Conflicts

Russian Military in Syria
U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Codes

CS614 RS2011

Location

Ma'ari school, Bado neighbourhood, Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.962769, 39.009272
Accuracy: Exact location (via Airwars)

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: July 23, 2025

(Previous Incident Codes: S538R1892RS2025)

Up to six civilians including two children and two women died, and as many as five civilians were wounded, in an airstrike on the Bado neighbourhood of Raqqa, according to local media, though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of the US led Coalition or Russian warplanes.

Palmyra Media Center reported “Coalition planes targeted a Daesh warehouse behind Abu al A’laa al Ma’ari school. The school was damaged as a result of the air raid and was used to house displaced people from Palmyra, al Sukhna and al Tabaqa”.

Another report by Palmyra Media Center named a female as a victim of a Coalition strike which hit a “a bakery belonging to Daesh near Abu al A’laa al Ma’ari school.”

RFS Media Office, RBSS and Syria PC reported that the strikes targeted several points in the city of Raqqa but centred around a school and a water resources building in al-Ma’ari, which both were rendered inoperable. Areas around ِal-Idikhar street were also hit, RFS added.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently initially reported an unspecified number of deaths and injuries following a Coalition strike on the Bado neighbourhood. However, a subsequent report alleged that this was a Russian strike. Further reports by RBSS put the death toll at six, “mainly women and children” and named a young girl as killed.

Photographs were published by RBSS of the aftermath, showing destruction to buildings and local infrastructure.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also attributed blame to Russia, putting the death toll at five including a girl and two women. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Shaam News also said that Russia had carried out raids on Raqqa.

Sharqiya Voice reported the death of two women and a child by “warplanes”, though it didn’t identify them. According to Alaraby, “warplanes targeted the Al-Thanaka neighbourhood opposite to the stadium in Al-Bado neighbourhood, killing three civilians and wounding five.”

Victims

Individuals

Child female later died form her wounds sustained in the attack killed
9 years old female displaced from Palymra killed

Key Information

Country
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
3–6
1–2 Children, 1–2 Women
Civilians reported injured
5

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention a warehouse behind the Ma’ari school (مدرسة المعري) in the Badou neighbourhood in Raqqa. The coordinates for the Ma’ari school (مدرسة المعري) are: 35.9621355, 39.0097957. On satellite imagery a building that looks like a warehouse can be seen behind the school, damaged between January 7 and May 18, 2017. The images published by RBSS clearly show the collapsed roof of this building and the water tower east of the warehouse. The coordinates for the warehouse are: 35.962769, 39.009272.

Damage seen of the warehouse behind Al Ma'ari school (مدرسة المعري), the water tower seen on RBSS images marked in red (left: January 7, 2017; right: May 18, 2017)

Imagery: © 2019 Google

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 Bado neighborhood, Raqqah, Syria
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For March 24th-25th: “Near Ar Raqqah, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed two fighting positions, two vehicles, and a weapons storage facility; and damaged a supply route.”
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2018-01-25
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.
Russian Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Russian Military position on incident
Not yet assessed
Russian Military Strike Report
Russia has not reported any specific strikes between March 1st - 31st 2017.

Media From Sources (15)