Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS1203

Location

حي التوسعية, Al Tawaswi’ya neighbourhood, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.9633318, 38.9806321
Accuracy: Neighbourhood/area

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S1057)

Local sources reported that a number of civilians died in artillery and mortar shelling or Raqqa’s Al Tawaswi’ya neighbourhood – though it was unclear whether the Coalition or the SDF were responsible.

Usama Mulla Mohammed put the death toll at two. Other sources blamed SDF artillery and mortar shells. Airwars understands that only the Coalition has used artillery in Raqqa, though the SDF does have mortars.

In April 2019 the Coalition announced that it had classed this allegation of civilian harm as non-credible, noting: “After review of all available strike records it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.”

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
2

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
near al-Tawas’iyah neighborhood, Raqqah, Syria
Location accuracy
100 m
MGRS coordinate
37SDV995782
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For July 14th-15th: “Near Raqqah, eight strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, a VBIED factory, a tunnel, a mortar system, and a heavy machine gun.” It additionally reported that “On July 14, near Raqqah, Syria, five strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units, destroyed two fighting positions and two ISIS communications towers, and damaged four fighting positions.”
French Military Strike Report
For July 12th-18th, France report 11 strikes: 7 in Syria (6 in Raqqa) and 4 in Iraq. There were 26 artillery strikes in Mosul. Since September 19th 2014 France has carried out 1322 strikes, with 2090 targets destroyed and 6812 air sorties. Additionally, they’ve carried out 1310 artillery missions.
UK Military Strike Report
‘ Friday 14 July – Typhoons destroyed a tunnel entrance in Raqqa… With Mosul largely liberated, the major focus for RAF missions has been to assist the Syrian Democratic Forces fighting in Raqqa. Two Typhoons used a Paveway IV on Friday 14 July to destroy the entrance to a tunnel dug beneath an area in the west of the city.’
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2019-04-25
Original Source
July 14, 2017, near al-Tawas’iyah neighborhood, Raqqah, Syria via Airwars report. After review of all available strike records it was determined that more likely than not civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition strike.
Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Democratic Forces
Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
Not yet assessed

Sources (3)