Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS974

Location

كسرة شيخ (جمعة), Kasrat Sheikh (Juma'a), Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.905278, 38.963889
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S846)

A civilian family of five was killed in alleged Coalition airstrikes in Kasrat Sheikh Juma’a village in Raqqa.

Habib al Mustapha al-Abdullah, his wife and their three daughters were the victims of the strikes, according to a number of local sources. The family’s son Zakaria Habib al Abed Lillah also reported the deaths via Facebook, posting pictures of his mother and father.

Six of the eight sources alleged that the Coalition was responsible for the deaths.

In its monthly civilian casualty assessment for September 2019 – published on November 15th – the alliance classed the event as ‘non credible’, asserting that “After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.”

Coalition officials confirmed to Airwars that their review was a match for this event, and provided coordinates for the area assessed to within 100 metres.

Victims

Family members (5)

Habib al Mustapha al-Abdullah
Adult male killed
Wife of Habib al Mustapha al-Abdullah
Adult female killed
Daughter of Habib al Mustapha al-Abdullah
female killed
Daughter of Habib al Mustapha al-Abdullah
female killed
Daughter of Habib al Mustapha al-Abdullah
female killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike
Strike Status
Declared strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Civilians reported killed
5
3 Children, 1 Woman, 1 Man

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kasrat Sheikh (Juma’a) (كسرة شيخ (جمعة)), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.905278, 38.963889. 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
Other
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
MGRS coordinate
37SDV967734
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For June 12th-13th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 22 strikes engaged 20 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 21 fighting positions and four vehicles.” It additionally reported that “On June 12, near Raqqah, Syria, nine strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed seven fighting positions, an IED factory, an ISIS staging area, an ammo cache, and a command and control node.” For June 13th-14th, the Coalition reported: “Near Raqqah, 20 strikes engaged 14 ISIS tactical units; destroyed 12 fighting positions, five vehicles, five ISIS boats, two VBIEDs, a recoilless rifle, a command and control node, and a tunnel; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.” It additionally reported that “On June 13, near Raqqah, Syria, 10 strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and a sniper and destroyed a fighting position, a tunnel, an ISIS headquarters, a weapons cache, a vehicle, and a VBIED.”
French Military Strike Report
On the 15/6-17, the French MoD reported: "In the past week, France reports his 31 sorties, 28 of which were Armed Reconnaissance or Ground Support (CAS) and 3 were intelligence gathering. Two strikes were conducted by French planes in Iraq and Syria, one in the west of Raqqah city, and the other in the Al Qaim region, both against ISIL fighters. Task Force Wagram carried out 80 artillery strikes in Mosul."
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2019-11-15
Original Source
June 13, 2017, near Raqqa, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was determined that, more likely than not, civilian casualties did not occur as a result of a Coalition action.

Media From Sources (3)