Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS902

Location

سويدية, Sweiyda, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.7517, 39.616
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S793)

One woman and her child died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Swaydya village, according to local sources.

Reports said that the Coalition struck Hussein al-Harfi’s house, killing his wife and his child, the girl.

Hasaka Rasd reported that “The International Alliance aircraft targeted the house of “Hussein Al-Harfi” in the village of Suweida Rural Ma’dan, resulting in the martyrdom of his wife and a small girl and the rest of the family in a critical situation”.

Smart News put the death toll at three: “Three civilians, including a woman and her child, were killed by a bombardment by warplanes in the village of Suwayda, located in the town of Ma’dan (about 61 km east of Raqqa).”

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Coalition planes “fired near a school in Al Sweda village killing a girl and her mother and partially damaging the building”.

 

Victims

Family members (2)

Wife of Hussein al-Harfi
Adult female killed
Daughter of of Hussein al-Harfi
Child female killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Civilians reported killed
2–3
1 Child, 1 Woman
Civilians reported injured
2

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sweiyda (سويدية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.7517, 39.616. 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 Sweiyda, Syria
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For June 1st-June 2nd, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units and destroyed five vehicles, three fighting positions, a front end loader and an ISIS crane.” It also later added that on June 1st “Near Raqqah, Syria, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed 17 fighting positions, an ISIS headquarters, an ISIS-held building, and an IED.” For June 2nd-June 3rd, the Coalition reported: "Near Raqqah, 10 strikes [1 British] engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 12 vehicles, five fighting positions, four tactical vehicles, two VBIEDs and an ammunition cache." For June 2nd, the Coalition added: "Near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three fighting positions."
UK Military Strike Report
"Friday 2 June – Tornados and Typhoons destroyed an armoured truck near Raqqa, and attacked eight targets in Mosul…A mixed Tornado and Typhoon pair used a Brimstone to destroy an armoured truck moving along a main road on the outskirts of Raqqa on Friday 2 June. Two other flights operated over Mosul, where attacks were delivered in very close support to the Iraqi forces, hitting eight Daesh positions with a mix of Brimstones and Paveway IVs. The targets included three machine-gun teams and three groups of terrorists armed with rocket-propelled grenades. In addition, a truck-bomb, concealed close to one of the positions, was also fortuitously detonated by one of the attacks."
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.

Media From Sources (2)