US Military to Investigate Massive Civilian Deaths in Mosul Assault

The United States military is investigating the deaths of as many as 200 civilians who were killed as buildings struck by the US in its assault on Islamic State targets in western Mosul collapsed. The extreme loss of life prompted the Iraqi government to suspend the campaign to recapture the city. American sources confirmed that the locations where the deaths occurred were among the ISIS targets the US forces were asked by the Iraqi army to hit during its efforts to retake the city. ISIS is known to use local civilians as human shields and to place non-combatants in harm’s way. Local sources also speculate that the US-led coalition triggered the explosion of mass quantities of ammunition stockpiled by ISIS in areas heavy with civilians. Western Mosul, where the fighting is taking place, is still inhabited by more than one-half million civilians. The US Central Command has said it will investigate “to determine the facts surrounding this strike and the validity of the allegation of civilian casualties.”