Airwars assessment
Four civilians died and dozens more were wounded in alleged Coalition airstrikes on the Rumaila neighbourhood of Raqqa, according to local sources.
Syrian News Desk reported that “four civilians were killed and 11 others wounded including children, by the Coalition targeting Maysaloun school and nearby houses in Rumaila district east of al-Raqqa with four raids. These destroyed the school building almost completely and damaged two houses.” [This report may have confused a March 20th strike on Maysaloun school in al Tabaqa.]
Euphrates Post, Step News and Smart News were among other sources which said the Coalition had carried out raids on the neighbourhood leading to a number of casualties.
Enab Baladi reported that “Coalition warplanes carried out three raids in Rumaila neighbourhood in Raqqa and killed dozens and wounded civilians and the final death toll isn’t clear yet.”
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (13) [ 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 22nd-23rd: “Near Ar Raqqah, eight strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed two tactical vehicles, a fighting position, and a heavy transport equipment piece; and damaged four supply routes.”