Geolocation
Airwars assessment
A young man died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Safsaf farm, Raqqa, according to local sources.
Mohab Nasser, an activist covering Raqqa news, reported that “the child Ammar Ahmad al Suleiman al Gharnouk, 10 years old, ded after being hit by shrapnel following a raid on al Safsaf farm in the eastern Tabaqa countryside.” He didn’t say who was responsible. However Raqqa is Being Slaughtered later published a photo of Ammar al Gharnouk, showing him to be a young adult male.
Baladi also said that Al Safsaf farm was targeted with a Coalition raid, though did not mention casualties.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Summary
Sources (12) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]
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a photo of the young man Ammar Ahmad al Suleiman al Gharnough (via RBSS)
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Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
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Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
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Aftermath of the airstrike (via RBSS)
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Aftermath of the airstrike (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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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 21st-22nd the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Ar Raqqah, 22 strikes engaged 12 ISIL tactical units; destroyed nine fighting positions, two tunnels, two tanks, an IED factory, and an ISIL headquarters; and suppressed three ISIL tactical units.”