US air strikes "probably" played role in Mosul deaths

The US commander of the anti-IS coalition in Iraq has said coalition forces “probably" played a role in the deaths of numerous civilians during a recent air strike on west Mosul.


Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend said the US had carried out air strikes in that part of Iraq on March 17.

But he did not rule out the possibility that that the extensive damage was caused by a truck bomb and said it was also possible that the civilians killed had been "forced" to remain in the building by the so-called Islamic State group.

LtGen Townsend raised the possibility that IS blew up the building to cast blame on the coalition and "cause a delay in the offensive on Mosul".

Some witnesses said IS had previously forced at least 140 civilians into the house to be used as human shields, and had booby-trapped the building.

A general has been appointed to lead an investigation into the blast in the densely populated area that destroyed buildings and may have killed more than 200 people.
  [rte.ie]
29/3/17
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Related:

• Président irakien: «Il faut mener une enquête sur les frappes US en Irak»
• Iraq military disputes cause of deadly air strike in Mosul
• U.S. investigating Mosul airstrikes that left hundreds (200+) of civilians dead
• Scores feared dead in ruined Mosul building hit by coalition airstrike
• Tragédie de Mossoul, silence radio dans les médias mainstream