2019 U.S. airstrike in Baghuz
| 2019 U.S. airstrike in Baghuz | |
|---|---|
| Part of American-led intervention in the Syrian civil war | |
| Location | Baghuz, Deir ez-Zor, Syria |
| Date | 18 March 2019 |
| Target | Islamic State[1] |
Attack type | Airstrike |
| Weapons | F-15E attack jet[1] |
| Deaths | Up to 80 (64 civilians and 16 IS fighters)[2] |
| Perpetrators |   United States Air Force[1] |
On 18 March 2019, Task Force 9 of an unknown special operations force of the United States Armed Forces carried out an airstrike using an F-15E attack jet in Al-Baghuz Fawqani, Syria, leading to the deaths of 80 people, 64 of which were civilians, marking one of the largest civilian casualty incidents of the war against the Islamic State. The incident was concealed by the U.S. military[1] and it was reported by The New York Times for the first time on 14 November 2021.[3]
The bombing[edit]
The U.S. military fighter dropped two bombs on a crowd of people, mostly women and children who were trying to escape the fighting on the banks of the Euphrates, just near the Syria-Iraq border. The crowd had been identified as civilians by a U.S. drone operated from Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar. According to the report by The New York Times, the drone operators were stunned seeing the first 500lb bomb dropped by a US F-15E plane followed by a second 2,000lb bomb targeting the survivors. 80 people were killed including Islamic State fighters. [2]
Aftermath[edit]
Civilian observers coming to the strike area the next day witnessed piles of dead women and children. The human rights organization Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently called the incident a "terrible massacre" and posted photos of the bodies.[1] The strike area was bulldozed shortly afterwards.[1]
Incident coverup by the army[edit]
The incident was concealed by the U.S. military.[1] According to the New York Times investigation, senior military officials in Iraq and Florida never reviewed the airstrike, and the investigation technically remained open until the issue was reported by the Times. Representative Adam Smith, Democrat of Washington and the chairman of the panel, said in an email to The New York Times that "Both the incident and the efforts to cover it up are deeply disturbing." [4]
Post New York Times report developments[edit]
A legal officer said the incident could be a "possible war crime".[1] On 15 November 2021, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered a briefing on the strike and its handling.[5] Lloyd Austin promised to "revamp" military procedures and hold top officers responsible for civilian damage, but did not discuss any systemic problems leading to the persisting civilian casualties in Syria and Afghanistan battlefields. Also, he did not say if "senior officers would be held accountable".[4]
Human right groups have called for an independent investigation by the congress.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h Philipps, Dave; Schmitt, Eric (13 November 2021). "How the U.S. Hid an Airstrike That Killed Dozens of Civilians in Syria". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ a b Borger, Julian (14 November 2021). "US claims 2019 airstrike that hit Syrian women and children was justified". the Guardian. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ "U.S. military hid airstrikes that killed dozens of civilians in Syria -NYT". Reuters. 13 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ a b Schmitt, Eric; Philipps, Dave (17 November 2021). "Pentagon Chief Says More Must Be Done to Prevent Civilian Harm". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Pentagon Chief Orders Briefing on 2019 Syria Airstrike That Killed Dozens". The New York Times. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.