Russia criticized the United States on Sunday for what it said were “absurd statements” justifying the American-led coalition’s possible role in more than 100 civilian deaths in Mosul last month.
“Absurd statements of the Pentagon representatives justifying civil casualties caused by American bombing in Iraq give more information on the operation planning level and the alleged ‘supremacy’ of the American ‘smart’ bombs,” Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement from Russia’s Ministry of Defense, UPI reported.
Civilian fatalities followed a US airstrike in the city’s al-Jadidah neighborhood on March 17.
Last week, Col. Joseph Scrocca acknowledged “a coalition strike contributed in at least some way to the civilian casualties” in Mosul. The United States has expanded its investigation into a formal review of all airstrikes over several days in the area, the US military said on Thursday.
A US team visited the site of the airstrike—a house where civilians were located was hit, a defense official told CNN.
