Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS554

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148
Accuracy: City

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S485)

Three civilians including a child were reportedly killed, after an alleged Coalition strike targeted boats on the River Euphrates.

According to Smart News: “Three civilians were killed and two others injured on Tuesday, following the aerial bombardment is likely to be the international coalition on a on the Euphrates River near Raqqa city, north of Syria, as reported by a local source speaking to Smart.

The source said the raid targeted a boat carrying civilians to cross between the two banks of the Euphrates River, near the “new bridge” Al Jasir al Jadid, killing two men and a child and wounding several others.

The source explained that civilians were resorting to use boats to move between the two shores of the river after the destruction by the international coalition of al Maghla bridge Amolh in order to increase the siege on the Islamic State, as the other two bridges were also destroyed managing to isolate Raqqa from the southern countryside.

Some of the boats belong to civilians and local fishermen, and are used as a means of movement in exchange for financial remuneration ranging between 300 and 500 Syrian pounds per person depending on the size of the boat and its type (electric or manual ), according to the source.”

Tahrir al Sham militants also mentioned a Coalition raid, though made no mention of casuialties: “crusader international coalition planes launched raids on Raqqa city targeting the enrtrace of al Jisr al Jadid [the New Bridge] and the garage in front of the Euphrates gas station.” Al Araby al Jadid also mentioned strikes on a number of bridges that day.

 

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Weak
Civilians reported killed
3
1 Child
Civilians reported injured
2

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ar Raqqah (الرقة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.9505639, 39.0094148. 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, Syria
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For March 6th-March 7th the Coalition noted: “Near Ar Raqqah, one strike destroyed a footbridge and an ISIS-held building.“
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
2017-10-27
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.