Airwars assessment
One civilian was killed alongside three ISIL fighters and five others were wounded in an airstrike on the city of Raqqa, according to a local source.
Smart News Agency reported that the civilian was arrested by ISIL’s religious police, known as the Hesba, on charges of “smoking” and was in a car driven by the terrorists when the airstrike took place.
The five civilians injured were reportedly near the car at the time of the strike.
Blame has not been directly apportioned to the Coalition for the strike, however Smart News Agency said they were “likely” responsible. Hope-fm-syria also reported the incident, blaming the Coalition, putting the death toll at one civilians, three members of ISIL – and the wounding of five further non-combatants – though it appears to be citing Smart.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (2) [ 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 May 2nd-3rd, the Coalition did not initially report any strikes in Raqqa, though later added that “Near Raqqah, Syria, May 2nd, one strike destroyed a fighting position.”
For May 3rd-4th the Coalition stated: “Near Raqqah, one strike destroyed a command and control node.” It later added that “Near Raqqah, May 3rd, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a mortar system.”