Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Between 15 and 21 civilians died and 50 others were injured following an aerial offensive by the US-led Coalition, according to local media.
Step New Agency reported that the Coalition had carried out a raid on Al Badou neighbourhood, north of the Al Ma’ri school, which resulted in civilians killed and injured. The death toll was put at 21 civilians with 50 others wounded by Raqqa Post, following airstrikes on neighbourhoods held by so-called Islamic State. Raqqa Post also alleged the area “was subjected to artillery shelling from SDF” throughout the day.
Breaking News reported a lower toll of “15 martyrs” following “US bombing on the old neighbourhoods of Raqqa, and the vicinity of the hospital”.
The house of El-Anoot in Al Badou neighbourhood was “completely destroyed” according to @Q_Alenzy, who said the building was being used as a weapon factory by ISIS. In a subsequent tweet by @Q_Alenzy it was reported that two houses of the A’idan family were destroyed, in addition to several other houses.
At present it is unclear as to whether the 15 – 21 alleged dead in this incident were all in the vicinity of Al Badou or located in various neighbourhoods. @24raqqa documented at least 111 civilians killed “in the past three days” in besieged neighbourhoods. Breaking News also said irt was proving impossible to know “the size of the civilian casualties, because of the inability to lift the rubble to discover the fate of those under it, because of the intensity of the fire between the parties to the conflict in the city of Raqqa”.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (6) [ collapse]
Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]
Reports of the incident mention that the alleged Coalition airstrike targeted multiple neighbourhoods in the city of Raqqa (الرقة): the neighbourhood of Al Badou (البدو), the Tel Abyad (تل أبیض) street area, the National Hospital, Tawasu’iya (التوسعیة), Jumaili (الجمیلي), the station (المحطة), Rumaila (الرمیلة), Amassi street (الأماسي) and Andalusia (الأندلس). These areas were under IS control at that time. In the neighbourhood of Al Badou (البدو) a number of locations are mentioned: the house of El Anoot (العنطوط), which was used as an IS weapons factory; several houses including two houses of the A’idan family (العیدان); and the area north of the Al Ma’ri school (المعري). The coordinates for the Al Ma’ri school (المعري) are: 35.962029, 39.009908. On satellite imagery of 6 and 19 September structural damage to a building (35.964152, 39.009216) north of the Al Ma’ri school is visible, as well as lighter damage to a building (35.963084, 39.008358) northwest of the school around the same time
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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The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility
Original strike reports
For September 9th – 10th the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, 34 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed 21 fighting positions, 16 vehicles, four heavy machine guns, two command and control nodes, a logistics node, and engineering equipment; and suppressed six fighting positions.”
For September 10th - 11th the Coalition reported •Near Raqqah, 23 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed 20 fighting positions, two logistics nodes, and a vehicle; and suppressed two fighting positions" It later reported, "Additionally, 15 strikes consisting of 21 engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on Sept. 10 that closed within the last 24 hours. On Sept. 10, near Raqqah, Syria, 11 strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed 14 vehicles, three fighting positions, a logistics node, and an anti-air artillery system; and suppressed a fighting position"
‘Monday 11 September – Tornados destroyed two sniper positions in Raqqa, and attacked a Daesh-held compound and terrorists on a motorcycle near Dayr az Zawr…A flight of Royal Air Force Tornados supported the Syrian Democratic Forces fighting in Raqqa on Monday 11 September, when Paveway IV guided bombs were used to destroy two sniper positions. A second Tornado flight patrolled north-east of Dayr az Zawr, where they attacked a group of terrorists in a compound with a Paveway IV. Survivors of the attack then attempted to move to another position on a motorcycle, but were successfully engaged with a Brimstone missile.’