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11mo ago

U.S. Admits to Fatal Misidentification in Drone Strike on Syrian Civilian

A U.S. drone strike mistakenly killed a Syrian shepherd last year, an internal investigation confirms, highlighting ongoing challenges in military targeting accuracy.

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Aerial view of the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on March 31, 2024. Home to the US Defense Department, the Pentagon is one of the world's largest office buildings. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • U.S. Central Command confirmed that a drone strike on May 3, 2023, in Syria mistakenly killed Lotfi Hassan Misto, initially thought to be an al-Qaeda leader.
  • The internal military investigation revealed issues such as 'confirmation bias' and inadequate 'red teaming' led to the fatal error.
  • Despite the strike's compliance with the law of armed conflict, the incident underscores persistent flaws in U.S. drone operations that have previously led to civilian casualties.
  • Experts criticize the lack of accountability and transparency in handling such incidents, as no personnel were disciplined following the investigation.
  • The Pentagon is committed to improving its targeting processes to prevent future civilian harm, amidst broader scrutiny of U.S. military practices.