An initial probe concluded that the strike constituted legitimate self-defence
Pentagon chief orders review of deadly 2019 Syria strike
Austin orders General Michael Garrett to review within 90 days a US strike in Baghuz which killed up to 64 women and children during the battle against Islamic State in 2019.
Tuesday 30/11/2021
An initial probe concluded that the strike constituted legitimate self-defence
WASHINGTON - US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a four-star general to review a 2019 strike in Syria that caused civilian casualties, the Pentagon said on Monday.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters that General Michael Garrett, the head of US Army Forces Command, would have 90 days to complete his review on the civilians killed, the compliance of the law of war and record keeping.
Earlier this month the New York Times reported that the US strike in Baghuz, Syria, killed up to 64 women and children during the battle against Islamic State.
The Times reported that a military legal officer had quickly flagged the strike as a possible war crime that required an investigation, but that a multiple stages the military made moves to conceal the strike and downplayed the death toll.
After the Times story was published, Austin requested and received a briefing on the matter from General Frank McKenzie, the command of US Central Command. McKenzie's command has said an initial investigation concluded that the strike constituted legitimate self-defence in support of Syrian partner forces under fire from the Islamic State group.