A USA military investigation has found that US airstrikes in March against an Islamic State in Iraq and Syria checkpoint “likely” killed four civilians, possibly including a child.
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Reports indicated one of those bombed may have been a child, but the statement said that “no positive identification can be made with reasonable certainty as to gender or age without further forensic examination or other evidence that is not available to the coalition”.
The March 13 airstrike was meant to hit a checkpoint for the Islamic State group at al Hatra.
Prior to the strike, the target was thoroughly reviewed and validated as an ISIL checkpoint.
Because the drivers of the cars were talking to people at the checkpoint for about 40 minutes while other vehicles drove through, the USA pilot and supervisors decided the drivers were “Isil and therefore lawful targets”.
MSF says its personnel at the hospital contacted USA and Afghan forces to call off the attack, but the assault continued anyway.
“However, before coalition air forces could complete the air strike, two vehicles arrived at the checkpoint and parked within the target area”, the investigation states. “Our goal is to defeat Daesh, a terrorist organization that continuously wraps itself around the population, and we do everything we can to prevent unintended deaths or injuries to non-combatants”, he said.
The investigation concluded that the airstrikes were conducted in accordance with applicable military authorizations, targeting guidance and LOAC. “One of the occupants got out and talked to [Islamic State] checkpoint guards”, said Col. Pat Ryder, spokesman for U.S. Central Command. He also said there are 26 ongoing investigations in various stages looking at possible civilian deaths. In recent days, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has suggested the rules could be reviewed.
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The U.S. military has rarely acknowledged causing civilian casualties in the fight against ISIS, but is investigating several dozen strikes in which civilians were reported killed.
