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Syria air strikes: Children died' in US air strike Syria air strikes: 'Children died' in US air strike
(35 minutes later)
A US air strike on Syria last year probably killed two children, officials say - the first admission of civilian casualties in the campaign.A US air strike on Syria last year probably killed two children, officials say - the first admission of civilian casualties in the campaign.
"We regret the unintentional loss of lives," said Lieutenant General James Terry, head of the US-led campaign."We regret the unintentional loss of lives," said Lieutenant General James Terry, head of the US-led campaign.
US Central Command said the strike on 5-6 November, near Harim City, targeted the al-Qaeda-linked Khorasan Group.US Central Command said the strike on 5-6 November, near Harim City, targeted the al-Qaeda-linked Khorasan Group.
There had been no indications prior to the strikes that children were present, officials said.There had been no indications prior to the strikes that children were present, officials said.
The admission followed an investigation into the incident by US military authorities, directed by Lt Gen Terry. A statement on the outcome of the investigation said that the US Department of Defence had conducted a thorough assessment of the target buildings and concluded they were being used exclusively for military purposes. The admission followed an investigation into the incident by US military authorities, directed by Lt Gen Terry.
A statement on the investigation said the Pentagon conducted a "thorough assessment, review and validation process" and concluded the target buildings were being used exclusively for military purposes.
Two "non-combatant" adults also received minor injuries in the strike, which targeted an explosives manufacturing facility, the statement said.
"The coalition continues to take all reasonable measures during the targeting process to mitigate risks to non-combatants and to comply with the principles of the Law of Armed Conflict," Lt Gen Terry said."The coalition continues to take all reasonable measures during the targeting process to mitigate risks to non-combatants and to comply with the principles of the Law of Armed Conflict," Lt Gen Terry said.
There are two other ongoing investigations into air strikes in Iraq, and one more in Syria, according to the Associated Press news agency. The military has examined 46 separate reports of civilian casualties caused by the air campaign since 8 August, a Pentagon spokeswoman said.
Of those, 35 were found to be either not credible or there was not enough information to assess them, she said.
Three of the allegations, involving three separate incidents, are being investigated and the credibility of six other allegations is still being assessed, she added.
Relatively little is known about the Khorasan group other than information released by US officials.Relatively little is known about the Khorasan group other than information released by US officials.
They say the group is made up of veteran fighters from the Afghanistan and Pakistan region who have embedded within al-Qaeda's Syria branch, the al-Nusra Front. They say the group is made up of veteran fighters from the Afghanistan and Pakistan region who have embedded themselves within al-Qaeda's Syria branch, the al-Nusra Front.
The US Air Force began striking targets in Syria in September, leading a coalition including Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The US Air Force began striking Islamic State linked targets in Syria in September, leading a coalition including Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The UK and other European countries have participated in air strikes against targets in Iraq only.The UK and other European countries have participated in air strikes against targets in Iraq only.