2.8.4. Security incidents

Between 1 October 2025 and 31 May 2026, ACLED recorded 263 security incidents in Raqqa governorate. Of these, 90 were coded as battles, 89 as explosions/remote violence and 84 as violence against civilians. The majority of the incidents occurred in January 2026 (80 incidents). An analysis of ACLED data for the period since the fall of Bashar Al-Assad, from 9 December 2024 to 31 May 2026, indicates two peaks in security incidents in the governorate: January 2025, with 134 incidents, and January 2026.903 The first peak coincided with attacks by Turkish forces and their affiliated factions in Raqqa.904 In comparison, the second peak occurred during the takeover of SDF-controlled areas in Raqqa by the Syrian interim government.905 Between March and December 2025, as well as since February 2026, the monthly number of recorded security incidents remained at or below 51 per month.906

During the reference period, ACLED recorded security incidents in all three districts of Raqqa governorate. The highest number was documented in Raqqa district (129 incidents), followed by Tell Abiad (87 incidents) and Al-Thawra (47 incidents). The same pattern was documented across the overall period since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, with Raqqa district recording the highest number of incidents, followed by Tell Abiad and Al-Thawra.908

According to ACLED data, the SDF were the main actor involved in security incidents during the reference period. They appeared in 126 recorded incidents, either as Actor 1 or Actor 2. This was followed by unidentified armed groups, which were coded as Actor 1 or Actor 2 in 83 incidents, and the military forces of Syria, which were responsible for 71 incidents. Furthermore, ISIL was recorded in 34 incidents as Actor 1 or Actor 2, the majority of which were coded as battles. Further actors involved in the government included the Syrian police force, the Asayish, Syrian smugglers and the Global Coalition Against Daesh. A comparison between the current reference period and the overall security situation since 9 December 2024 indicates that the Turkish military forces no longer featured as a major actor in security incidents in the governorate.909

During the reporting period, 84 security incidents were coded as ‘violence against civilians’. 41 of these involved the SDF, with unidentified armed groups in 21 and the Syrian military together with the police forces of Syria in 11 incidents. The Gendarmerie of the military forces of Türkiye was involved in 5 incidents of violence against civilians.910