Today, Explained How this Syria raid was different
Feb 8, 2022
Azmat Khan, an investigative journalist and assistant professor at Columbia Journalism School, dives into the complexities of a recent U.S. military raid in Syria targeting an ISIS leader. She highlights the attempt to avoid civilian casualties, yet tragic losses occurred. Khan explores the credibility of military reports versus independent assessments, revealing significant discrepancies in casualty estimates. She advocates for greater accountability and discusses the evolving policies at the Pentagon aiming to prioritize civilian safety in military operations.
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Syria Raid
- U.S. forces raided a house in Syria to kill ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi.
- They took precautions to minimize civilian harm, including using ground troops and warning civilians.
Leader's Influence
- Al-Qurashi's influence involved inciting prison attacks and the Yazidi slave trade.
- Eliminating high-level leaders doesn't always solve the underlying structural problems.
Conflicting Casualty Reports
- Conflicting reports exist on the number of casualties in the Syria raid.
- The White Helmets reported 13 deaths (6 children, 4 women), while the Pentagon reported 9 (5 combatants, 4 civilians).