The Gulf Time Newspaper One of the finest business newspapers in the UAE brought to you by our professional writers and editors.
Washington / AFP
The coalition fighting the IS group in Syria may have accidentally hit allied rebels during an air strike at the end of last month, a US military spokesman said on Saturday.
Coalition forces carried out three air strikes against tactical IS units and vehicles near Ma’ra on May 28, Centcom spokesman Colonel Patrick Ryder said in a statement.
“The coalition was subsequently informed that one of the air strikes may have hit counter-IS forces and their vehicle, instead of ISIL forces. Initial reports were that four counter-IS personnel may have been killed in the strike,†he said, adding that an investigation was under way.
“We will continue our support of counter-IS forces and will apply any lessons learned derived from the investigation to improve our operation in the future,†Ryder said, confirming a Wall Street Journal report.
According to Centcom, the coalition had conducted three bombings that day in that area of the province of Aleppo, along the Turkish border, where heavy fighting took between rebels and extremist has raged in recent weeks.