Incident Code

CS365

Location

الهيشةة, Al Hīshah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.35291, 39.01692
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S324)

As many as 24 civilians were killed in attacks – possibly carried out by both SDF and Coalition – according to local sources.

Raqqa is Being Silently Slaughtered initially reported 7 victims killed “in the international coalition raids and Kurdish militia artillery.” It later released an updated casualty assessment, counting 23 victims as victims of “a massacre committed by the international coalition.” RBSS identified 16.

Local Coordination Committees in Syria reported a lower total in the village of 9 and attributed their deaths to SDF forces. The Syrian Network also reported shelling, describing the incident as a “massacre.” The Syrian Observatory blamed the Coalition and put the final death toll at 20, including 9 women and 2 chidlren. It noted clashes in the area between the SDF and ISIL.It cited an eyewitness: ““We were sitting in our houses in the village of al-Haisha as we used to hear the sounds of the coalition warplanes flying over the town. After a few minutes the warplanes targeted the village with missiles leading to massive explosions, the inhabitants ran with their children into shelters, some of them just left their houses without knowing where to go when the coalition warplanes targeted them again leading to the death of one whole family.”

Step News Agency confirmed a total of 23 civilians killed, but claimed they were victims of both SDF artillery and Coalition aircraft “during the past three days.” Masar Press placed the final toll at 24 killed.

In a statement issued January 2nd 2017 the Coalition stated: “Nov. 8, 2016, near Al Heisha or Ayn Issa, Syria: Insufficient information provided or available to assess the credibility of the reported civilian casualties.

 

Victims

Family members (5)

Age unknown female killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown female killed
Age unknown female killed

Family members (3)

Age unknown female Ali Khalaf's wife killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown female killed

Family members (3)

Age unknown male Family name unknown killed
Age unknown female Family name unknown killed
Age unknown female Family name unknown killed

Invidivuals

Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown female Wife of Ali Mahmoud killed
Age unknown female Family name unknown killed
Age unknown male killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Civilians reported killed
17–24
2–6 Children, 5–9 Women
Civilians reported injured
30

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Hīshah (الهيشةة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.35291, 39.01692. 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
Al Heisha or Ayn Issa, Syria
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For November 7th-8th, the Coalition reported no strikes near Raqqa but reported “Near Ayn Isa, 15 strikes engaged seven ISIL tactical units, destroyed five fighting positions, three vehicles, two bridges, an artillery system, and damaged three supply routes.”
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2017-01-02
Original Source
Insufficient information provided or available to assess the credibility of the reported civilian casualties.
Syrian Democratic Forces Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Democratic Forces
Syrian Democratic Forces position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (5)