Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS435

Location

رقة السمرة, Raqqa al Samra, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.9327067, 39.0910721
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S388)

Four civilians including a mother and daughter were reported killed in an alleged Coalition morning strike on Raqqa al Samra, east of Raqqa city.

Euphrates Post cited local civilian sources as saying that “Coalition aircraft targeted with highly explosive rockets residential homes in Raqqa al Samra which caused the deaths of four civilians, including a woman and her daughter and seven injured, including three critical cases were transferred to hospitals in the city of Raqqa.” It later reported that Coalition warplanes targeted residential houses with missiles, killing four non-combatants including a woman and her child. The source added that a further seven people were injured, three critically.

 

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Civilians reported killed
4
1 Child, 1 Woman
Civilians reported injured
3–7

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Raqqa al Samra (رقة السمرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.9327067, 39.0910721. 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 Raqqah Al Samra (Raqqah), Syria
Location accuracy
1 m
MGRS coordinate
37SEV0829676380
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For January 8th-9th, the Coalition reported that “Near Ar Raqqah, 15 strikes [1 British] engaged five ISIL tactical units; destroyed six oil refinement stills, three supply caches, two bridges, two artillery systems, a VBIED, a bulldozer, a UAV, an IED, a dump truck, a pontoon bridge, a tank, and an armored vehicle; and damaged a supply route. Near Ayn Isa, one strike destroyed a repeater station.”
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2017-09-29
Original Source
After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.