WASHINGTON — The Pentagon acknowledged Friday that five U.S. airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria last year killed eight civilians and wounded three.
According to a Central Command statement on its website, the deaths occurred between April 12 and July 4 last year and are part of the Pentagon’s ongoing review of airstrikes when claims of civilian casualties are reported.
“In all of the cases released today, assessments determined that although the airstrikes complied with the law of armed conflict and all appropriate precautions were taken, civilian casualties unfortunately did occur,” the statement read. “We deeply regret the unintentional loss of life and injuries resulting from those airstrikes and express our deepest sympathies to the victims’ families and those affected.”
The five U.S. airstrikes against the Islamic State:
April 12, near Hawija, Iraq, on a tactical unit. Two civilians killed. June 11, near Suluk, Syria, on a tactical unit. Three civilians killed. June 19, near Tall al Adwaniyah, Syria, on a vehicle. One civilian injured. June 29, near Haditha, Iraq, on a tactical unit and two vehicles. Two civilians injured. July 4, near Raqqa, Syria, on a high-value militant. Three civilians killed.Friday’s announcement brings the number of civilian deaths acknowledged by the Pentagon to 14 since Operation Inherent Resolve airstrikes began in August 2014. As of Jan. 10, U.S. and coalition aircraft have launched 9,560 airstrikes against the Islamic State.
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