U.S. military confirms strike hit site of civilian deaths

BAGHDAD — An air strike targeting Islamic State militants in the Iraqi city of Mosul that witnesses say killed at least 100 people was in fact launched by the U.S. military, American officials said Saturday.

U.S. officials did not confirm the reports of civilian casualties but opened an investigation. In the days after the March 17 air strike, U.S. officials had said they were unsure whether American forces were behind the attack.

The statement issued Saturday by the U.S.-led coalition said the air strike had been requested by Iraqi security forces to target Islamic State fighters and equipment “at the location corresponding to allegations of civilian casualties.” U.S.-backed government troops were fighting militants in that area of western Mosul, the statement said.

The coalition said it takes all allegations of civilian casualties seriously and a formal Civilian Casualty Credibility Assessment has been opened to determine the validity of the allegation of civilian casualties.

“Our goal has always been for zero civilian casualties, but the coalition will not abandon our commitment to our Iraqi partners because of ISIS’s inhuman tactics terrorizing civilians, using human shields, and fighting from protected sites such as schools, hospitals, religious sites and civilian neighborhoods,” the coalition said.

Earlier Saturday, senior Sunni Muslim politicians expressed concern over reports of air strikes that allegedly killed the civilians. Residents reported two strikes on March 13 and 17.

Vice President Osama alNujaifi described the incident as a “humanitarian catastrophe,” blaming the U.S.-led coalition strikes and excessive use of force by militarized Federal Police forces. Al-Nujaifi put the number of civilians killed at hundreds. He called for an immediate investigation.