Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Seven civilians from the Al-Mashhoud family died in a casualty event at Rawda Farm – near the old mosque area – though reports were conflicted as to whether they were killed by US-led Coalition airstrikes or shelling by the SDF or US.
According to Alaraby, “local sources told Al-Arab Al-Jadeed that seven civilians from the Al-Mashhoud family were killed by an international coalition air strike targeting their home at Al-Rawda farm north of Raqqa city.” According to the Syrian Observatory, “the casualties are a man and two of his sons and one of them was killed with 4 of his children, also the shelling injured several others.”
Radio Alkul poiinted only to the SDF, reporting that “seven civilians from one family were killed by shelling of the Syrian Democratic Forces militia on Mazra’at al-Rawda, north of al-Raqqa”. Some others sources blamed both the Coalition and the SDF.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (19) [ collapse]
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention the area of the “Old Mosque” (الجامع القديم) in the city of Raqqa (الرقة). The generic coordinates for the mosque are: 35.951997, 39.021030. Due to limited satellite imagery and information 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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The report contains insufficient information of the time location and details to assess its credibility.
Original strike reports
For May 29th-30th, the Coalition publicly reported: “Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed five vehicles, a tunnel, a mortar system, a weapons cache, a VBIED factory and a fighting position.” It was additionally reported for May 29th that “Near Raqqah, Syria, four strikes destroyed three ISIS-held buildings, two VBIEDs, and a weapons cache.”
For May 30th-31st, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed a fighting position and a VBIED. For May 30th, it added that "Near Raqqah, Syria, a strike destroyed an ISIS command and control node."