Syria

Syria: US Military Admits Drone Strike Killed a Civilian

MAY 3 2024·Updated MAY 6 2024

Story

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The Facts

The US military has acknowledged that it mistakenly killed a civilian in an airstrike in Syria in 2023 after he was misidentified as a senior al-Qaeda leader.
CBS News
According to the Pentagon, the May 3, 2023 airstrike, which US Central Command previously said had targeted a terrorist, actually killed a 56-year-old farmer named Lutfi Hasan Masto.
Military.com
Although it was deemed to be compliant with the laws of armed conflict, Central Command said that the military "acknowledges and regrets the civilian harm that resulted from the airstrike."
Al Jazeera
Following his accidental killing, Masto's family didn't receive a compensatory payment "given the facts of this situation and both policy and practical limitations."
CNN
Although doubts about the airstrike's success were raised immediately, the US military conducted a more detailed investigation that followed an initial report by the Washington Post in May 2023.
Business Insider
The investigation into Masto's killing concluded last November and reportedly involved interviews, site visits, and information gathering from nongovernmental organizations, including the Syrian White Helmets.
CNN

Sources Split

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The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Although it's unfortunate that an innocent civilian was killed, the airstrike followed the rules of armed conflict and the policies of the US military. It resulted from numerous errors, and Central Command is committed to using the mistake to develop vital "lessons learned" and prevent civilian casualties in the future.

CNN

Establishment-critical narrative

Civilians are the ones who bear the brunt of US military drone warfare in the Middle East. The US military faces minimal consequences for the "accidental" murders of these innocent people, and the families of these victims often never get restitution or justice for these deaths.

Al Jazeera