Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS527

Location

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.8295049, 38.5360909
Accuracy: City

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S458)

Five civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on al Tabaqa, according to Smart News and the Syrian journalist Mazen Mohammad.

Jisr TV reported that the Coalition carried out raids but did not mention any casualties.

On April 30th 2017 the Coalition declared the event ‘not credible’, noting: “Feb. 22, 2017, near Tabqah, Syria, via social media report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in this geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.”

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
5

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of 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
No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
Stated location
near Tabqah, Syria
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For February 21st – 22nd, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, 10 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units; destroyed three fighting positions and three tactical vehicles; and damaged two bridges.”
French Military Strike Report
[France reports carrying out 34 sorties in the last week – and 11 strikes destroying 19 ISIL targets. In Iraq, the six strikes were concentrated in the Mosul region. They targeted mortar positions, combatant groups, a logistics depot and a command center. In Syria, two ground troop support missions were carried out in the Raqqah and Deir Ezzor areas against artillery pieces and an armored vehicle, loaded with an explosive device (SVBIED). The intervention of a Rafale patrol, after detection and guidance of the ATL2, led to the destruction of 2 clandestine oil wells in the south-east of Raqqah. In the region of Palmyra, two planned strikes were carried out and enabled the neutralization of a military storage site and a vehicle-bomb manufacturing site (VBIED).Task Force Wagram carried out 28 missions]
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2017-04-30
Original Source
After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in this geographic area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.