Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS1258a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.94885, 38.993594
Accuracy: Exact location (via Airwars)

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report “War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality”, one civilian was reportedly as killed in alleged Coalition artillery strikes in Raqqa. Although Airwars assesses single sourced incidents as “weak”, researchers have assessed this incident “fair” due to the depth of material provided by Amnesty.

The report stated that “Musa Sami al-Ali, 42, was killed at his home by an artillery shell.”

One testimony by his son Mohammad stated that “There was a lot of shelling in the area all the time. There was no way of knowing when or where the next shell would strike.”

In July 2019 the Coalition announced that it had assessed this allegation of civilian harm to be non-credible. Their monthly civilian casualty report noted: “After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.”

Victims

Individuals

Musa Sami al-Ali
42 years old male killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Civilians reported killed
1
1 Man

Geolocation Notes

Before strike. (via Amnesty)

After strike. (via Amnesty)

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
in Raqqa, Syria
Location accuracy
100 m
MGRS coordinate
37SDV994783
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
Near Raqqah, seven strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed two fighting positions, a mortar tube, and a mortar facility; and damaged five fighting positions and a supply route.
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2017-07-26
Original Source
Jul. 23, 2017, in Raqqa, Syria, via Amnesty International report. After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.