Geolocation
Airwars assessment
A number of local sources said that at least two people were killed and 14 more injured as a result of alleged Coalition airstrikes in the western Tabaqa countryside in the village of Debsi Afnan.
A report from Smart News Agency two days after the incident said as many as seven people were killed and that 14 civilians were wounded, whereas most said “many” were wounded. The agency also alleged the Coalition was responsible.
Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently and the Syrian Press Center both named two victims.
According to a number of sources, one of the targets was a “cultural centre”, which appears to be damaged from airstrikes in photos shared on social media. The Syrian Press Center, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently and Mohab Nasser (a journalist) also reported that “medical clinics” were hit in the strikes.
Nasser also reported that a sewage plant, a quarry and some residential homes were hit.
On twitter, @q_alenzy reported that two homes that were hit in the strikes belonged to Haji al Mousa and the Al Shetar family.
In January 2019, the Coalition announced that it had classed the event as non credible due to a lack of available evidence of civilian harm: “After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.”
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention the village of Debsi Afnan (دبسي عفنان), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.8175348, 38.2162857. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
Summary
Sources (18) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]
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The aftermath of an alleged Coalition airstrike on the Cultural Center in Debsi Afnan, April 26th (via Raqqa Post)
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A photograph of destruction in Dibsi Afnan following alleged Coalition airstrikes, April 26th (via Mohab Nasser)
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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Apr. 26, 2017, near Debsi Afnan, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find civilians were harmed in this strike.
Original strike reports
For April 25th-26th, the Coalition reported no strikes at Raqqah though noted that “Near Tabqah, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; and destroyed four fighting positions and a fuel truck.“
For April 26th - 27th, the Coalition reported no strikes ar Raqqah or Tabqah.