Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Islamic State’s media wing Al A’Amaq claimed that “nine people from one family were killed in an American raid on the village of Ghaitoun east of the town of Mare’ in the northern Aleppo countryside.” That assertion appeared to be the basis for most other media reports.
Syria Press Centre said the attack happened in the early hours of the morning. The Syrian Observatory added that “the number [of deaths] is likely to rise due to some serious injuries.”
However, in a December 2016 release the Coalition denied responsibility, noting that “(8.) Oct. 1, 2016, near Ghaytun, Syria: No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographical area.”
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (8) [ 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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No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographical area.
Original strike reports
For September 30th-October 1st 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Mar’a, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units and destroyed a vehicle, a command and control node, a fighting position, and a heavy machine gun.”