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US-Led Coalition to Assess Reports on Civilian Killings in Syrian Raqqa

© AP Photo / Senior Airman Matthew Bruch, US Air ForceAnti-ISIL airstrikes
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A spokesperson for the US Department of Defense said that the US-led anti-terrorist coalition will assess the recent reports on airstrikes in the Syrian province of Raqqa.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US-led anti-terrorist coalition will assess the recent reports on airstrikes in the Syrian province of Raqqa, which allegedly resulted in the deaths of 20 civilians, a spokesperson for the US Department of Defense told Sputnik.

"The Coalition takes all allegations of civilian casualties seriously and will assess these allegations, as we do all allegations of possible civilian casualties. The results of the assessment will be published in a monthly civilian casualty report press release with the results of all credible and non-credible allegations, and those still pending assessment," the spokesperson said.

This photo released on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015 by the French Army Communications Audiovisual office (ECPAD) shows French army Rafale fighter jets flying towards Syria as part of France's Operation Chammal launched in September 2015 in support of the US-led coalition against Islamic State group - Sputnik International
US-Led Coalition Strike on Raqqa Kills 20 Civilians - Reports
On May 28, the SANA news agency reported that the coalition's warplanes hit a vehicle carrying civilians five miles to the south of the city of Raqqa. As a result of the airstrike, 20 people died and seven others were injured.

"The Coalition respects human life and is assisting partner forces in their effort to liberate their land from ISIS while safeguarding civilians. Coalition forces comply with the law of armed conflict and take all reasonable precautions during the planning and execution of airstrikes to reduce the risk of harm to civilians. Our goal is always for zero civilian casualties," the spokesperson added.

The US-led coalition of 68 nations is conducting airstrikes, ground-based and rocket-propelled artillery fire in Syria and Iraq against the Islamic State (Daesh) terrorist group. The coalition supports the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which predominately consists of Kurdish fighters but also includes members of the Syrian Arab Coalition.

On May 15, an airstrike carried out by the coalition in Syria's eastern town of Al Bukamal reportedly killed at least 31 civilians and injured many others.

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