The US Military is investigating an airstrike in northern Syria that allegedly killed 56 civilians, including 11 children on Tuesday.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has called the bombing a “massacre.” It occurred near Manbij, considered a key location to capture ISIS’s Syrian capital Raqqa.
The SOHR has reported that US-led airstrikes hit Manbij by way of the northern countryside, killing 56 people and wounding dozens more. The group also claims that since May 31, the strikes have killed a total of 104 civilians, including 29 children, 16 women, and eight prisoners.
The US Central Command released airstrike information on Wednesday that did not include reports of civilian deaths. However, the report said that three airstrikes near Manbij on July 19 destroyed nine Islamic State fighting positions, an Islamic State command and control node, and 12 Islamic State vehicles.
According to a statement from Defense Department spokesman Matthew Allen, they “are aware of reports alleging civilian casualties in the area.”
Colonel Christopher Garver, chief spokesman for the US war effort, confirmed the US is looking into it now. Officials are attempting to determine whether or not a formal investigation is necessary.
