US-led Coalition Airstrikes on Populated Areas near Mosul Cause Casualties

Local Editor

US-led coalition airstrikes on populated areas near Mosul on October 26 led to casualties among civilians and destroyed a mosque, the Russian General Staff stated on Thursday.

On October 26, the US-led anti-Daesh [ISIS/ISIL] coalition attacked residential areas of the Iraqi town of Hamam Elil near Mosul; casualties among civilians were reported and a mosque was destroyed, Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy, chief of the Russian General Staff Main Operational Directorate, said at a press briefing.

"The US continues to conduct airstrikes on populated areas in Mosul and its suburbs and on towns in Nineveh province. On October 26, US Air Force aircraft conducted airstrikes on populated areas of Hamam Elil, located 20 kilometers southeast of Mosul," Rudskoy said.

A school and nearby homes suffered during US Air Force strikes on the Iraqi city of Tall Kayf near Mosul on October 24, Rudskoy added at a press briefing.

"In the satellite image made on October 24 [in other words, made before the US-led coalition strike], you can see on the left the school building and homes, and on the right - after the airstrike. It is clear that the airstrikes were conducted near the school, which was damaged by shrapnel and shockwaves," he said.

Moreover, residential areas near Mosul came under US-led coalition fire on October 31, Rudskoy noted. "On October 31, populated areas located 14 and 9 kilometers east of Mosul suffered due to mass bombing by the US-led coalition.

The residential district of one of Mosul's suburbs was severely destroyed by the US-led coalition airstrikes which preceded the Iraqi army offensive," he said. On October 17, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi announced the start of a military operation to retake Mosul occupied by Daesh.

According to local media, thousands of Iraqi soldiers, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and popular fighter troops are taking part in the operation.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team