Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Two men were killed when an alleged Coalition airstrike hit their motorcycle in Tabaqa, according to local sources.
@Mohab_Naser reported that the incident occurred “on the main street south of the church roundabout”. The combatant status of the victims was not made clear in any of the reports.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (6) [ collapse]
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention the town of Tabaqa (الطبقة), for which the coordinates are: 35.8295049, 38.5360909. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
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. (1323)
Original strike reports
For April 12th-13th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqa seven strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed a vehicle and a fighting position.”
For April 13th-14th, the Coalition reported: “Near Tabqah, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units, destroyed a fighting position, and damaged a supply route" and "Near Raqqa, four strikes [2 British] engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions"
‘Thursday 13 April – Typhoons supported the Syrian Democratic Forces, hitting seven terrorist positions north of Raqqa in Syria…The following day [April 13th], Typhoons patrolled over Raqqa. North of the city, Syrian Democratic Forces reported being in very close combat with a group of seven, strongly defended, Daesh positions. Despite heavy cloud, the Typhoons were able to destroy one position on their first pass, then having confirmed the exact location of the other six targets, struck all of those simultaneously with Paveway IVs on a second pass.