WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — A US-led coalition of 65 nations has been carrying out airstrikes against Daesh in Iraq since August 2014 and in Syria since September 2014 — albeit without the approval of the Syrian government or the UN Security Council.
"After a thorough review of the facts and circumstances for each allegation, the preponderance of evidence indicates four separate US strikes in Iraq and Syria, between July 27 and Oct. 15, 2015, have likely resulted in the death of five civilians and injuries to an additional eight civilians," the statement said.
Moreover, on January 15, another casualty assessment report from CENTCOM said eight civilians died in US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria between April 12 and July 4.
"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," CENTCOM explained.
The latest CENTCOM assessment brings the number of casualties caused by the US-coalition since the start of its operations in August 2014 to more than a dozen.
