The Pentagon has opened a formal inquiry into a coalition airstrike on the village of Tokkhar, Syria, on July 19 that left at least 74 civilians dead. The decision comes just days before an internal Department of Defense deadline to launch the investigation.
Carried out by the U.S. Air Force, the strike allegedly mistook civilians for Islamic State fighters. Casualty estimates vary, with one United Kingdom-based group positing that as many as 203 innocents may have been killed. Most recently, a 14-year-old girl died from injuries sustained in the attack, which "pulverized entire families."
The devastating reports out of Tokkhar were "credible enough" to convince the Pentagon to investigate, U.S. Army Col. Christopher Garver announced Wednesday. Garver said he'd seen data claiming only 10-15 civilians had been killed.
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