Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Seven civilians including a family of five died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on the Al Wahab neighbourhood of Al Tabaqa, according to local sources – though there is currently some uncertainty about the date of the event.
According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, “the family of Ali al Mabrouk made up of five people were killed after a raid on their house west of the church in the Al Wahab neighbourhood in Al Tabaqa.”
Journalist Mohab Nasser, also blamed the Coalition, reporting on April 29th the death of “three girls [sisters] from one family killed after their house was targeted by the international Coalition west of the Al Kanissa roundabout two days ago”. He named the victims (also named by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently).
However, given that the report was on April 29th and said that the deaths occurred “two days ago”, there is some uncertainty on dates.
Mohab Nasser later named four further victims “killed in Coalition raids on civilian homes west of Al Kanissa roundabout a few days ago”.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also attributed the event to the Coalition, putting the death toll at six, including four women, with five of the victims from one family.
Mohab Nasser also published images on April 30th showing Al Wasat Street, Al Wahab in the Al Qariya area after the SDF took control of it, indicating that there could have been heavy raids a few days previously.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Family members (3)
The victims were named as:
Summary
Sources (24) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]
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An SDF fighter pictured in Tabqah late April 2017 (image via Mohab Nasser)
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A street in the Al-Wahab neighbourhood of Tabaqah, the aftermath of alleged Coalition strikes, April 29th or April 27th (via Qasioun)
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A street in Tabaqah allegedly taken over by SDF on April 29th (via Mohab Nasser)
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SDF forces allegedly took over a street in Tabaqah, April 29th (via Mohab Nasser)
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SDF fighters on a street in Tabaqah prior to alleged raids a few days after (via Mohab Nasser)
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The family of Sheikh Ali al Mabrouk killed in international coalition raids post a photogrpahs of their son Bilal al Mubarak who was still fighting with the Kurdish units in late April (via Al Hassaka Rasd)
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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No Coalition strikes were conducted on that day in the geographic area of the reported civilian casualties.
Original strike reports
For April 27th- 28th the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, two strikes destroyed a command and control node and a front-end loader" and "Near Tabqah, eight strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions, two command and control nodes, two bunkers, and an ISIS staging area"
For April 28th - 29th the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, one strike destroyed a front-end loader" and "Near Tabqah, 10 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed seven fighting positions and four vehicles"
For April 29th - 30th the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed 10 ISIS barges, three vehicles, two tactical vehicles, and an ISIS bridge" and "Near Tabqah, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units, destroyed four fighting positions and a vehicle; damaged an ISIS supply route, and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit" Later reporting: Additionally, four strikes were conducted in Syria April 28 that closed within the last 24 hours. Near Tabqah, Syria, on April 28, four strikes destroyed three fighting positions and a VBIED.”
CHAMMAL ASSESSMENT OF SITUATION Status of operations as of April 27, 2017 In Syria the SDS continued to garner territorial gains at the expense of the terrorist organization. In the Tabqah region, progress continues in the city itself and around the dam. In the Raqqah region, the defensive perimeter of Daesh north of the city continues to shrink. In Iraq, Daesh continued its asymmetric actions and seeks to take advantage of weather that is not conducive to effective coalition air support. In the Mosul region, the situation continues to evolve favorably for ISPs. In the north-west, on the outskirts of the city, the 9th Division has paused in its progression to focus on securing the area under its control, including to counter attempts infiltrations of terrorist groups. Further south, in the districts of the city of Mosul, the ICTS and the FEDPOL continue their methodical progress aimed at isolating the medina. These units are facing continuing resistance from Daesh members, who this week launched unsuccessful counter-attacks from the Medina. ACTIVITIES OF THE CHAMMAL FORCE Fire support - TF Wagram The Task Force (TF) Wagram continued this week its shooting missions in support of the 9th Iraqi Division engaged in the Badush region. It carried out 30 firing missions in support of Iraqi units, as part of their operations to secure the area against groups of Daesh seeking to infiltrate. It is, in equal proportions, missions of shelling or destruction against Daesh units. Air support to the Levant This week, the aircraft of Operation Chammal made 54 sorties, including 40 for armed reconnaissance or ground support (CAS), 3 for air command and control, 5 for refueling, and 6 for intelligence gathering. Six strikes were carried out by French aircraft in Iraq and Syria, with a special effort this week to support operations in the Raqqah region.
‘CHAMMAL APPRÉCIATION DE SITUATION Point de situation des opérations au 27 avril 2017 En Syrie les FDS ont continué à engranger des gains territoriaux aux dépends de l’organisation terroriste. Dans la région de Tabqah, la progression se poursuit dans la ville même et aux abords du barrage. Dans la région de Raqqah, le périmètre défensif de Daech au Nord de la ville continue de se réduire. En Irak, Daech a poursuivi ses actions asymétriques et cherche à tirer parti d’une météo peu favorable à l’efficacité des appuis aériens de la coalition. Dans la région de Mossoul, la situation continue à évoluer favorablement pour les FSI. Au nord-ouest, sur les abords de la ville, la 9e division a marqué une pause dans sa progression pour se concentrer sur la sécurisation de la zone sous son contrôle, notamment pour contrer les tentatives infiltrations de groupes terroristes. Plus au sud, dans les quartiers de la ville de Mossoul, l’ICTS et les FEDPOL poursuivent leur progression méthodique visant à isoler la médina. Ces unités font face à une résistance toujours aussi vive de la part des membres de Daech, qui cette semaine ont lancé, sans succès, plusieurs contre-attaques depuis la médina. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE CHAMMAL Appui feu – TF Wagram La Task Force (TF) Wagram a poursuivi cette semaine ses missions de tir en appui de la 9e division irakienne engagée dans la région de Badush. Elle a réalisé 30 missions de tir en appui des unités irakiennes, dans le cadre de leurs opérations de sécurisation de la zone face à des groupes de Daech cherchant à s’infiltrer. Il s’agit, dans des proportions égales, de missions de tirs éclairants ou de destruction contre des unités de Daech. Appui aérien au Levant Cette semaine, les aéronefs de l’opération Chammal ont réalisé 54 sorties aériennes dont 40 de reconnaissance armée ou d’appui au sol (CAS), 3 de commandement et de contrôle aérien, 5 de ravitaillement, et 6 de recueil de renseignements. 6 frappes ont été réalisées par les avions français en Irak et en Syrie, avec un effort particulier consenti cette semaine en appui des opérations dans la région de Raqqah.’