Civilian deaths 'fact of life' in war on IS, says Pentagon chief

[TomSea]

Civilian deaths 'fact of life' in war on IS, says Pentagon chief

'We do everything humanly possible, consistent with military necessity, taking many chances to avoid civilian casualties - at all costs'
MEE and agencies
Sunday 28 May 2017 18:46 UTC   Last update: Monday 29 May 2017 8:21 UTC


Civilian casualties are inevitable in the war against the Islamic State (IS) group but the United States is doing "everything humanly possible" to avoid them, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said in an interview aired on Sunday.

A US-led international coalition has been carrying out air strikes against the IS group in Iraq and Syria since 2014, and nongovernmental organisations say the attacks are claiming ever more civilian lives.

Interviewed on CBS's "Face the Nation" programme, Mattis said that "civilian casualties are a fact of life in this sort of situation".

Continued: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/civilian-deaths-fact-life-war-pentagon-chief-mattis-says-1210772553