U.S. investigating civilian casualties in Iraq, Syrian air strikes
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 7 January 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, U.S. investigating civilian casualties in Iraq, Syrian air strikes, 7 January 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/54be143e28.html [accessed 1 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
January 07, 2015
The Pentagon is investigating reports that civilians might have been killed during two air strikes last year in Iraq and Syria.
A spokesman for the U.S. Central Command, Colonel Patrick Ryder, said on January 6 that the U.S. military investigated 18 allegations of civilian casualties during U.S.-led coalition bombings in Syria and Iraq between August 8 and December 30.
Ryder provided few details about the two incidents still under investigation except to say they involved "fewer than five" alleged civilian casualties.
Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby confirmed the two ongoing investigations and said, "This is something we always take seriously."
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in October that 32 civilians were killed after the first month of coalition strikes in Syria as well as 467 fighters from the Islamic State militant group.
Based on reporting by AP and AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
