Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS546

Location

الرصافة, Al Rasafa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.62883, 38.75806
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S478)

According to Smart News, five civilians died and two were injured in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Al Rasafa.

Smart reported that the warplanes – “likely” belonging to the Coalition – “bombed a bus as it passed through on the road from al Rasafa to al Mansoura (30 km west of Raqqa City), after civilians were displaced from Sokhna town northeast of Homs. This reportedly led to the death of five civilians, including women and children and serious injury of two others.”

 

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Weak
Civilians reported killed
5
1–2 Children, 1–2 Women
Civilians reported injured
2

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Rasafa (الرصافة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.62883, 38.75806. 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
MGRS coordinate
37SDV780428
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For March 1st-March 2nd: “Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes destroyed an ISIS training camp, an ISIS-held building, a weapons storage facility; and a VBIED factory.” For March 2nd-March 3rd it stated: “Near Ar Raqqah, one strike destroyed a weapons storage 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
2018-10-26
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.

Sources (1)