Twenty civilians killed, three wounded in two attacks by Iraqi troops, coalition: Activist
Members of the Iraqi rapid response forces fire a missile toward Islamic State militants during a battle in the south of Mosul, Iraq February 19, 2017. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
“Nineteen civilians were killed in an airstrike launched by the international coalition against al-Islah al-Zeraei district, in western Mosul, which is still controlled by IS,” Ahmed Elwan, an activist based in the freed regions in Mosul, quoted an anonymous military source as saying.
“The shelling fully destroyed two houses that were used by IS militants to target the Iraqi troops from their rooftops,” Elwan said adding the victims are still under debris.
In related news, “a civilian was killed, while three others were injured due to a missile attack launched by Iraqi troops against al-Zanjili region, in west of Mosul, still under IS control,” Elwan added.
No comments have been made yet by either the Iraqi troops or the coalition led by the U.S. regarding the two accidents.
Iraqi forces as well as the US-led international coalition have always been criticized due to the fall of hundreds of civilian casualties by air strikes and explosions in the last few days.
A major offensive was launched in February to retake the western side of Mosul. The eastern flank of the city was retaken in January after three months of battles.