Airwars assessment
At least four civilians died in a reported Coalition airstrike on al Ghadban in support of SDF ground forces.
According to the Syrian Network, “four civilians, including two children, died when International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on Al Ghadban village.” LCCSY said six died.
Baladi and Egypt Today were among all other sources who blamed the Coalition. According to the Syrian Network, “Fixed wing international coalition forces warplanes fired missiles at al Ghadban village which is affiliated to Ain Eisa area in the northern suburbs of Al Raqqa governorate and is under the control of ISIS. The bombardment resulted in the killing of five civilians including two children.”
The local time of the incident is unknown.
- Abd Mukhlif al Rafid al Shmeilani Age unknown male killed
- Abd al Fattah al Dhaba’an al Shmeilani's children Child two children killed
Summary
Sources (10) [ collapse]
Attached to this civilian harm incident is the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, 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 it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.
Original strike reports
For January 6th-7th the Coalition publicly reported that “Near Ar Raqqah, 12 strikes [1 British?] engaged eight ISIL tactical units; destroyed 14 oil refinement tanks, seven fighting positions, a VBIED facility, a VBIED, an ISIL-held building, an artillery system, and a bunker system; and damaged two supply routes. Near Ayn Isa, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position and an artillery system.”