Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS116

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148
Accuracy: City

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S115)

Reports claimed that three civilians (a woman and one or two children) and 8 Daesh fighters were killed following two raids by the Coalition in an area surrounding a sugar factory or grain mill near the city.

Local activist Abu Ibrahim Al Raqawi said of the attack on the mill: “Although it is not a military base, they are under the control of Daesh, and it is used for the production of bread.”

Radio al Kul reported that alongside the slain woman there were two other fatalities, “including a little girl.”

In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year – the US-led Coalition assessed this event to be ‘non credible’, noting: “ August 19, 2015, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2816/CS116 37SEV008785”.

The Coalition also provided coordinates showing the area it had assessed, accurate to within 100 metres.

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike
Strike Status
Contested strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Civilians reported killed
3
1–2 Children, 1 Woman
Military actors reported killed
8

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
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
Stated location
in Raqqa, Syria
Location accuracy
100 m
MGRS coordinate
37SEV008785
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For August 18th-19th 2015, the Coalition reported one strike in the vicinity: “Near Ar Raqqah, one airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL checkpoint. “
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2019-12-05
Original Source
August 19, 2015, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2816/CS116 37SEV008785

Media From Sources (1)