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U.S. Central Command said Thursday an investigation recovered that a civilian was killed alternatively of an Al Qaeda violent leader successful a May 2023 U.S. onslaught successful Syria. CENTCOM said it is afloat engaged successful implementing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's (pictured) Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan to minimize civilian harm successful early strikes. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
May 2 (UPI) -- U.S. Central Command said Thursday that a May 3, 2023, airstrike successful Syria targeting a elder Al Qaeda leader alternatively killed civilian Lufti Hasan Masto.
A CENTCOM connection said, "The investigation wished U.S. forces misidentified nan intended Al Qaeda target and that a civilian, Mr. Lufti Hasan Masto, was struck and killed instead. Many of nan facts and different findings of nan investigation impact classified accusation and cannot beryllium shared publicly."
CENTCOM said what it tin stock is nan onslaught "was conducted successful compliance pinch nan rule of equipped conflict arsenic good arsenic Department of Defense and CENTCOM policies."
Social media accounts soon aft nan onslaught identified Masto arsenic a unfortunate of nan strike.
The investigation recovered respective issues that CENTCOM said could beryllium improved.
"U.S. Central Command acknowledges and regrets nan civilian harm that resulted from nan airstrike," Centcom's connection said. "We return each reports of civilian harm caused by U.S. subject operations earnestly and proceed to employment thorough and deliberate targeting and onslaught processes to minimize civilian harm."
The onslaught investigation, conducted by Army Brigadier General John P. Cogbill, wrapped up Nov. 15, 2023. More than 40 witnesses were interviewed and investigators conducted tract visits successful nan United States, Iraq and Jordan.
Masto, identified by his family arsenic nan personification killed successful nan U.S. subject strike, was a erstwhile bricklayer who died tending sheep erstwhile a U.S. Hellfire rocket deed him.
CENTCOM said it will usage lessons learned successful this investigation arsenic it seeks to adhere to nan Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan mandated by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to limit civilian casualties.
That process, CENTCOM said, includes "a thorough reappraisal and vetting of lawful targets anterior to a onslaught and different reappraisal aft each strike."
