Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Twenty-one civilians reportedly died and 19 more were wounded in Coalition airstrikes and/or artillery shelling by unidentified parties in Raqqa, local media said.
The IS media agency, A’maq, published videos reportedly showing the shelling and aftermath of US strikes using white phosphorous on “neighbourhoods and markets” in the city. The videos are however no longer available.
According to Baladi, “the International Alliance renewed its shelling of the city of Raqqa with white phosphorus, on Friday, while the militias of the Syrian Democratic Forces broke into the Romaniya neighbourhood after taking control of the entire neighbourhood of Al-Sahahia west of the city.”
Other sources blamed artillery. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently put the civilian death toll at 21, while Ahmad al Shibli said an additional 19 were wounded – most of them women and children – “following American artillery shelling”.
Al Raqqa Truth reported that artillery shells fell on the “al Panorama area near al Safa mosque”.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (10) [ 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 June 8th-9th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, nine strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, three vehicles and a mortar system.” It additionally added that “On June 8, near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes destroyed four fighting positions and a VBIED.” And that “On June 8, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.”
For June 9th-10th: “Near Raqqah, 20 strikes engaged 12 ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven fighting positions, four vehicles, three ISIS headquarters, a VBIED, and an ISIS-held building; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.” It additionally added that “On June 9, near Raqqah, Syria, nine strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, two VBIEDs, two weapons caches, and an ISIS staging area.”
Friday 9 June – Tornados struck a Daesh position in eastern Raqqa…On Friday 9 June, Tornados struck a Daesh position in eastern Raqqa.