Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Nine civilians reportedly died and as many as 25 were injured in an alleged Coalition strike near the sheep market of the al Makaf area of Raqqa city.
Step news, RFS, the Shaam News Network and Syrinapc were among sources blaming the Coalition and each put the death toll at nine non-combatants. Al Jazeera reported that eight civilians died though said the warplanes responsible had not been identified. According to the Smart news agency, which also pointed to the Coalition, the strike was on a sheep market.
Syrian News Desk added some more detail: “A civilian source from Al-Raqqa, who asked not to be identified, told the Syrian News Desk that the international Coalition aircraft targeted the market for sheep trade near Al-Mashlab neighborhood east of the city of Raqqa with five raids, causing the destruction of five shops and the burning of five civilian cars that were parked next to it. A large number of livestock was killed, and wounded civilians were taken to medical points inside the city, while some of them are still critical.”
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (18) [ 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 March 20th-21st the Coalition stated: “Near Ar Raqqah, 19 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed four petroleum oil lubricant equipment pieces, three barges, three fighting positions, three ISIS headquarters, two VBIED facilities, two VBIEDs, a VBIED factory, a tunnel, a vehicle, a weapons storage facility, and a command and control node; and damaged two supply routes.”