Incident Code

CS052

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148
Accuracy: City

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S50)

A Jordanian airstrike against an “ISIL weapons compound” – in coordination with the US military – allegedly killed US aid worker and hostage Kayla Mueller, along with up to 30 militants from Islamic State. The US later said that “with the information that we have there’s no evidence of civilians in the target area prior to the coalition strike taking place.”

ISIS later sent Kayla’s family photographic proof of her death, which was then shared with the US intelligence community for analysis. According to White House spokesman Josh Earnest, the information “did not allow them to reach a conclusion as to the precise cause of her death.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights later claimed that ISIL suffered major losses in the attack, which was in retaliation for the burning to death of a captured Jordanian pilot: “At least 30 jihadists, and certainly more, were killed in coalition raids on Friday against positions and depots sheltering military vehicles and tanks, east and west of the city of Raqqah.”

Internally, CENTCOM reported that “Jordan officially denied the allegation,” adding that “Analysis of photographs indicates individual was unlikely killed by airstrikes.” Claims that the Coalition had killed Mueller were therefore dismissed as “Not credible. No further inquiry required.”

 

Victims

Invidivuals

Kayla Jean Mueller
Adult female American aid worker held hostage by ISIS killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Civilians reported killed
1
1 Woman

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ar Raqqah (الرقة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Non credible / Unsubstantiated
Reason for non-credible assessment
Other
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
Stated location
Raqqah, Syria
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2015-05-01
Original Source
Alleged Jordanian airstrike, but Jordan officially denied it.
Assessment
Suspected belligerent
position on incident
Not yet assessed
Strike Report
Alleged Jordanian airstrike, but Jordan officially denied it.

Media From Sources (4)