Understanding Civilian Harm in Raqqa and Its Implications for Future Conflicts
Abstract
The battle for Raqqa, Syria, seemed like a perfect storm of strategic and operational challenges. When the city was finally liberated from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in October 2017, 60 to 80 percent of it was estimated to be uninhabitable. In fact, the battle for Raqqa is a cautionary tale about civilian harm in 21st-century conflictsperhaps like the hundred-year storm that arrives every decade, with characteristics that feel unique at the time but actually have been seen before and portend future trends. Many of the battles lessons may apply to future urban combat situations, as well as conventional conflict scenarios more broadly. The purpose of this report is to discuss how the U.S. militarywhich is the best-trained and most technologically advanced military in the world, is supported in Operation Inherent Resolve by an international coalition of more than 80 countries, and was partnered in Raqqa with a well respected militia force on the groundcould cause significant civilian harm despite a deep lying rained commitment to the law of war.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1165604
Entities
People
- Benjamin J. Sacks
- Gabrielle Tarini
- Karen M. Sudkamp
- Larry Lewis
- Michael J. Mcnerney
- Michelle Grise
- Nate Rosenblatt
- Pauline Moore
Organizations
- RAND Corporation