Airstrikes against Islamic State likely caused two civilian deaths

The Tampa Tribune / TBO.com

Military News

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U.S. airstrikes in the ongoing fight against the Sunni jihadi group calling itself Islamic State likely resulted in the death of two civilians and injuries to an additional four civilians, according to the latest report from U.S. Central Command.

The casualties were the result of five separate U.S. strikes in Iraq and Syria, between July 4 and July 17, according to a media release from Centcom issued Friday afternoon. Headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, the command oversees U.S. military efforts in the greater Middle East.

As of Jan. 19, there have been 9,782 airstrikes against the Sunni jihadi group, with most — 6,516 in Iraq and 3,266 in Syria, according to the Pentagon. The U.S. has conducted most of the strikes — 7,551 — according to the Pentagon.

During this time, Centcom has acknowledged a total of 16 civilian deaths and injuries to nine others.

As it has in the past, Centcom officials apologized for the casualties.

“We deeply regret the unintentional loss of life and injuries resulting from those strikes and express our deepest sympathies to the victims’ families and those affected,” according to the release. “The Coalition takes all feasible precautions to avoid civilian casualties during the course of military operations. In all of the cases released today, assessments determined that although the strikes complied with the law of armed conflict and all appropriate precautions were taken, civilian casualties unfortunately did occur.“

The Centcom figures differ greatly from those reported by Airwars, a watchdog group that monitors civilian casualties in Syria and Iraq. The group in its latest figures estimate that between 824 and 2,422 civilians are claimed to have been killed. Centcom officials say they only tabulate the results of U.S. strikes and cannot comment on Airwars’ figures because they “can’t speak to the standards others use to evaluate casualty information.”

Earlier this week, Army Col. Steve Warren, speaking from Baghdad, told reporters that a recent attack on an Islamic State cash center was undertaken knowing that such airstrikes could increase civilian casualties.

“We were prepared to accept civilian casualties, in conjunction with the with this cash strike,” said Warren. “It’s tragic, and it’s not something that we want to do. One of the burdens of command is to weigh the military value of a target, versus the potential for civilian loss of life, and the potential for collateral damage.

All together, there were nine airstrikes on Islamic State cash centers, Warren said, and the total estimate for civilian casualties was in single digits for all nine.

Here is a description of the five most recent U.S. strikes alleged to have resulted in civilian casualties and determined to be credible:

• On July 4, 2015, near Ar Raqqah, Syria, during strikes against 16 ISIL bridges, it was assessed one civilian in a truck with a trailer was likely killed.
• On July 7, 2015, near Ar Raqqah, Syria, during strikes against ISIL fighters, it was assessed that a civilian was injured by a secondary explosion and flying debris from the initial strike.
• On July 8, 2015, near Sarmada, Syria, during a strike against a vehicle carrying Khorasan Group Leader Muhsin al-Fadhli, it was assessed two civilians on a motorcycle were likely injured.
• On July 11, 2015, near Ar Raqqah, Syria, during counter-ISIL strikes it was assessed one civilian was killed. A post-strike review revealed a secondary explosion from a vehicle crossing a bridge nearby the intended target; this explosion resulted in one civilian likely killed.
• On July 17, 2015, near Mosul, Iraq, during strikes against ISIL fighters traveling in a vehicle, it was assessed one civilian was injured.

A review of airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition fighting the so-called Islamic State jihadi group found that five strikes in Iraq and Syria, between April 12 and July 4, likely resulted in the death of eight civilians and injuries to three more, according to Centcom.

Airstrikes conducted against facilities used by Khorasan Group in the vicinity of Harim City, Syria, likely led to the deaths of two non-combatant children, according to a Centcom investigation released on April 5, 2015.

And airstrikes likely resulted in the deaths of four non-combatants, according to the findings of an investigation released on June 28, 2015.

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