Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS1360

Location

البجري, Al Barji and other areas, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.948086, 39.015225
Accuracy: Neighbourhood/area

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S1187)

Summarising a 48 hour period, local sources said that 47 civilians were killed and 50 injured in alleged airstrikes on the city of Raqqa. Two of the eight sources specifically blamed the US-led Coalition for the civilian casualty incidents.

Activists told Smart News that “the city had been hit by more than 43 airstrikes, in addition to dozens of artillery and rocket-propelled grenades, in the past 48 hours, leading to the deaths and injuries. Most of the injuries were critical… Forty-seven civilians were killed and dozens injured, including women and children”. The severity of those injured was especially important to note in light of accounts of “deterioration of medical services”, the alleged “targeting of health centres”, and most recently the alleged “bombing of the national hospital”.

Al Raqqa Truth published a number of images reportedly showing “the massive destruction caused by aerial bombardment of Coalition aircraft and artillery shelling and by Kurdish units in different areas of the city of Raqqa”.

The same images were published by Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently which said that they depicted destruction in the Al-Bajri neighbourhood. The source also alleged that the Coalition was responsible.

These are general civilian casualty numbers, and there is a possibility that this entry could include other civilian casualty events.

 

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
47
Civilians reported injured
50

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Raqqa (الرقة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148. RBSS posted pictures of destruction in the neighbourhood of Al Bajri (البجري), for which the coordinates are: 35.948086, 39.015225.   

Imagery: © 2019 Google

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
Insufficient information on the time and location
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
Stated location
near Raqqah, Syria
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For August 7th-8th the Coalition reported *Near Raqqah, 25 strikes engaged 17 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 37 fighting positions, two command and control nodes, two weapons caches, two vehicles, and a weapons depot. *On Aug. 6, near Raqqah, Syria, 12 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, a mortar system, an anti-air artillery system, and a VBIED.
UK Military Strike Report
‘Wednesday 9 August – Typhoons demolished a Daesh-held building in Raqqa…A Typhoon flight saw action over Raqqa on Wednesday 9 August; the Syrian Democratic Forces reported coming under fire from a large building against which our aircraft conducted a successful attack using two Paveway IV guided bombs.’
French Military Strike Report
France reports that in the past week (4th -11th) it carried out 31 sorties, including 24 Army reconnaissance and Ground Support (CAS), as well as 4 intelligence reports by Atlantic 2 or Rafale patrol. Two strikes were carried out in the Hassaka region of Syria and the Al Qaim region of Iraq. They destroyed ISIL storage sites and weapons caches.
French Military Strike Report
For August 3rd-9th, France report 1 strike in Iraq and 1 in Syria, along with 9 artillery strikes in Mosul. (via EtatMajorFR)
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2018-05-31
Original Source
The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.
Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Democratic Forces
Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (7)