The US-led anti-ISIS coalition has confirmed on Tuesday that they deliberately attacked a mosque in the Syrian village of Baghouz. Details on casualties were not readily available. though the coalition said it was “aware” of civilian casualty reports.
Maj. Gen. Christopher Ghika says that the mosque “lost its protected
status when ISIS deliberately chose to use it as a command and control
center.” Officials also accused ISIS of using the mosque to plan car
bombings.
While the US often rests on the legal argument that the mosque had it
coming, attacking a mosque is always hugely controversial, and doubly so
when civilian casualties are reported. During the course of anti-ISIS
operations, the US has attacked a number of mosques.
The US is often looking to attack ISIS targets in Baghouz, and the
mosque is at least nominally such a target. Given how many US strikes
are just hitting obvious civilian targets, it appears they are desperate
for anything with remote ties to ISIS.
US Warplanes Attack Mosque in Eastern Syria
General accuses ISIS of using mosque for car bombs
Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.
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