Geolocation
Airwars assessment
33 to 42 civilians including five to eight children were killed – and 35 others injured – in airstrikes on Ar Raqqah, according to multiple sources. All sources allege that Russia carried out the attacks, except for the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights who do not say who was responsible.
The Shaam News Network reported that Russian warplanes carried out more than eight raids targeting different areas of the city of Ar Raqqa and its western countryside, causing major destruction to residential buildings and deaths of non-combatants.
Activist told SNN that the strikes targeted “a government complex, Al Darweesh crossing, the National Hospital, al Wussawat hospital, Al Mansour district, Rumaila neighborhood, Al Sa’aa district and Al Amassi.” Initial reports were of 15 civilians killed and dozens wounded.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the death toll higher – at 33 civilians, including five children, killed by “suspected Russian shelling“.
But the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said even more were killed – 40, including eight children, however, they did not say who the “warplanes” belonged to. According to their report “reliable sources” informed them that the planes targeted “shops, small restaurants, areas near Rasheed Park, al-Na’eim roundabout, Abbarat Darwish area, the industrial area and near the National hospital in the city.” They added that “the warplanes came out from regime forces controlled areas and that was heard via the road communication devices in the area.“
The IS agency Al Ama’aq news blamed Russia, putting the number killed at 42, with 35 injured – some of whom were in a critical condition.
Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently also said that 42 people died at the hands of Russian warplanes in nine strikes, with 35 injured. They listed the locations that were bombed as:
“Government complex, Al Darweesh crossing, National hospital, Al Mussawat hospital, Al Mansour district, Ramallah neighbourhood, Al Sa’aa district, Al Amassi area behind the city council, the area opposite that used to be the blood bank, the clock round about and Al dari’ya neighbourhood.“
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Family members (2)
The victims were named as:
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention the city of Ar Raqqah (الرقة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.949949, 39.007363. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
Summary
Sources (15) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]
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A crater in the middle of a road following an alleged Russian strike on Ar Raqqa, January 16th 2016 (via Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
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A fire blazes amid destruction caused by an alleged Russian raid on Ar Raqqa, Jan 16th (via Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently)
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Ismail Khalil Al Mohammad, killed by an alleged Russian airstrike. (via, Raqqa is being slaughtered silently)
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The aftermath of the alleged Russian raid on Raqqa. (via, Raqqa is being slaughtered silently)
Russian Military Assessment:
Original strike reports
In its report for military actions on January 19 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Raqqah governorate: “In the course of the last four days, aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 157 combat sorties engaging 579 objects of terrorists’ infrastructure in the provinces of Aleppo, Raqqah, Latakia, Homs, Hama and Deir ez-Zor.” It adds: “Within the operation aimed at elimination of terrorists’ sources of income, the Russian aircraft have eliminated a large POL storage and oil pumping station in the Raqqah province in the course of the last four days.“