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U.S. Airstrike in Syria Kills Innocent Civilian Instead of Targeted al-Qaida Leader
Accountability?
(Michigan Army National Guard photo by Spc. Robert Douglas/ released.)
U.S. Central Command has confirmed that a drone strike conducted in Syria in May 2023 intended to target an al-Qaida leader resulted in the tragic death of an innocent civilian. The investigation into the incident concluded that U.S. forces misidentified the intended target and instead struck and killed Mr. Lufti Hasan Masto, a civilian.
According to reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and statements from relatives and neighbors, the strike hit a chicken farm near the town of Harem, claiming the life of a farmer who had no Involvement with armed groups. Mr. Masto, 60, was described by his brother, Mohamed Masto, as a shepherd who was tending his sheep at the time of the strike.
While the investigation into the airstrike was completed in November, Central Command released its findings publicly on Thursday. The statement acknowledged that while much of the investigation’s details remain classified, it revealed “several issues that could be improved.”
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Central Command stated that the strike was conducted in compliance with the law of armed conflict, as well as Department of Defense and CENTCOM policies. However, the incident underscores the ongoing challenge of minimizing civilian casualties in military operations.
The Defense Department has faced criticism over civilian casualties resulting from airstrikes during the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. In response, it has established detailed investigation and review processes for strikes where there are allegations of innocent people being killed.
Despite efforts to target specific individuals associated with terrorist organizations like al-Qaida and the Islamic State, incidents like the mistaken killing of Mr. Masto highlight the complexity and risks inherent in conducting airstrikes in civilian-populated areas.
The U.S. remains committed to learning from such incidents and improving its targeting processes to mitigate potential harm to civilians in future military operations.
