Washington Counterterrorism Casualty Report Likely to Face ‘Limitations’

There will likely be limitations to what the Obama administration can disclose about its civilian and combatant casualties assessment report from its counterterrorism operations including ‘diplomatic sensitivities,’ White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said during a press briefing.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier on Monday, the Obama administration announced its plans to release an assessment of civilian and combatant casualties from its counterterrorism operations in the past six years and that it would disclose the information on an annual basis going forward.

The White House spokesperson admitted, however, that there would be "limitations" to the reports. "I’m not suggesting that the president's going to be in a position to be fully transparent about every single operation that we've undertaken against terrorists and I think that's for obvious reasons," Earnest said.

"There will obviously be some limitations about where we can be transparent given a variety of sensitivities including diplomatic ones," Earnest added.

Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco said on Monday that the administration would soon release the first assessment report, but that it would likely exclude casualties from Syria and Iraq where the US-led coalition has been carrying out airstrikes against Islamic State insurgents since 2014.