Incident Code

CS423

Location

دبسي عفنان, Debsi Afnan, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.8175348, 38.2162857
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S376)

At least five civilians were killed and as many as 22 injured after Coalition aircraft allegedly bombed Debsi Afnan, a town 70km west of Raqqa city.

Raialyaom News reported that “seven were killed including 3 children and 22 wounded including women and children with some in critical condition, due to coalition warplane strikes in Debsi Afnan 70 km west of Raqqa.”

Another local source said that “five civilians were martyred inclining an elderly woman and a 4 year old child and 4 others were wounded.”

In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, Coalition officials said the event was presently assessed as ‘Not credible for Coalition caused civcas.’

A second review published in August 2017 asserted that “After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.”

 

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
5–7
1 Child, 1 Woman
Civilians reported injured
4–22

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Debsi Afnan (دبسي عفنان), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.8175348, 38.2162857. 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
No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
Stated location
near Debsi Afnan, Syria
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For December 29th-30th the Coalition publicly stated: “Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units; destroyed a command and control node, a weapons cache, and a fighting position.”
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2017-08-04
Original Source
After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

Media From Sources (5)