U.S. airstrike kills nearly 60 Syrian civilians after mistaking them for ISIS fighters

American airstrikes killed civilians mistaken for ISIS fighters.
(Image credit: THAER MOHAMMED/AFP/Getty Images)

More than 60 Syrian civilians were reportedly killed Tuesday by a U.S. airstrike, The Telegraph reports. The victims, including children as young as 3 years old, were trying to flee an Islamic State-controlled region of northern Syria, and comprised roughly eight families. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the U.S. likely carried out the airstrikes in error after mistaking the civilians for militants.

The city of Manbij is an ISIS stronghold where more than 450 airstrikes have taken place since the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS began attacks there in May. While retaking the city from the Islamic State would be a major victory, ISIS militants are reportedly using thousands of civilians in the city as "human shields" to protect themselves.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.