U.S. reviews 2019 Baghdadi raid after reports of civilian casualties
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The U.S. is conducting a new investigation into allegations that civilians in Syria were harmed during a raid aimed at capturing Islamic State (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019, an American website said on Wednesday.
U.S. Central Command told NPR two weeks ago that this additional review will help make a “final determination” of the civilian status of both the survivor and the victims of the strike.
This review comes after NPR reported new information that contradicts the Defense Department’s initial account of events from the operation on Oct. 26, 2019.
The U.S. stated that no civilians were harmed during the raid on ISIS leader Baghdadi’s hideout in Syria, which led to Baghdadi detonating a bomb and killing himself.
However, NPR reported that there were accounts from Syria indicating that U.S. helicopter fire killed two agricultural workers and severely injured a third, who lost his right hand, as they were returning home from work.
CENTCOM stated that it is closely examining the details of the military operation and is almost finished with its investigation.
This is the second investigation the U.S. has carried out regarding the 2019 raid to capture Baghdadi.