Airwars assessment
One civilian died and five others were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike in Raqqa, according to a single source.
According to Smart News, “a local source in the town of Raqqa said the strikes targeted al Qitar (Train) Street and al Bustan park, killing one civilian and wounding five others”. It said the strikes were “likely” conducted by the Coalition.
Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that the Coalition had carried out three raids in Raqqa, but didn’t mention any civilian casualties.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (3) [ collapse]
Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]
Reports of the incidents mention Al Qitar Road (شارع القطار) and Al Bustan Park (حدیقة البستان) in Raqqa. Open Source maps give the coordinates for Al Qitar Street (شارع القطار) as: 35.959629, 39.011274 (the coordinates used for Airwars assessment). The coordinates for Al Bustan Park (حدیقة البستان) are: 35.943889, 39.016944.
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 March 9th-10th it noted: “Near Ar Raqqah, 13 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed four vehicles, a fighting position, a tactical vehicle, an ISIS headquarters, and a VBIED factory; and damaged three supply routes.“