2017 Australian Air Strike in Iraq ‘May Have’ Resulted in Civilian Casualties, Reports Reuters

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – The Australian government confirmed on Thursday that an air strike conducted in Iraq in 2017 "may have" resulted in the deaths of up to 18 civilians, following a year-long investigation.

Australia is part of the international coalition led by the United States that is engaged in the fight against Islamic State in both Iraq and Syria.

According to the Defence Department, two Australian Super Hornets dropped bombs on a building and courtyard in response to a request for assistance from Iraqi security forces, who were targeting a neighborhood in west Mosul where Islamic State fighters had established positions.

While there was no specific intelligence indicating the presence of civilians at the targeted sites, the Defence Department noted that "it was impossible to be sure under the urgent circumstances facing the Iraqi forces at the time," emphasizing that the Australian aircraft successfully struck their intended targets.

Last January, the Australian Defence Force was alerted by the coalition about reports from a site that monitors civilian casualties that civilians might have been present in a nearby building. After completing their investigation in December, the Defence Force determined that the claims were "credible."

"Ultimately, we have determined that it is possible civilians were unintentionally killed by the Coalition during these strikes," stated Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld. "Any loss of civilian life is highly regrettable, and we take all allegations seriously," he added.

The coalition estimates that between six and 18 civilians may have been killed during the incident.

Between August 2014 and the end of 2018, the coalition conducted 32,397 strikes in Iraq and Syria, and estimates that at least 1,190 civilians were killed "unintentionally" during that timeframe, according to a statement released by the joint force on Thursday.

Australia concluded its operations with strike aircraft in Iraq and Syria in January.