Incident Code

RS918

Location

الثورة‎, Al-Thawrah (Tabaqah), Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.8295049, 38.5360909
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: R822)

A major civilian casualty event took place on al Tabaqa city in the Ar Raqqah countryside, reportedly killing at least six civilians and wounding as many as 40, including women and children. Sources were conflicted as to whether Russia or the Assad regime were to blame.

Wwalfwasel reported that “more than 40 people” were killed, however this figure is much higher than the majority of other sources.

A Tweet by theofficemedia described the raid as a ‘very intense bombardment’ in which rockets and cluster bombs were used by warplanes.

Syrian Press Center blamed Moscow, as did LCCSY and Qasioun news.

According to Qasioun, most of those killed were women and children.

According to Alsouria, al Tabaqa was under the control of so-called Islamic State, they alleged through working together the regime and Russia have caused considerable material damage in the area and many have been killed in order to regain control.

Shahed-ayan has also news blamed Moscow for the airstrikes, which they reported to have killed sixteen, wounded thirty and caused ‘big material damage in residential buildings’.

However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights referred to both Russian warplanes and regime helicopters operating in the area. Syrian News and Zamanalwasl also blamed the regime.

Victims

Invidivuals

Daasha Osbkiat Nsorna
Age unknown female killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Civilians reported killed
6–40
1–2 Children, 1–2 Women
Civilians reported injured
30–35

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al-Thawrah (Tabaqah) (الثورة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.8295049, 38.5360909. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

Russian Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Russian Military position on incident
Not yet assessed
Russian Military Strike Report
Russia has not reported any strikes between June 1st – 31st 2016.
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (6)