Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Between seven and ten civilians including three children and three women died and dozens more were injured in an airstrike on Qitar street, according to local sources. While the majority of reports attributed the incident to the Coalition, one report alleged that Russia was responsible. The Coalition later reported that “no Coalition strikes were conducted in this geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”
Raqqa is being Slaughtered Silently reported the death of eight civilians and the injury of more than eight in a raid “on al Qitar street targeting one of the warehouses near al Baraka bakery.” When contacted by Airwars, they said that the strike on Qitar street was the same one as on al Maari school (listed above). Other sources, however, reported it as a separate strike.
Ara News blamed the Coalition and put the death toll at nine including women and children.
According to Syria News Desk, three children were among eight killed in an alleged Coalition raid which completely destroyed four houses and the train station building.
Smart and Shaam News also pointed to the Coalition, as did Baladi, who put the death toll as high as ten.
However, RFS Media Office was alone in attributing the incident to Russia. They also said that eight non-combatants died but provided little detail.
On April 30th 2017 the Coalition flagged the event as ‘not credible’, noting: “Feb. 20, 2017, near Raqqah, Syria, via social media report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in this geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Summary
Sources (34) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]
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Jawdat Haidar Abd al Aziz, killed in an airstrike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS)
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The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS)
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The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS)
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The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS)
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The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS)
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The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS) -
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The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS) -
This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.
The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS) -
This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.
The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS) -
This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.
The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (via RBSS) -
This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.
The aftermath of a strike on Qitar street, February 20th (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 February 20th-21st, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, seven strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed three fighting positions, a VBIED, a garage, an IED and a weapons facility; and damaged a bridge.”