, there was confusion about the location of the event. Some sources said it occurred in Tawaso’eya, others that it was in Hadiqa Bayda’a Sharqiya Voice on 7th says Hadiqa Bayda’a and on 8th says Tawaso’eya.
In February 2019, the Coalition assessed this event to be non-credible. Their reported noted: “After review of all available strike records it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Summary
Sources (10) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]
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Muhammad Farouk Hamsho, reportedly killed by artillery in Raqqa, July 7th 2017. (via RBSS)
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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July 7, 2017, near al-Hadika al-Bayda, Raqqah, Syria via Airwars report. After review of all available strike records it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.
Original strike reports
For July 7th-8th: “Near Raqqah, 18 strikes engaged 16 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 17 fighting positions, two vehicles, and a tunnel.” It was additionally reported that “On July 7, near Raqqah, Syria, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed five fighting positions, an IED factory, and a VBIED; and damaged 15 fighting positions.”
In the past week, France reports 21 sorties and 4 strikes, 2 in Raqqa and 2 in Iraq. Task Force Wagram conducted 15 artillery strikes in Mosul. Since September 19th 2014, it reports 1311 strikes, 2076 targets destroyed and 6775 sorties.
‘Point de situation des opérations Armée française – Opérations militaires·Thursday, 13 July 2017 CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, A Raqqah, la manœuvre d’encerclement menée au Sud de la ville pour couper les combattants de Daech de leurs soutiens est terminée. Dans la ville, la progression des Forces Démocratiques Syriennes se poursuit maison par maison, face à une défense de Daech faite d’actions permanentes de harcèlement, d’infiltrations et d’attaques suicides menées avec l’aide de boucliers humains. Les Forces armées syriennes se heurtent aux défense de Daech plus à l’Est et les positions se stabilisent. En Irak, Dimanche 9 juillet, le Premier ministre irakien a annoncé la libération de Mossoul. Cette victoire sur l’organisation terroriste marque le succès de forces irakiennes appuyées par les forces aériennes de la Coalition et un soutien artillerie, au cœur d’une stratégie qui aura permis d’affaiblir Daech avant de contre-attaquer en remontant le Tigre et de progresser ensemble jusqu’au cœur de la ville après l’avoir encerclée. Désormais, les forces de sécurité débutent une longue phase de sécurisation de Mossoul. La nécessité de nettoyer la ville des très nombreux pièges posés par Daech, la présence de combattants-suicides disséminés au sein de la population, la probable présence de cellules terroristes dormantes, va imposer aux Forces de Sécurité Irakiennes de poursuivre leurs efforts pendant de longues semaines. Les combats se concentrent désormais dans le secteur de Tall Afar où bon nombre de combattants terroristes ont trouvé refuge après avoir fui la zone de Mossoul. Daech poursuit de son côté ses actions terroristes dans les régions de l’Anbar et d’Hawijah où l’organisation dispose encore de forces importantes. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 21 sorties aériennes dont 19 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 2 missions de recueil de renseignement. 04 frappes ont été réalisées dont 02 dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 15 missions de tir dont 14 de harcèlement et 01 d’éclairement. Le bilan global depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève 1311 frappes, 2076 objectifs et 6775 sorties. ‘