Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS544

Location

الثورة‎, Tabaqah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.8295049, 38.5360909
Accuracy: City

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S476)

Between two and 12 civilians including four children were killed and up to 14 others injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Tabaqa, according to sources.

Smart News initially reported that “A medical source said that two civilians died and three were wounded, including a child in critical condition.” Raqqa is Being Slaughtered said “warplanes launched a raid near the church roundabout in al Tabaqa” – though didn’t mention the culprit. The monitor later put the death toll at 12, as did Asharqiya Voice, LCCSY and Shaam News, which also blamed the Coalition.

According to Syria News Desk, four children were among the 12 killed. It reported: “The media opposition activist Mohamed Osman, quoting civilian sources from within al Tabaqa city, told Syria News Desk: ‘the international Coalition targeted residential sites near the church roundabout in the Second [al Thani] Quarter within al Tabaqa with several rocket blasts. This caused the destruction of four residential buildings consisting of a two-storeys, and the burning or another house and two cars, in addition to material damage to a number of shops.”

In its July 2017 civilian casualty report, the Coalition deemed the incident non-credible due to what it described as insufficient evidence: “March 1, 2017, near Tabqah, Syria, via social media report: After review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

 

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Civilians reported killed
12
4 Children
Civilians reported injured
3–14

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
Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
Stated location
near Tabqah, Syria
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For February 28th-March 1st, the Coalition reported: “Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed six watercraft, an ISIS training camp, and an ISIS maintenance facility.”
French Military Strike Report
[France reports that in the last week it carried out 29 sorties and 9 strikes destroying 12 ISIL targets. In Iraq, all 8 strikes were carried out in support of operations in Mosul. They targeted mortar positions and defensive positions in the city as well as in the outskirts of Badush. In Syria, in the Raqqah region, a Rafale patrol was engaged on a ground support mission to neutralize ISIL fighters leading an attack against the SDF.]
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2017-07-07
Original Source
After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Media From Sources (9)