Civilians killed in Syria: US military covered up air strikes

Civilians killed in Syria
US military covered up air strikes

At the beginning of 2019, US troops are fighting IS in Syria. Air strikes are also being flown. Although many civilians are killed in the process, a media report says there is no independent investigation.

According to a media report, the American military covered up several air strikes in Syria in 2019, in which many civilians were killed in the fight against the extremist group Islamic State (IS). As reported by the New York Times, up to 64 women and children were killed in the attacks. Two consecutive air strikes near the city of Baghuz were ordered by a secret American special unit responsible for ground operations in Syria, the report said.

According to the newspaper, the US Central Command, which oversees US air operations in Syria, confirmed the attacks for the first time this week and called them justified. One statement said the attacks were legitimate self-defense and adequate steps were taken to ensure that civilians were not present.

“We detest the loss of innocent lives and are taking all possible measures to prevent it. In this case, we reported the attack ourselves and investigated according to our own knowledge, and we take full responsibility for the accidental loss of life,” said the central command .

The military confirmed to the “New York Times” that 80 people were killed in the attacks, including 16 IS fighters and four civilians. According to the central command, it was unclear whether the other 60 people were civilians, also because the women and children could also have been fighters.

No independent investigation

According to the newspaper, however, it was immediately clear to those responsible in the case of the attack on Baghuz that civilians in particular had been killed. An alerted Air Force intelligence officer immediately informed an Air Force lawyer at the operations center. The attorney ordered the F-15E squadron and drone crew to keep all videos and other evidence. He also reported the attack as a possible violation of the Armed Conflict Act, that is, a potential war crime.

In this case, the regulations require a thorough, independent investigation. The Inspector General of the Defense Ministry opened an investigation into the incident on March 18, 2019, but did not mention the attacks in his report. A thorough, independent investigation never took place, the newspaper said. The only assessment made immediately after the attack was made by the same unit that ordered the attack and found the bombing to be legitimate. The “New York Times” lists confidential documents and descriptions of classified reports as well as interviews with directly involved employees as sources for its report.

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