Death of Dozens of Civilians in Possible Coalition Attack on ISIS-Controlled Village in Syria

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that at least 56 civilians were killed in an airstrike that appears to have been carried out by the U.S.-led coalition on a village controlled by the 'Islamic State.' According to this organization monitoring the Syrian civil war, the attack occurred in northern Manbij, which is located in northern Syria; a region that has seen intense fighting over the past three months between a coalition of Western-backed rebels (Syrian Democratic Forces) and ISIS militants. The observatory also stated that at least 11 of the casualties from the airstrike on July 19 were children. Dozens more were injured. The Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by coalition airstrikes, are engaged in battles against Islamic State militants in border areas between Syria and Turkey. Reuters reports that ISIS forces still maintain a presence in some villages along the border. The United States and the coalition formed for the battles in Syria have yet to respond to reports of the possible attack on Tuesday. However, Colonel Chris Garver, a coalition spokesman, stated that they are investigating reports of civilian deaths but added that the coalition is 'extremely careful' to ensure that its attacks only result in the deaths of ISIS members. Amnesty International has stated that the coalition must make much greater efforts to prevent civilian casualties. Amnesty International also stated that anyone who violates international humanitarian law should be prosecuted, and the relatives of victims should receive full compensation. The United Nations Human Rights Council had previously expressed concern about tens of thousands of civilians caught in the fighting in Manbij and its surroundings.