A botched strike is the latest incident that raises questions about lack of accountability for civilian deaths from U.S. strikes.
The United States Department of Defense has recognized that a drone attack in Syria, which initially targeted an Al-Qaeda leader, actually killed a farmer.
The Pentagon said Thursday that the May 3, 2023, drone strike killed a 56-year-old shepherd named Lutfi Hasan Masto, who they initially misidentified as a senior al-Qaeda official.
U.S. Central Command, which oversees military activities in the Middle East, wrote that it “recognizes and regrets the harm caused to civilians by the airstrike.”
A year ago, a US strike in Syria killed a “senior Al-Qaeda leader”
Fierce digging by @imogen_piper @mmkelly22 And @washingtonpost proved he was a farmer
The US military has now officially admitted this was a mistake, blaming ‘confirmation bias’https://t.co/WG9Mf0Rdq2
– Air Wars (@guerresair) May 2, 2024
Masto’s murder is latest incident raise questions on the impact of US drone warfare on civilians, who often pay the price for botched strikes.
The United States is increasingly dependent on armed drones carrying out strikes in many countries in the Middle East and Africa, allowing its military to target armed groups without the risks or potential public backlash that comes with deploying troops on the ground.
But despite a series of high-profile incidents – including a drone strike during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan that killed 10 civilians, including seven children – responsibility for American officials has been rare. The families of civilians killed in the strikes have also struggled to seek compensation.
The Pentagon said few details of the Masto investigation would be released, citing the classification of sensitive information, but that the strike complied with the laws of armed conflict.
The Washington Post, an American media outlet, published a report last year questioning the Pentagon’s initial version of events surrounding the attack, including its assertion that it was an al-Qaeda leader who had been killed.
The Associated Press also reported shortly after the strike that relatives and neighbors said the victim had no ties to armed groups and was instead a farmer who raised sheep, chickens and cattle.
“The investigation revealed several issues that could be improved,” US Central Command said. “We are determined to learn from this incident and improve our targeting processes to mitigate potential harm to civilians. »
