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January 12, 2015

Dozens of Syrian Civilians Reportedly Killed in U.S.-Led Strike 
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Witnesses in Syria say a recent U.S.-led coalition airstrike may have
killed dozens of civilians. According to Mc Clatchy News, the attack hit
a makeshift Islamic State jail in the town of Al-Bab close to the
Turkish border on December 28. Most of the reported dead were civilian
prisoners held by the Islamic State for violations of Sharia law or
opposition fighters from rival groups. The Syrian Network for Human
Rights says it believes around 50 civilian prisoners died, which would
make it the worst attack on civilians in Syria since the U.S.-led
campaign began. The Pentagon says it has no evidence of civilian
casualties so far. But it also acknowledged it failed to disclose the
Al-Bab attack in its weekly summaries, and only confirmed it following a
request from Mc Clatchy reporters. Military officials have recently
announced a review of civilian deaths in the U.S.-led bombing campaign,
but have only acknowledged a small number of killings to date. According
to Pentagon figures, the U.S.-led coalition carried out 34 strikes in
Iraq and Syria over the weekend, 25 in Syria and nine in Iraq.

 

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