Jason Ditz / AntiWar.com & Ron Paul and Daniel McAdams / The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity – 2018-12-09 00:35:10
US-Led Coalition Airstrikes Kill Nine Civilians in Eastern Syria
US-Led Coalition Airstrikes Kill Nine Civilians in Eastern Syria
Strikes hit a neighborhood in Hajin, killing six children
Jason Ditz / AntiWar.com
(December 7, 2018) – US attempts to support the Kurdish YPG in attacking ISIS territory in Syria continues, as does the civilian death toll being inflicted by continued US attacks on the populated towns and villages along the Iraqi border.
On Friday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the US-led coalition killed at least nine civilians in the strikes. Among the slain were six children, who were slain in the town of Hajin.
US officials did not comment directly on the civilian deaths, but did praise Kurdish forces for advancing deeper into ISIS-held territory. This territory includes three towns and a few adjoining villages.
Absent the US airstrikes, the Kurdish forces have lost territory in counter-attacks by ISIS. Yet the US strikes tend to kill a lot more civilians than anything else, and at best are keeping the fighting unresolved.
UN Says an Average of
123 Civilian Casualties in Yemen Per Week
Urges both sides to do more to protect civilians
Jason Ditz / AntiWar.com
(December 7, 2018) – According to the UN refugee agency, some 1,500 civilian casualties were inflicted in Yemen from August through October. Broken down, the agency says this is an average of 123 casualties per week.
This large number of casualties is unsurprising, as throughout that period the Saudi-backed invasion forces have been attacking heavily populated areas, and Saudi airstrikes kill civilians several times a week.
Civilian casualties are an ongoing problem throughout the war in Yemen, and the UN’s report came with a call for both sides to “do more” to protect civilians during the fighting. That they named both sides was likely necessary to prevent the Saudis from reacting furiously.
And yet anyone who has been paying attention at all would not fail to note that the Saudis and their allies are inflicting the overwhelming majority of civilian casualties. Civilian casualties from attacks themselves are also dwarfed by the number of civilians starved to death or otherwise killed by the Saudi naval blockade, which is distinct from the UN figure.
Why Are We Talking About Khashoggi Murder
When US Drones Kill Thousands? [Video]
Ron Paul and Daniel McAdams / The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity
(December 4, 2018) — Democrats and neocons in Washington screaming about Trump’s apparent lack of concern over the Saudi crown prince’s alleged murder of a journalist are themselves silent over the not one, but thousands of civilians killed by US drone strikes. It is not war or savagery that they are opposing. For them, it’s all about politics.
Many in Washington who are obsessing over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi are silent on the thousands of civilians killed by US drones and are seeking conflict with Iran. Is this about principles . . . or just politics?
