Battle for Raqqa offers "cautionary tale" on harm to civilians in urban combat, report says

The U.S.-led coalition's campaign against ISIS in Raqqa, Syria, contributed to the leveling of the city and presents a "cautionary tale" for future conflicts in urban settings, a new report has found. 

The report released by RAND on Thursday concluded the Defense Department made efforts to prevent civilian harm in the 2017 battle for Raqqa, but there remains room for improvement. 

The battle for Raqqa - the last major city held by ISIS in Syria and considered the caliphate's administrative capital - resulted in as many as 1,600 civilian casualties and destroyed an estimated 60-80% of the city, leaving it inhabitable, according to the RAND report.