Syria to UN: Latest US-led Coalition Airstrikes Killed 45 Civilians near Manbij

Syria has appealed to the UN claiming that 45 civilians were killed and 50 wounded in US-led coalition airstrikes outside the city of Manbij near Aleppo on July 28.

Photo: alalam.ir

The UN has received Syria’s appeal, according to which 45 civilians were killed and 50 others were wounded during the US-led coalition airstrikes outside the city of Manbij near Aleppo on July 28, the SANA news agency reported.

“In two letters addressed to head of the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary-General, the [foreign] ministry called for stopping attacks and atrocities committed against civilians, calling for bringing the perpetrators to justice,” SANA stated.

“The letters went on to say that any counterterrorism efforts in Syria are doomed unless done in cooperation with the Syrian government in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.”

At the evening of July 28, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) admitted that the airstrikes “may have resulted in civilian casualties,” but did not name a figure.

According to CENTCOM, the airstrikes had been targeted the ISIS forces concentrated in Manbij. The White House deputy press secretary, Eric Schultz, said that “the United States government takes all measures during the targeting process to avoid or minimize civilian casualties.” He also added that “they will see if additional action is necessary.”

According to SANA, the incident took place in the village of al-Ghandoura, and “on the heels of this appalling crime, ISIS brutally murdered 24 civilians from the locals of al-Bweir village,” which is also situated near Manjib.

“The ministry cited striking similarities between the massacres committed by the US-led Coalition and the terrorist organizations in an attempt to exacerbate the situation across Syria following the Syrian army’s recent wins in Aleppo city,” the agency said, quoting the letter to the UN.

“Concluding the letters, the ministry vowed continued efforts to fight terrorism in parallel with political endeavors to reach a solution for the crisis through an intra-Syrian dialogue without foreign interference, urging the UN Security Council to enforce its anti-terrorism resolutions against the countries backing terrorism.”

The incident happened two days after an investigation into the deaths of at least 73 civilians in the same area during another Coalition airstrike on July 19 was opened by the US.