Airstrikes Against ISIS Capital of Raqqa Kill At Least 39 Civilians

Syrian Observatory: Either Russian or Syrian Planes Responsible

A series of airstrikes against the ISIS capital city of Raqqa today have killed at least 39 civilians, and according to some groups over 40. Dozens were also wounded in the attacks, which the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights attributed to either Russian or Syrian warplanes.

The US previously insisted yesterday that Russia hasn’t launched airstrikes in a week, though the Observatory has continued to report Russian airstrikes regularly throughout that period. Russia is confirmed to still be using artillery shelling and attack helicopters.

Attacks against Raqqa tend to cause considerable civilian casualties, whether launched by Syria’s allies or the US coalition, and rarely seem to hit anything of significant value to ISIS forces themselves. Despite this, it remains a popular target.

The reports out of Raqqa suggest that at least five children were among the slain civilians in the attacks, which hit multiple parts of the city. Neither Russia nor Syria has commented on the matter.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.