Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS1207

Location

الدرعية, Al Dariya near Tariq Ibn Zaid school, Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.940959, 39.004435
Accuracy: Neighbourhood/area

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S1060)

A civilian male was killed following alleged SDF mortar fire or Coalition artillery strikes into the Al Dariya neighbourhood of Raqqa, local sources reported.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently and @Q_Alenezy reported that he was killed after shells hit his home behind the Tariq Ibn Ziyad school.

Four of the five sources alleged that the US-backed SDF was responsible, however two sources alleged that artillery fire was responsible, meaning that the Coalition was to blame as Airwars understands that they are the only party with access to such weaponry.

Amnesty International later reported generally on the situation in the neighbourhood, citing ‘Mahmouda’, who escaped on July 21st: “They were fighting on both sides when we left. They [the SDF/coalition] had been shelling for two months. IS slaughtered people like birds. Many people were killed in the shelling. There were bodies all over the streets. The killing was from both sides but the worst was from IS. Families and families died.

The planes couldn’t distinguish between IS and civilians as IS made us all wear the same clothes. If the religious police caught my 12 year old son they’d make him cut his trousers [between the knee and the ankle – Kandahari style] so they couldn’t distinguish.”

Victims

Individuals

Professor Mahmoud Khalaf al Mousa
Adult male killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
1
1 Man

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
No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
Stated location
near Raqqah, Syria
Location accuracy
100 m
MGRS coordinate
37SEV004774
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For July 15th-16th: “Near Raqqah, nine strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and destroyed 14 fighting positions, two anti-air artillery systems and a VBIED.” It was additionally reported that “On July 15, near Raqqah, Syria, 12 strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and destroyed seven fighting positions, three mortar team positions, a mortar system, a fighting position and a vehicle.”
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
Saturday 15 July – Tornados hit a sniper in Mosul, Typhoons and Tornados attacked mortar positions in Raqqa… The following day [July 15th], Tornados and Typhoons utilised eleven Paveway IV bombs against mortar positions in Raqqa, whilst a pair of Tornados used a Brimstone missile against a sniper holding out in western Mosul.
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2018-05-31
Original Source
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.

Media From Sources (1)