Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS316

Location

الثورة‎, Al-Thawrah (Tabaqah), Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.8295049, 38.5360909
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S283)

A reported drone strike at al Tabaqa “led to the martyrdom of Ibrahim Mahmoud al Said and the injury of a woman and two children,” according to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered. ISIL claimed the drone was American. VDC also named the victim, though said the aircraft as ‘unidentified’.

The Syrian Network reported that “Fixed-wing international coalition forces warplanes fired missiles that targeted Al Tabaqa city, located in the western suburbs of Al Raqqa and is under the control of ISIS, which resulted in the killing of Mr. Ibrahim Ismail Mahmoud Al Saeed.”

In its February 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition said it was assessing the incident: “Currently, 10 reports of civilian casualties are still being assessed: 2: Sept. 17, 2016, near Al Tabqah, Syria, via self-report.” In June, the Coalition denied any casualties: “Sept. 17, 2016, near Al Tabqah, Syria, via self-report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in this strike.”

Due to the multiple reports and named victim associated with this event, Airwars continues to class ths incident as likely.

 

Victims

Individuals

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al-Thawrah (Tabaqah) (الثورة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.8295049, 38.5360909. 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
Reason for non-credible assessment
Other
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
Stated location
near Al Tabqah, Syria
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For September 16th-17th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes destroyed an ISIL training compound, an oil well head, an oil pump jack, and two oil storage tanks.”
UK Military Strike Report
‘Saturday 17 September – a Reaper took part in a coalition air attack in eastern Syria that was alleged to have struck Syrian regime forces by mistake. Another Reaper provided close air support to Iraqi troops near Qayyarah… On Saturday 17 September, a Reaper joined other coalition aircraft in a strike against a reported Daesh position south of Dayr az Zawr in Syria, but this was later alleged to have in fact been a position held by Syrian regime forces; a detailed investigation into the incident is being conducted by the coalition.
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2017-06-02
Original Source
After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no civilians were harmed in this strike.

Media From Sources (3)